sjj169's review against another edition
4.0
This graphic novel was based on the true story of Robert Sandifer aka Yummy (nicknamed for his love of candy bars and cookies) He was 11 years old.
Told from the point of view of a neighborhood boy this book was heartbreaking. It made it even worse because I knew it was a true story.
Yummy wanted to belong, his dad was in prison and his mom in and out of jail for drugs and prostitution. She lost custody of her kids and Yummy's grandmother was raising him. Along with most of the rest of her grandchildren. Yummy slipped out a whole lot and wanted to be in the local gang. They took him in because at 11 he wouldn't be charged as a felon for his crimes.
One day Yummy pulls his gun on a rival gang, but one of the neighborhood girls is killed instead. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This book doesn't take sides. Yummy's bad is shown along with his good. Then the victim Shavon is treated with respect also.
I had never heard of this book before now, it's a powerful one. The black and white artwork makes the story come alive and the words break you as you know what's coming but hope to somehow make it change.
Told from the point of view of a neighborhood boy this book was heartbreaking. It made it even worse because I knew it was a true story.
Yummy wanted to belong, his dad was in prison and his mom in and out of jail for drugs and prostitution. She lost custody of her kids and Yummy's grandmother was raising him. Along with most of the rest of her grandchildren. Yummy slipped out a whole lot and wanted to be in the local gang. They took him in because at 11 he wouldn't be charged as a felon for his crimes.
One day Yummy pulls his gun on a rival gang, but one of the neighborhood girls is killed instead. She wasn't doing anything wrong. She was in the wrong place at the wrong time.
This book doesn't take sides. Yummy's bad is shown along with his good. Then the victim Shavon is treated with respect also.
I had never heard of this book before now, it's a powerful one. The black and white artwork makes the story come alive and the words break you as you know what's coming but hope to somehow make it change.
sc104906's review against another edition
4.0
Based on a true story. Robert, aka "Yummy," is a young boy who gets caught up in gang violence and murders someone. He is on the run from the cops and is scared. While in hiding, the media and community begin to grapple with the situation and who is at fault.
This graphic novel brings to light contemporary issues facing the inner cities and African Americans. There has to be a way to give more opportunities to those young kids who are simply a product of their environment.
This graphic novel brings to light contemporary issues facing the inner cities and African Americans. There has to be a way to give more opportunities to those young kids who are simply a product of their environment.
jasmineblossoms's review against another edition
4.0
I chose to read this book for banned books week and boy was it a heavy read. This is a book I've seen on multiple occasions but never read. I was pleasantly surprised to see this was a graphic novel. I was reading the full title and wondered if this was a true story. Unfortunately, it is based 0n a true story. This made me really ready to get into this book. As a graphic novel this is a quick read, I finished it in one sitting. It was a narrated very well! It's a tough read, and it stuck with me for a while, had me in a blah mood. I think think that's a side effect of good books/writing though. They stay with you, even after you're done reading them. Basically, this is a good read, so read it.
ariatari's review against another edition
5.0
This is an extremely depressing story, drawn and written in such a way that only serves to accentuate the feeling. I have never come across a graphic novel that has moved me in such a way, and I'm so glad I got to read this.
jecoats's review against another edition
5.0
This graphic novel was loaned to me by a colleague of mine at Mather High School. The book has won the Coretta Scott King Book Award for Author Honor (2011) and was nominated for the Rhode Island Teen Book Award (2012) and the James Cook Book Award (2011).
In Chicago in 1994, 11-year-old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer attempts to prove himself to the Black Disciples - a notorious, violent Chicago gang - by executing a rival gang member. Instead, Yummy ends up murdering 14-year-old Shavon Dean, an innocent bystander, right outside her home. Immediately after Shavon's death, the police begin a manhunt for Yummy. As all this is happening, young Roger - our fictitious narrator - begins following the stories about Yummy closely, trying to figure out what went wrong in Yummy's life and why he ended up on a path of crime and violence.
This graphic novel is based in part on the real-life tragedy of Shavon Dean and Robert “Yummy” Sandifer that took place during the summer of 1994 in Chicago. While the circumstances surrounding, and the aftermath of, the shooting are true, the narrator - Roger - and his family have been made up as a way to guide the reader through the story. Author G. Neri also invents aspects of Yummy, such as his thoughts, feelings, and whereabouts as the entire city is on the lookout for him. Although part of the story is based on actual events, I felt that fictional parts made it a better candidate for historical fiction than historical nonfiction.
