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A review by writingcaia
King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
It was so easy to rate this book.
Even though I rarely read middle grade I’m so happy I gave this one a chance because I loved the author’s work in their book Felix Ever After.
Now about King and The Dragonflies. What a wonderful, sad and hopeful journey along with King.
Kingston aka King is a twelve year old boy that just lost is 16 year old brother. Grief is what you first encounter, such pain and loss fill out young boy. But, King believes his brother has not left but instead is a dragonfly now. So, everyday we see him go to the bayou look at the dragonflies hoping one will make contact. It’s there he encounters is once friend Sandy. The best friend who once confessed to him he way gay. But, King’s brother overheard the talk and advises him to stay away from Sandy so people don’t think he’s gay too. King doesn’t hesitate to break the friendship.
Through loss, grief and confusion on how to act, because all he’s told is Black man don’t cry, don’t cook, are not gay because being Black is bad enough in the world as is, King doesn’t know who to be or how to be. He makes mistakes, he lies, but he amidst all he also fights to help Sandy when he finds him hiding from his abusive father.
There’s so much in this story, all the characters from Sandy’s supposedly racist murderous brother, to King’s friends, Jasmine who likes him, and Breanna who sees him, to the little nasty Camille and their homophobic friend Darrel.
They’re all so complex.
This book was a breath of fresh air, of warmth and light, even amongst all the hard feelings it portrays, because there’s also a lot of love and a lot of fighting for what’s right.
Loved, loved, loved.
My second book from Kacen and won’t be my last from them. They’re amazing writers and show such understanding of the emotions and lives they create on the page.
Another amazing for PRIDE MONTH 💖
Even though I rarely read middle grade I’m so happy I gave this one a chance because I loved the author’s work in their book Felix Ever After.
Now about King and The Dragonflies. What a wonderful, sad and hopeful journey along with King.
Kingston aka King is a twelve year old boy that just lost is 16 year old brother. Grief is what you first encounter, such pain and loss fill out young boy. But, King believes his brother has not left but instead is a dragonfly now. So, everyday we see him go to the bayou look at the dragonflies hoping one will make contact. It’s there he encounters is once friend Sandy. The best friend who once confessed to him he way gay. But, King’s brother overheard the talk and advises him to stay away from Sandy so people don’t think he’s gay too. King doesn’t hesitate to break the friendship.
Through loss, grief and confusion on how to act, because all he’s told is Black man don’t cry, don’t cook, are not gay because being Black is bad enough in the world as is, King doesn’t know who to be or how to be. He makes mistakes, he lies, but he amidst all he also fights to help Sandy when he finds him hiding from his abusive father.
There’s so much in this story, all the characters from Sandy’s supposedly racist murderous brother, to King’s friends, Jasmine who likes him, and Breanna who sees him, to the little nasty Camille and their homophobic friend Darrel.
They’re all so complex.
This book was a breath of fresh air, of warmth and light, even amongst all the hard feelings it portrays, because there’s also a lot of love and a lot of fighting for what’s right.
Loved, loved, loved.
My second book from Kacen and won’t be my last from them. They’re amazing writers and show such understanding of the emotions and lives they create on the page.
Another amazing for PRIDE MONTH 💖
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Homophobia, Physical abuse, and Racism
Minor: Racial slurs, Murder, and Abandonment