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Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love that will appeal to fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.
Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen--he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live.
Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.
Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen--he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live.
Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.
176 pages, Hardcover
First published May 9, 2017
129 people are currently reading
2174 people want to read
About the author
Rita Williams-Garcia
38 books761 followers"I was born in Queens, N.Y, on April 13, 1957. My mother, Miss Essie, named me 'NoMo' immediately after my birth. Although I was her last child, I took my time making my appearance. I like to believe I was dreaming up a good story and wouldn’t budge until I was finished. Even now, my daughters call me 'Pokey Mom', because I slow poke around when they want to go-go-go.
"I learned to read early, and was aware of events going on as I grew up in the 60s. In the midst of real events, I daydreamed and wrote stories. Writing stories for young people is my passion and my mission. Teens will read. They hunger for stories that engage them and reflect their images and experiences."
Author of four award winning novels, Rita Williams-Garcia continues to break new ground in young people's literature. Known for their realistic portrayal of teens of color, Williams-Garcia's works have been recognized by the Coretta Scott King Award Committee, PEN Norma Klein, American Library Association, and Parents' Choice, among others. She recently served on the National Book Award Committee for Young People's Literature and is on faculty at Vermont College MFA Writing for Children and Young People.
"I learned to read early, and was aware of events going on as I grew up in the 60s. In the midst of real events, I daydreamed and wrote stories. Writing stories for young people is my passion and my mission. Teens will read. They hunger for stories that engage them and reflect their images and experiences."
Author of four award winning novels, Rita Williams-Garcia continues to break new ground in young people's literature. Known for their realistic portrayal of teens of color, Williams-Garcia's works have been recognized by the Coretta Scott King Award Committee, PEN Norma Klein, American Library Association, and Parents' Choice, among others. She recently served on the National Book Award Committee for Young People's Literature and is on faculty at Vermont College MFA Writing for Children and Young People.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 445 reviews
January 1, 2021
Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend.
Clayton Byrd delights in playing music with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and his band of Bluesmen. Though he’s occasionally permitted to join in on his blues harp, Clayton longs for his own twelve-bar solo and to be a “true bluesman among bluesmen.” When tragedy strikes Clayton’s family, his ability to play music is threatened. Burdened by grief and determined to keep the blues in his life, Clayton sets off on a journey to be reunited with music and his band of Bluesmen.
Music is the heart and soul of this story. Williams-Garcia’s cadent descriptions of musicians, instruments, and the harmonies they create are as rhythmic as the blues themselves. Whether it’s the “slow-burning funk” accompanying Cool Papa Byrd as he sings in a voice “deep and high, raspy and smooth” or the wail of a guitar “perfect for the soft midnight jams” whose “strings [produce] the purest sound with a sweet echo on the end,” the beat of Clayton Byrd’s story will make readers want to boogie.
But what are the blues without heartache? Cool Papa Byrd says “a bluesman ain’t a bluesman without that deep-down cry.” When death touches Clatyon’s family, old hurts that have haunted his family for years surface, and music – particularly the blues – is blamed as the cause of that pain.
Clayton suddenly finds that his connection to music, to the blues, and to his grandfather is fading. Worried the connection will be severed forever, he finds the courage to set off on his own. His journey is fraught with challenges that force him to examine his identity as a musician.
Williams-Garcia makes readers privy to the emotional struggles of both Clayton and his family, such that messages on forgiveness and the importance of being empathetic to the perspective of others find their way into the narrative. However, the crucial scene in which Clayton must confront his family to ask for – and offer – forgiveness is absent from the book. Without that emotionally pivotal scene, the conclusion of Clayton’s story feels clipped and rushed.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is a melodic exploration of a boy navigating grief, loss, and family drama.
Clayton Byrd delights in playing music with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and his band of Bluesmen. Though he’s occasionally permitted to join in on his blues harp, Clayton longs for his own twelve-bar solo and to be a “true bluesman among bluesmen.” When tragedy strikes Clayton’s family, his ability to play music is threatened. Burdened by grief and determined to keep the blues in his life, Clayton sets off on a journey to be reunited with music and his band of Bluesmen.