This book really hits all the points for historical fiction as outlined by Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. It is well written, the setting is brought to life in several ways (mostly visual), the characters and conflicts are authentic and plausible, and the themes of the story (the need for transformative and social justice; understanding that people are an accumulation of thoughts and actions and shouldn’t be stereotyped into any one category; grappling with compassion for those who commit heinous acts) are relevant for readers today. This is a hard hitting, eye opening story that dives into the unsavory realities of what some urban youth experience and asks “how did we get here?”.
The art style of Randy DuBurke adds to the gritty reality of the narrative. DuBurke uses only black and white illustrations to bring the story to life, giving the whole graphic novel a noir mystery feeling. But the stark black and white illustrations also underscore the seriousness of the subject matter. If color was added to the pages, I think the overall style would lack the visual impact it has. I also think the lack of color makes Chicago feel like an uncaring beast looming in the background - always poised to swallow up its weakest and most unwanted citizens.
Based on the grim nature of the subject matter, and the thematically heavy lifting the book asks of the reader, I think this graphic novel may be best suited for readers 6th or 7th grade and up. This is a haunting story - one that had me grappling with my own sense of morality after I finished reading. I think Yummy can also act as a mirror and a window. Our students may not have first (or even second) hand knowledge of gangland violence, but they likely know what it’s like to feel prejudged, or what it’s like to feel like they’re the target of authority figures. As a window, I think the book does a good job of displaying the unfortunate reality that some young students do get caught up in gang culture, and that they are often the victims themselves. I think the book has a lot to teach those unfamiliar with gangs and gang violence about the way our own culture enables the kind of exploitation that could lead someone like Yummy to a life of criminal activity.
In Chicago in 1994, 11-year-old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer attempts to prove himself to the Black Disciples - a notorious, violent Chicago gang - by executing a rival gang member. Instead, Yummy ends up murdering 14-year-old Shavon Dean, an innocent bystander, right outside her home. Immediately after Shavon's death, the police begin a manhunt for Yummy. As all this is happening, young Roger - our fictitious narrator - begins following the stories about Yummy closely, trying to figure out what went wrong in Yummy's life and why he ended up on a path of crime and violence.
This graphic novel is based in part on the real-life tragedy of Shavon Dean and Robert “Yummy” Sandifer that took place during the summer of 1994 in Chicago. While the circumstances surrounding, and the aftermath of, the shooting are true, the narrator - Roger - and his family have been made up as a way to guide the reader through the story. Author G. Neri also invents aspects of Yummy, such as his thoughts, feelings, and whereabouts as the entire city is on the lookout for him. Although part of the story is based on actual events, I felt that fictional parts made it a better candidate for historical fiction than historical nonfiction.
This book really hits all the points for historical fiction as outlined by Children’s Books in Children’s Hands. It is well written, the setting is brought to life in several ways (mostly visual), the characters and conflicts are authentic and plausible, and the themes of the story (the need for transformative and social justice; understanding that people are an accumulation of thoughts and actions and shouldn’t be stereotyped into any one category; grappling with compassion for those who commit heinous acts) are relevant for readers today. This is a hard hitting, eye opening story that dives into the unsavory realities of what some urban youth experience and asks “how did we get here?”.
The art style of Randy DuBurke adds to the gritty reality of the narrative. DuBurke uses only black and white illustrations to bring the story to life, giving the whole graphic novel a noir mystery feeling. But the stark black and white illustrations also underscore the seriousness of the subject matter. If color was added to the pages, I think the overall style would lack the visual impact it has. I also think the lack of color makes Chicago feel like an uncaring beast looming in the background - always poised to swallow up its weakest and most unwanted citizens.
Based on the grim nature of the subject matter, and the thematically heavy lifting the book asks of the reader, I think this graphic novel may be best suited for readers 6th or 7th grade and up. This is a haunting story - one that had me grappling with my own sense of morality after I finished reading. I think Yummy can also act as a mirror and a window. Our students may not have first (or even second) hand knowledge of gangland violence, but they likely know what it’s like to feel prejudged, or what it’s like to feel like they’re the target of authority figures. As a window, I think the book does a good job of displaying the unfortunate reality that some young students do get caught up in gang culture, and that they are often the victims themselves. I think the book has a lot to teach those unfamiliar with gangs and gang violence about the way our own culture enables the kind of exploitation that could lead someone like Yummy to a life of criminal activity.
enter_the_phantom's review against another edition
3.0
This book is only 96 pages long, and the pages sparse, so it’s about a twenty minute read at the very most. It has something to say, but its presentation is better suited to classroom use and opening discussions with young readers than it is for older audiences. It’s very open-ended with no easy answers, but it also comes across as a bit preachy and doesn’t go into the systemic issues that have led to the gang crisis. Older readers will probably feel a bit short-changed.