Simon & Schuster As Brave as You

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As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds Reynolds, J. (2016). As Brave As You. New York, NY: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. I just read As Brave As You by Jason Reynolds. You may know Jason Reynolds from his other award-winning books, All American Boys, Ghost, and Long Way Down, among others. As Brave as You is about a boy named Genie (11). He and his brother Ernie (13) have to go stay with their grandparents for the summer—in the rural countryside of Virginia. They are Brooklynites, and the country is completely foreign to them. Not only do they not understand the ways of the country, they don’t really know their grandparents, either. So things are awkward. They get even more uncomfortable when Genie finds out his grandfather is completely blind. Genie’s personality is curious. He constantly asks questions and writes hundreds of questions in his notebook, so he has a few lined up for his grandfather, like “When did you get blind?” and “ . . . you remember what Dad looks like?” But the question he really wants to ask is, “Why you have a gun in your pants?” Why would a blind man carry a gun? As Genie spends time with Grandpop, he learns more about painful pieces of his past. He comes to understand the trauma his grandfather suffered from racist events he experienced as a black man living in the South. He also learns about Grandpop’s plan for his gun. This leads to more questions: Is his Grandpop brave? Is his brother brave? Is he? He’s not sure about any of it anymore. If you have ever read Jason Reynolds, you know what a great writer he is. I really loved the story of city kids adapting to the country lifestyle—and being forced to get to know their grandparents. There is action and some meaty plot, but what’s best about the book—to me—is how it captures Genie’s inner life and emotions—and the quirkiness of the situation and the characters. If you like a well-crafted, character-driven book, this one’s for you!

Good book, students liked this book.

Libby’s Literary Corner for Young Readers, Ages 10 and up, Grades 5 and up: Jason Reynolds, author of “Ghost” has written another winner, literally, in “as brave as you”. This novel earned the Schneider Family Book Award for a story that embodies an artistic expression of the disability experience for child and adolescent audiences as well as the Coretta Scott King Honor award for a book on Peace, Non-Violent Social Change and Brotherhood. Brothers Genie and Ernie are left with their southern grandparents way out in the country for a LONG summer month while their parents try to “work things out”. Genie is the serious kid, the one with a hundred questions and Google generally on speed-dial. Unfortunately Grandma doesn’t have a computer, a serious problem for Genie. He has even more questions in this new environment like why does visually impaired Grandpop refuse to leave the house? “Grits? What, exactly, are they?” “Where is Sam Hill? I thought we were in North Hill.” The questions are endless, keeping him up at night. Ernie, on the other hand, almost fourteen, is a lady’s man and provides the saving grace for Genie when they befriend a young neighbor, Tess, who does have a computer. Tess’s rifle-toting dad, Crab, drives Grandma crazy and maintains a questionable relationship with Grandpop, leaving money and bottles each time he visits. Reclusive Grandpop spends solitary hours in a soundproof jungle haven with caged swallows, reminiscent of the mysterious deserted yellow country house Genie and Ernie discover. Why is there a tree growing right up through the middle of the house? Who spends time there? What attracts the hundreds of birds to that house? Genie and Ernie are stretched to the limit in their coming-of-age season with Grandma and Grandpop. They learn the value of hard work, the importance of integrity, the many faces of fear and the incredible healing power of love and forgiveness. (My husband Jim thoroughly enjoyed this novel, too.)

Merriam-Webster defines bravery as “the quality or state of having or showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty.” Jason Reynolds teaches readers that bravery can be a weakness. “As Brave As You” is a slow, evolving story about two brothers getting to know their grandfather with moments that entertain. It does lack the thrilling plot that today’s young readers expect. The likable and believable characters—although the relationship of the brothers may be too good to be true—makes for an easy read, but don’t rush it or you will miss the layers of meaning. The grandfather has glaucoma and his blindness is an emotional trigger. But beware, the grandfather is not an ideal role model for a young reader because the book focuses on his many flaws. The publisher states that the book is for ages ten and up, however, it includes guns and gore, specifically war stories and dead birds. It would be best for an upper elementary student to read with a parent. Overall, the sprinkles of humor get the reader through what is a worthy lesson about real bravery.