Music is the heart and soul of this story. Williams-Garcia’s cadent descriptions of musicians, instruments, and the harmonies they create are as rhythmic as the blues themselves. Whether it’s the “slow-burning funk” accompanying Cool Papa Byrd as he sings in a voice “deep and high, raspy and smooth” or the wail of a guitar “perfect for the soft midnight jams” whose “strings [produce] the purest sound with a sweet echo on the end,” the beat of Clayton Byrd’s story will make readers want to boogie.
But what are the blues without heartache? Cool Papa Byrd says “a bluesman ain’t a bluesman without that deep-down cry.” When death touches Clatyon’s family, old hurts that have haunted his family for years surface, and music – particularly the blues – is blamed as the cause of that pain.
Clayton suddenly finds that his connection to music, to the blues, and to his grandfather is fading. Worried the connection will be severed forever, he finds the courage to set off on his own. His journey is fraught with challenges that force him to examine his identity as a musician.
Williams-Garcia makes readers privy to the emotional struggles of both Clayton and his family, such that messages on forgiveness and the importance of being empathetic to the perspective of others find their way into the narrative. However, the crucial scene in which Clayton must confront his family to ask for – and offer – forgiveness is absent from the book. Without that emotionally pivotal scene, the conclusion of Clayton’s story feels clipped and rushed.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is a melodic exploration of a boy navigating grief, loss, and family drama.
March 19, 2018
dang i liked this book so much. the audio is really superb.
is this what kids read nowadays? cuz this is chock full with super duper themes dealt with delicacy but also, you know, head-on.
foremost, grief. also, when a bad-ass parent becomes a good grandparent: where do the middle-generation loyalties lie?
also, kids and art and the much underacknowledged place of black music in america and the world.
also, fuck this country's police culture.
is this what kids read nowadays? cuz this is chock full with super duper themes dealt with delicacy but also, you know, head-on.
foremost, grief. also, when a bad-ass parent becomes a good grandparent: where do the middle-generation loyalties lie?
also, kids and art and the much underacknowledged place of black music in america and the world.
also, fuck this country's police culture.
July 3, 2017
This book breaks my heart. There was so much potential. I loved every moment of this title until Clayton's grandfather dies. Clayton gets in trouble for his incredibly poor behavior in school (he falls asleep during required class reading of a book his grandfather used to read to him at night and gazes at a lizard-clearly a life of crime is ahead of him). The mom- and I use the term loosely has obviously been jealous of the love the grandpa and Clayton shared his whole life. If she resented her father so much for his time away when she was growing up why let him live with them? Plus she was an adult now. She should have gotten over most of her resentment or at least went into some much needed therapy. Mom is cruel and abusive under the guise of love. She sells everything her dad loved for next to nothing. Guitars he had for decades, albums, items promised to her son-you name it she put it in her garage sale. She also takes away her son's much loved prized possession-his harmonica. Clayton plays hooky (you don't blame him for a moment) to go after his grandfather's blues band. He takes the subway hence the title Clayton Byrd Goes Underground. I am not even going to get into the young ppl he meets on the train and all the following nonsense. Reading Rita Williams-Garcia is usually like being wrapped in a down comforter by the fireplace with a cat on your lap, a dog by your side and drinking hot cocoa. Complete with the miniature marshmallows. I would like to think the book had bad editing and she got way off the mark writing advice. The cover art is beautiful. I still remain a fan and look forward to her next offering.
March 31, 2017
Clayton is an excellent main character. He is grieving the death of his grandfather and trying to navigate all those emotions while his mom is dealing with it in exactly the opposite way he needs. The inter-generational struggles here and how we carry the baggage of disappointing relationships into new ones is explored in a way that the target audience can take in. I think this could have been a truly extraordinary book, but (and I can't believe I'm saying this) it was too short. The last quarter of the book is packed with too much action and emotion with a rushed resolution that fives the reader no time to process it.
July 28, 2017
Beautifully written, but not very satisfying. I'm torn.
I did feel very strongly about one thing. Clayton's mother was *so* frustrating. You can tell she's trying to be a perfect mother, but to me it seemed like she did everything wrong. She didn't respect Clayton's relationship with Cool Papa. It was like she was trying to make Clayton's grieving process more difficult. And then she treated Clayton's falling-asleep-in-school problem like a flaw in Clayton's character. The woman drove me crazy. I wanted to feel sympathy for her because we know her backstory. We know Cool Papa was not a great father to her. We know she works long hours as a nurse and doesn't accept much help from Clayton's dad. Still. There were opportunities for her to figure out what was really going on with Clayton and she never took them.
