buggy123's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
gabieowleyess's review against another edition
3.0
Oregon Battle of the Books Read #5
I think I would have gotten more out of this one if I would have read it physically instead of reading it.
I think I would have gotten more out of this one if I would have read it physically instead of reading it.
readingthroughtheages's review against another edition
4.0
This book puts your heart through the wringer!
heisereads's review against another edition
4.0
A sweet story of grief, family, hope, and knowing what means the most to you and finding a way to hang on to it.
yapha's review against another edition
4.0
Clayton Byrd loves his grandfather, Cool Papa, more than anyone else in the world. He dreams of the day he will be called into a solo like a true Bluesman, but enjoys playing with Cool Papa and his band mates in the meantime. His relationship with Cool Papa is the opposite of the one his mother remembers from her own childhood, still resenting Cool Papa's frequent absences. When Cool Papa dies suddenly, Clayton's devastation is compounded by his mother's insistence on getting rid of everything that belonged to Cool Papa, even things that were promised to Clayton. Unable to deal with his anger and sadness, Clayton runs off to find the Bluesmen, which results in unexpected consequences. This one packs an emotional punch! Highly recommended for grades 4 & up.
karibaumann's review against another edition
3.0
The writing is (as always) lovely but the story didn’t gel for me.
abigailbat's review against another edition
4.0
This contemporary novel is all about the power of music to soothe a weary soul. Clayton Byrd loves nothing more than playing the blues harp (a.k.a. harmonica) with his grandfather's blues band. He loves being up there with the grown-up musicians, loves that his grandfather shares this with him and takes him seriously. Clayton's mom had some issues with her father growing up - she never forgave him for traveling with his band so much when she was growing up. But Clayton has a really special relationship with his grandfather Cool Papa Byrd and can't wait for the day that Cool Papa waves him in for his solo at one of their performances.
When Cool Papa passes away unexpectedly, Clayton feels like he's suddenly lost everything that's important to him. His mom doesn't understand - she starts getting rid of Cool Papa's stuff right away without even asking Clayton if there's anything he wants to keep. As far as she's concerned, the quicker everyone forgets about Cool Papa the better. But Clayton knows that he will never forget about Cool Papa, he will never stop wishing for the chance to play music with him one more time. And that's why he comes up with the plan, the plan to go underground, the plan to find a different life he can live with. But it will mean turning away from everything that keeps Clayton safe at home.
This is a book for the music lovers or for anyone who feels misunderstood.
It took me a bit to get my bearings with this one - I kept expecting it to be historical and it's not. Rita Williams-Garcia is a master of character and she's created another unforgettable character in Clayton Byrd. This is a book that is filled with longing. You can practically hear the mournful notes of the blues harp as you're reading. But it's also a book that takes a traditional form of music and places it squarely in the present day with all the juxtapositions that go along with that. It's unusual for a 10-year-old boy to be so obsessed with the blues and it captures the imagination right away.
When Cool Papa passes away unexpectedly, Clayton feels like he's suddenly lost everything that's important to him. His mom doesn't understand - she starts getting rid of Cool Papa's stuff right away without even asking Clayton if there's anything he wants to keep. As far as she's concerned, the quicker everyone forgets about Cool Papa the better. But Clayton knows that he will never forget about Cool Papa, he will never stop wishing for the chance to play music with him one more time. And that's why he comes up with the plan, the plan to go underground, the plan to find a different life he can live with. But it will mean turning away from everything that keeps Clayton safe at home.
This is a book for the music lovers or for anyone who feels misunderstood.
It took me a bit to get my bearings with this one - I kept expecting it to be historical and it's not. Rita Williams-Garcia is a master of character and she's created another unforgettable character in Clayton Byrd. This is a book that is filled with longing. You can practically hear the mournful notes of the blues harp as you're reading. But it's also a book that takes a traditional form of music and places it squarely in the present day with all the juxtapositions that go along with that. It's unusual for a 10-year-old boy to be so obsessed with the blues and it captures the imagination right away.
stenaros's review against another edition
2.0
Read for Librarian Book Group
There was so much to love about this story: the frustrating and unfair way his mother dealt with Clayton's grandfather's death; how a child grieves; love of jazz music; the grandfather/grandson relationship; the mother/son relationship; the father/daughter relationship.
And then it seemed like Garcia had filled her allotted amount of pages and things wrapped up much too quickly. It was as if a living, breathing story was hurried to its ending before it could come to its natural conclusion. This was disappointing.
There was so much to love about this story: the frustrating and unfair way his mother dealt with Clayton's grandfather's death; how a child grieves; love of jazz music; the grandfather/grandson relationship; the mother/son relationship; the father/daughter relationship.
And then it seemed like Garcia had filled her allotted amount of pages and things wrapped up much too quickly. It was as if a living, breathing story was hurried to its ending before it could come to its natural conclusion. This was disappointing.