1 of 1 copy available
Black boy joy is…
Picking out a fresh first-day-of-school outfit.
Saving the universe in an epic intergalactic race.
Finding your voice—and your rhymes—during tough times.
Flying on your skateboard like nobody’s watching.
And more! From seventeen acclaimed Black male and non-binary authors comes a vibrant collection of stories and poems about the power of joy and the wonders of Black boyhood.
Contributors include: B. B. Alston, Dean Atta, P. Djèlí Clark, Jay Coles, Jerry Craft, Lamar Giles, Don P. Hooper, George M. Johnson, Varian Johnson, Kwame Mbalia, Suyi Davies Okungbowa, Tochi Onyebuchi, Julian Randall, Jason Reynolds, Justin Reynolds, DaVaun Sanders, and Julian Winters
Cover illustration by Kadir Nelson
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Creators
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Publisher
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Release date
August 3, 2021 -
Formats
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OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780593409893
- File size: 187085 KB
- Duration: 06:29:45
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 710
- Text Difficulty: 3
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Reviews
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Author and editor Kwame Mbalia brings an outstanding ensemble of Black male and non-binary writers together in this timely audio anthology. Seventeen works portray the power of joy in Black boys' lives. The opening story's compelling message on the importance of sharing moments of joy creates a thematic framework for the collection. Every author's contribution--whether funny, sad, scary, or hopeful--confirms that "joy is at the center of everything; [you] just have to coax it out." The storytelling skills of narrators Amir Abdullah and Taj Leahy shine as they employ an astonishing array of voices to enhance dozens of characters. Their engaging delivery of assorted genres ranging from realistic fiction to sci-fi and fantasy will appeal to a wide spectrum of middle-grade listeners. S.A.A. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine -
Starred review from August 9, 2021
This luminous middle-grade anthology edited by Mbalia (the Tristan Strong series) features 17 stories by as many Black male and nonbinary authors focusing on Black boys’ happiness. Mbalia kicks off the magic with “The Griot of Grover Street,” in which a boy takes a leap of faith to an unknown place guided by an eccentric elder. In “There’s Going to Be a Fight in the Cafeteria on Friday and You Better Not Bring Batman,” Lamar Giles presents a superhero-loving child who embraces a rich range of superheroes with the help of his family, while Varian Johnson offers a lesson in championing individuality in “The Definition of Cool.” And Julian Winters’s “The Legendary Lawrence Cobbler” combines baking with a touching coming-out revelation that brings a family closer together and emphasizes the significance of intergenerational bonds. Filtering perennial subjects such as friendships, gender identity, and family through the lenses of magic, science, space travel, superheroes, and more, this is an exuberant celebration of carefree Black experiences; while it will especially resonate with Black readers, any reader will appreciate how this genre-bending collection expands the horizons of what joy for Black boys can be. Ages 9–12. Agent: Patrice Caldwell, New Leaf Literary & Media.
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