One thing I caught was that Clayton's mom calls him "Angel" and he plays the blues "harp." Maybe we're meant to see Clayton as an angelic kid who is driven "underground" by Cool Papa's death and the aftermath. A good kid who almost goes really wrong. Because Clayton goes underground, he meets the Beat boys and sees what it would be like to not have his hardworking, well-meaning mother. Even with her flaws.
To me, the story ended a bit too soon. It felt unfinished. But there's a lot of good stuff about family dynamics and what *not* to do when a kid loses someone close to them (I'm looking at you, Ms. Byrd).
I did feel very strongly about one thing. Clayton's mother was *so* frustrating. You can tell she's trying to be a perfect mother, but to me it seemed like she did everything wrong. She didn't respect Clayton's relationship with Cool Papa. It was like she was trying to make Clayton's grieving process more difficult. And then she treated Clayton's falling-asleep-in-school problem like a flaw in Clayton's character. The woman drove me crazy. I wanted to feel sympathy for her because we know her backstory. We know Cool Papa was not a great father to her. We know she works long hours as a nurse and doesn't accept much help from Clayton's dad. Still. There were opportunities for her to figure out what was really going on with Clayton and she never took them.
One thing I caught was that Clayton's mom calls him "Angel" and he plays the blues "harp." Maybe we're meant to see Clayton as an angelic kid who is driven "underground" by Cool Papa's death and the aftermath. A good kid who almost goes really wrong. Because Clayton goes underground, he meets the Beat boys and sees what it would be like to not have his hardworking, well-meaning mother. Even with her flaws.
To me, the story ended a bit too soon. It felt unfinished. But there's a lot of good stuff about family dynamics and what *not* to do when a kid loses someone close to them (I'm looking at you, Ms. Byrd).
May 31, 2017
Young African-American Clayton Byrd yearns “to be a true bluesman among bluesmen,” playing blues harp alongside his grandfather Cool Papa Byrd and his band. When Cool Papa dies suddenly in his sleep, Clayton grieves deeply, his loss amplified by his mother’s anger toward her father’s blues playing days away from the family. Adam Lazarre-Whites narration resonates deeply, bringing depth and emotion to this touching story.
Right from the first page, Rita Williams-Garcia weaves the power of blues through each fiber of her story, writing with the same "rhythm and slow-burning funk cooked into the blues" that she describes. She riffs on the lyrics of blues, but keeps it focused on young Clayton's story.
Right from the first page, Rita Williams-Garcia weaves the power of blues through each fiber of her story, writing with the same "rhythm and slow-burning funk cooked into the blues" that she describes. She riffs on the lyrics of blues, but keeps it focused on young Clayton's story.
November 3, 2020
Digital audiobook performed by Adam Lazarre-White.
4.5****
From the book jacket: When, Cool Papa, when? That’s what Clayton Byrd is always asking his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd. When does he get a solo to show off his talent on the blues harp? Clayton feels most alive when he’s with Cool Papa Byrd and the Bluesmen, playing the music he feels in his bones. But then the unexpected happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies. Clayton’s mother forbids him from playing the blues. For Clayton, that’s no way to live. Armed with his grandfather’s porkpie hat and his blues harp, he runs away from home and to the New York City subways in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road.
My reactions:
This was wonderful on so many levels. First on a purely superficial level, I loved the lesson in blues history that Williams-Garcia has given to young readers, introducing them to historic figures in the development of this uniquely American music.
Secondly, I loved the relationship between Clayton and his grandfather. The respect and love between them was palpable, even after Cool Papa has died, you can feel the deep connection they had and Clayton remembers some of the lessons his grandfather imparted, which help him when he’s “underground.”
Third, I really liked that Williams-Garcia did NOT paint a rosy picture of Clayton’s “adventure” as he ran away. He was in real danger and he suffered some consequences of his inexperience, rashness and youth. On the other hand, he also showed himself to be an astute observer, a clever negotiator, and he had the kind of determination and grit that will see him through on his life’s journey.
