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edshara's review against another edition
4.0
This was a compelling look at the life and death of a young boy. While this is a hard case to read about, it’s fascinating to see how ones upbringing can shape the person you are, for better or worse. It was also interesting, trying to sift through my memory, to see if I remembered hearing about this case as a kid. The illustrations and the authors creative liberties worked well to tell the story. I’m glad this was recommended.
laflormorada's review against another edition
5.0
This book is based on the true story of 11 year-old Chicago gang member Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. Told through the eyes of Roger, a classmate invented to help narrate the story, we learn about the tragic life and death of Yummy.
Roger has a hard time figuring Yummy out... he gets his nickname because he loves to eat candy, but his life is anything but sweet. His father is in prison for drugs and he was taken away from his mother due to neglect and abuse. And Yummy can be one mean kid.. taking people's lunch money and getting in fights. When he joins the gang The Black Disciples, he only gets worse. Now he has a gun and something to prove. But what about the other side of Yummy, the side that carries a teddy bear and just wants to be a kid. Who is he really?
When Yummy accidentally shoots and kills a neighborhood girl, everyone has something to say about it... An 11 year-old killer? Can you ever go back from that? Who is really to blame?
The ending of Yummy's story is both harsh and poignant and brings about more questions than answers. With Roger as the narrator and his own brother a member of the Black Disciples, readers will truly see things from all perspectives. This is a great pick for a teen book group, as the graphic novel format is easy to read, and the intense subject matter really gets the discussion going. I highly recommended it!
Roger has a hard time figuring Yummy out... he gets his nickname because he loves to eat candy, but his life is anything but sweet. His father is in prison for drugs and he was taken away from his mother due to neglect and abuse. And Yummy can be one mean kid.. taking people's lunch money and getting in fights. When he joins the gang The Black Disciples, he only gets worse. Now he has a gun and something to prove. But what about the other side of Yummy, the side that carries a teddy bear and just wants to be a kid. Who is he really?
When Yummy accidentally shoots and kills a neighborhood girl, everyone has something to say about it... An 11 year-old killer? Can you ever go back from that? Who is really to blame?
The ending of Yummy's story is both harsh and poignant and brings about more questions than answers. With Roger as the narrator and his own brother a member of the Black Disciples, readers will truly see things from all perspectives. This is a great pick for a teen book group, as the graphic novel format is easy to read, and the intense subject matter really gets the discussion going. I highly recommended it!
solariscrescent's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
johnnymacaroni's review against another edition
5.0
I read this based on a Kirkus review that really captivated me. Based on a true story the tale is shocking and sad (I was in college when this happened and have no memory of it which means I should have been more socially aware but the truth is I was probably more insulated than ever being 19 in the Happy Valley). This book expertly succeeds at what the author set out to do...makes you question why, doesn't give you any easy answers, creates a knot in your stomach. It really makes for a perfect graphic novel as the illustrations and story meld perfectly together making it all the more powerful. You have to read it all in one sitting ...there is just no putting this one down.
calamarik's review against another edition
4.0
I received this book having no idea what to expect, but I found myself with a truly raw, terrifying and saddening true story of a boy who made fatal mistakes in his early life. Often times, when you see a headline in the news like "So young to kill.." it becomes easy to portray those murderers completely mindless and insane. With such a down-to-earth story written from an outside perspective, it was touching and more truthful getting to hear Yummy's story with a little give. I feel that I am more educated in understanding gang-related violence, and can think of those who have made one too many mistakes with a new light.
maryehavens's review against another edition
4.0
Very short, impact read on gang violence in 1994 told through a fictional character about a real event. Robert "Yummy" Sandifer desperately wanted to belong - he took a life and then lost his own at 11 years old. My own son is 11 and to think that he would lose his innocence so soon, and so hard, to be as misguided as Yummy is, thankfully, unfathomable to me. But not so for many others.
Neri presents this work as a "make up your own mind" about Yummy. But he points out, it's not so black and white. And it's not. Lots of tragic events created Yummy's mistake and fate. His entire life is further evidence of a broken system, all the way around.
It's hard to rate a book like this. It's just so hard to wrap my head around. I'm not going to share it with my children (if they pick it up, that's fine, but it's not a "must read" like "I Am Alfonso Jones" or the March series, which they couldn't really understand) because I don't know that it will teach them much beyond "some people live these lives. You have privilege and choice - something not everyone has - so do something with these gifts." Maybe I'll just leave it around and let them decide.
Neri presents this work as a "make up your own mind" about Yummy. But he points out, it's not so black and white. And it's not. Lots of tragic events created Yummy's mistake and fate. His entire life is further evidence of a broken system, all the way around.
It's hard to rate a book like this. It's just so hard to wrap my head around. I'm not going to share it with my children (if they pick it up, that's fine, but it's not a "must read" like "I Am Alfonso Jones" or the March series, which they couldn't really understand) because I don't know that it will teach them much beyond "some people live these lives. You have privilege and choice - something not everyone has - so do something with these gifts." Maybe I'll just leave it around and let them decide.
rdyourbookcase's review against another edition
3.0
Yummy is a great book for fans of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas. It shined a light on so many of the same issues, but in graphic novel format. This was also based on a true story. Yummy's story was presented so well that I wanted to learn more. I was impressed that even the president commented on it. Honestly, I want to learn more about the gang problem in Chicago in general and how people think that it can be fixed. A really good book is one that makes you want to learn more!