Engrossing read about a boy in an inner city neighborhood negotiating friendships. I like Bryan's personality, I like his growth, as he discovers what makes him happy (peacefulness, comic books, talking video games with friends), I like his unapologetic love for his mother. And I like that this is a book about taking responsibility for not standing up to toxic friendships. It's a book about looking ahead to where anger takes you, and about finding ways to defuse it. There's a lot of meditative moments, there's a lot of thoughtful conversations about refusing a fight. As someone who as struggled with anger, I appreciate this theme and the toolbox of possibilities to step down another road. I also think this is an authentic voice, and I appreciate that as well. ( )

Recommended Ages: Gr.

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Summer reading option 2020. Good, quick read, but somehow not that memorable? ( )

diverse children's fiction (black-skinned Puerto Rican 6th-grader living in the projects, NYC; criticized by other kids for being "soft" but also aware that being tough/fighting a lot is why his dad is in and out of jail)
This is a book about a young kid with a mostly-absent father and a loving, but busy mother who finds himself having to make a lot of tough choices on his own. His sister provides him with some guidance (watching a show that teaches realistic ways kids can avoid fights) and Big Will is clearly wise beyond his years, but these are not easy situations to be in, especially when it comes to kids like Mike who evoke mixed feelings--Mike has so much potential to be a good kid, but he makes a lot of terrible choices, and unfortunately he has the habit of roping poor Bryan in with his emotionally-driven schemes.
I loved the descriptions of the boy's feelings, the way Bryan's eyes got "that look" that reminds everyone of his dad when he's angry, the way video games got him "hyped up," the way finding his dad back home again made him feel. There is a lot of room for discussion here, if you've got a good tween book group.

I think this would probably resonate a bit better with east coast urban kids, as the slang took some getting used to, and kids around here in suburbia might not relate as well to the subway stuff, etc., but it still works. Kids can definitely relate to being called "nerdy" if you read comics quietly instead of being brash and tough and whatever it is kids think they're supposed to be like. ( )

This coming of age book centers on Bryan a kid who loves to have a low drama day - especially if it includes reading some comics & drawing superheroes. But when he makes a new friend Mike he feels pulled to go along with some stuff that does & doesn't feel right to him. Its a pretty strong story about learning how to choose what feels right & learning how to communicate & take responsibility for the choices as you make them. ( )