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jencunn2024's review against another edition
4.0
This winning novel of the National Book Award for Young People’s literature is deserving. This is a well done YA book for upper elementary with emotional content suitable for most upper elementary and older students, and written at a middle grade reading level.
The crisp and clean writing introduces 12 year old Kingston “King” James who is dealing with his and his parents’ grief over the recent death of his older brother Khalid whom has continued mentorship as a dragonfly both in the Louisiana bayou where they live as well as in his vivid dreams. Khalid continues to mentor and advise King from the Great Beyond. The story also tells about King and his best friends Jasmine and Sandy, all coming of age and learning the ropes of preteens and what’s coming ahead. Author Kacen Callender gives the kids in this story every opportunity to work through and support each other through situations of racism, abuse, life as a runaway, living LGBTQ and learning what it means to be a friend and/or ally of LGBTQ. The storytelling is very classy but still to the point when the emotions and decisions and self-discovery come into play.
The crisp and clean writing introduces 12 year old Kingston “King” James who is dealing with his and his parents’ grief over the recent death of his older brother Khalid whom has continued mentorship as a dragonfly both in the Louisiana bayou where they live as well as in his vivid dreams. Khalid continues to mentor and advise King from the Great Beyond. The story also tells about King and his best friends Jasmine and Sandy, all coming of age and learning the ropes of preteens and what’s coming ahead. Author Kacen Callender gives the kids in this story every opportunity to work through and support each other through situations of racism, abuse, life as a runaway, living LGBTQ and learning what it means to be a friend and/or ally of LGBTQ. The storytelling is very classy but still to the point when the emotions and decisions and self-discovery come into play.
donteatpink's review against another edition
5.0
After hearing Jason Reynolds praise this book, I knew I wanted to read it. I knew it dealt with grief but there are so many elements and themes to this book. It is so beautifully written and you feel for King and his friend. King's journey to happiness is honest and rough. I would love to use this in my classroom.
ollie77777's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ashs_books's review against another edition
4.0
Another really good audiobook. What a beautiful coming of age story about a young man figuring out who he is. I loved the theme of friendship in this. The whole journey King went on was awesome. I loved the lessons about accepting who you are and loving people for who they are. Incredible ❤️
librarylandlisa's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this back up after I DNF’d it initially. I was encouraged by a pal to keep reading it and I am really glad I did. This book got so much better past the halfway mark and ended up a nice story. I think for the right reader, this will be a great book. Touches on abuse, being gay, and prejudice without getting too gritty or detailed which is its major downfall. I feel like this is a good book for younger kids with middle grade reading levels as it is approachable and brings up lots of discussion points that adults can go into further with their kiddos if they wish.
wanderinglynn's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
A beautiful story about starting to find yourself in the midst of grief and change. This story touches on several big topics including grief, LGBTQ+, racism, and child abuse. The happy-ish resolution of the child abuse arc definitely gave consideration to the book's target demographic because it wrapped up a bit too neat. But overall, a thoughtful and thought provoking story.
ccrtb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This book handles such important topics like grief, racism, homophobia, and domestic violence with such care and clarity. I'm glad books like these are out there for young kids to read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Homophobia, Child abuse, and Grief
lotak's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
skarijay's review against another edition
5.0
This was a really great YA book about death, dreams, questions about sexuality, race, and masculinity. It was a very beautifully written book, a lot of vivid imagery and a little bit of magical realism. I can definitely recommend it.
bhnmt61's review against another edition
5.0
King’s older brother Khalid dies shortly before the story opens. His family is reeling from grief, and King is devastated. But his memories of his brother are sweet and brilliantly written. The boys shared a bedroom, and King has a journal of all the things Khalid told him when he talked in his sleep. Unfortunately, Khalid also told King he can’t be friends with his best friend Sandy anymore, after Sandy told King he is gay.
There are a lot of ways your heart can be broken by a book. In this one, it’s because the adults fail their children. Most of the drama happens because these kids are dealing with the messes adults have made, through ignorance, prejudice, or abuse. It’s frustrating (and all too believable). Callender pulls everything together for an uplifting ending, but if there’s a false note anywhere, it’s that as an adult you know those kinds of endings don’t always happen. It’s still a terrific book. Four and a half stars rounded up.
There are a lot of ways your heart can be broken by a book. In this one, it’s because the adults fail their children. Most of the drama happens because these kids are dealing with the messes adults have made, through ignorance, prejudice, or abuse. It’s frustrating (and all too believable). Callender pulls everything together for an uplifting ending, but if there’s a false note anywhere, it’s that as an adult you know those kinds of endings don’t always happen. It’s still a terrific book. Four and a half stars rounded up.