And I loved the way in which this wrapped up. The apologies and understandings that Clayton, his mother and his father came to, by really talking about what was important and putting aside some of their own hurt to help one another through this terrible grief.
Adam Lazarre-White does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I love his deep bass voice for Cool Papa and Clayton’s dad. I would have liked a little blues music underscore, but that’s not enough to deter me from listening again, or re-reading the text.
4.5****
From the book jacket: When, Cool Papa, when? That’s what Clayton Byrd is always asking his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd. When does he get a solo to show off his talent on the blues harp? Clayton feels most alive when he’s with Cool Papa Byrd and the Bluesmen, playing the music he feels in his bones. But then the unexpected happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies. Clayton’s mother forbids him from playing the blues. For Clayton, that’s no way to live. Armed with his grandfather’s porkpie hat and his blues harp, he runs away from home and to the New York City subways in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road.
My reactions:
This was wonderful on so many levels. First on a purely superficial level, I loved the lesson in blues history that Williams-Garcia has given to young readers, introducing them to historic figures in the development of this uniquely American music.
Secondly, I loved the relationship between Clayton and his grandfather. The respect and love between them was palpable, even after Cool Papa has died, you can feel the deep connection they had and Clayton remembers some of the lessons his grandfather imparted, which help him when he’s “underground.”
Third, I really liked that Williams-Garcia did NOT paint a rosy picture of Clayton’s “adventure” as he ran away. He was in real danger and he suffered some consequences of his inexperience, rashness and youth. On the other hand, he also showed himself to be an astute observer, a clever negotiator, and he had the kind of determination and grit that will see him through on his life’s journey.
And I loved the way in which this wrapped up. The apologies and understandings that Clayton, his mother and his father came to, by really talking about what was important and putting aside some of their own hurt to help one another through this terrible grief.
Adam Lazarre-White does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I love his deep bass voice for Cool Papa and Clayton’s dad. I would have liked a little blues music underscore, but that’s not enough to deter me from listening again, or re-reading the text.
June 29, 2017
Reminds me a bit of Jason Reynolds' GHOST, but not near as authentic in voice as that title was. And like that title, I didn't really get much out of this one. I did not care for the first half of this novel. Cool Papa passes away just after we're introduced to him and the plot of the first half merely consists of Clayton struggling to stay awake in school. While Clayton running away from home in the second act and getting caught up in the wrong crowd sounds exciting, it really wasn't. I found myself very frustrated with Clayton's unreasonable mother but that was probably intentional. I did think Clayton's grief over losing his grandfather was handled appropriately but felt the resolution was a little rushed and tidy.
August 4, 2017
This book puts your heart through the wringer!
June 15, 2017
Clayton and his grandfather share a close bond and a love of the blues. When Clayton's grandfather passes away suddenly, he is lost in his grief. His mother isn't processing her grief in a similar fashion, she is selling his grandfather's prized possessions, which feels like she's trying to erase his existence to Clayton who is having a difficult time expressing the depths of his loss to his mother. This puts the two at odds and Clayton's behavior is treated as acting out which is punished by taking away beloved possessions and privileges.
Fed up and frustrated with issues at school, Clayton decides to pack up his things and seek out a life on the road playing blues with his grandfather's band mates. Along the way, he runs into a group of young people making their living by performing hip-hop on the streets and in the subway. Clayton learns quickly that he's not nearly as tough or smart as he thought he was and before long he's in pretty big trouble.with the law. When at last, Clayton faces all of his issues at home and school head on, he finds that his support system is stronger than he expected and with his father's help and a solid plan he begins to put his life back together even while grieving the loss of his grandfather.
Back matter includes some insight on how blues music is related to hip-hop music and the author's inspiration in writing this story.
The celebration of music is at the heart of this book. The language with which the author describes why music, specifically blues music, is so important to Clayton is beautiful and nearly poetic. The writing is lushly detailed and really helps the reader get into the mindset of a musician; helps them grasp what music does to their minds, bodies, and souls.
The conflicts are layered and realistic and help the reader to invest in the story as well as keeps the pages turning. I really appreciated how grief was explored and processed through different relationships. This added to the authenticity of the story. The ending was a bit rushed for my liking, but I'd still recommend this for grades 5-8.
Fed up and frustrated with issues at school, Clayton decides to pack up his things and seek out a life on the road playing blues with his grandfather's band mates. Along the way, he runs into a group of young people making their living by performing hip-hop on the streets and in the subway. Clayton learns quickly that he's not nearly as tough or smart as he thought he was and before long he's in pretty big trouble.with the law. When at last, Clayton faces all of his issues at home and school head on, he finds that his support system is stronger than he expected and with his father's help and a solid plan he begins to put his life back together even while grieving the loss of his grandfather.
Back matter includes some insight on how blues music is related to hip-hop music and the author's inspiration in writing this story.
The celebration of music is at the heart of this book. The language with which the author describes why music, specifically blues music, is so important to Clayton is beautiful and nearly poetic. The writing is lushly detailed and really helps the reader get into the mindset of a musician; helps them grasp what music does to their minds, bodies, and souls.
The conflicts are layered and realistic and help the reader to invest in the story as well as keeps the pages turning. I really appreciated how grief was explored and processed through different relationships. This added to the authenticity of the story. The ending was a bit rushed for my liking, but I'd still recommend this for grades 5-8.
January 20, 2018
I read "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" on my Kindle while on my treadmill mostly and the last couple pages in my bed, under the covers (the best place to read). Rita Williams-Garcia books are so catchy. I have read almost all of them. I truly felt the music in "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground"--
the blues, the tunes from Clayton's blues harp (his harmonica), and Cool Papa's guitar Wah-Wah-nita. This book took me on an emotional journey. It felt like one continuous thread as the reader follows one day in the life of Clayton Byrd that changed everything for him. Having dealt with my own grief over the past six months (sudden deaths of my younger brother passed in July and my publisher passed away in November), I completely related to Clayton's desire to hold on to what little physical reminders he had left of the man who had the most influence in his life, Cool Papa. I felt Clayton's pain and his desire to run away from it all when those around him did not understand the losses he experienced, his emotions, or even his narcolepsy. Like all of Rita's books, there is this realism and sadness but also tons of hope and humour. I don't want to give it all away here either so I will stop describing here. I was so happy to learn this week that "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" also won the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature. Congratulations, Ms. Rita! Lastly, I really loved the afterword as well that gave the background, research, and inspiration for this story as well as history of hip hop and the blues.
the blues, the tunes from Clayton's blues harp (his harmonica), and Cool Papa's guitar Wah-Wah-nita. This book took me on an emotional journey. It felt like one continuous thread as the reader follows one day in the life of Clayton Byrd that changed everything for him. Having dealt with my own grief over the past six months (sudden deaths of my younger brother passed in July and my publisher passed away in November), I completely related to Clayton's desire to hold on to what little physical reminders he had left of the man who had the most influence in his life, Cool Papa. I felt Clayton's pain and his desire to run away from it all when those around him did not understand the losses he experienced, his emotions, or even his narcolepsy. Like all of Rita's books, there is this realism and sadness but also tons of hope and humour. I don't want to give it all away here either so I will stop describing here. I was so happy to learn this week that "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" also won the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature. Congratulations, Ms. Rita! Lastly, I really loved the afterword as well that gave the background, research, and inspiration for this story as well as history of hip hop and the blues.
May 13, 2017
*I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*
This is the first book I've read from Rita Williams-Garcia, but it was just lovely. Clayton idolizes his blues-playing grandpa, to the dismay of his mother. When his grandfather dies, Clayton's grief runs up against his mother's pain from her youth, when her father loved the road more than his family. As Clayton tries to cope with his loss, he turns to his harmonica (blues harp), upsetting his mother. Finally, Clayton realizes what he needs to do-- he needs to play a solo with his grandpa's blues buddies. He sets out one day across the city to find them at the park. Much of the book is just Clayton's experience on the subway, his experiment with creating his own image of himself in his grandpa's porkpie hat, blues harp at the ready.
I loved that the book is essentially timeless-- there are no name brands or gadgets mentioned, so it could be anytime in the last twenty years. Clayton's pain is believable, and as an adult, I see that his mother's is, too. If I was to use this book with kids, I'd definitely pair it with a primer on the blues, so that students can hear what Clayton hears.
This is the first book I've read from Rita Williams-Garcia, but it was just lovely. Clayton idolizes his blues-playing grandpa, to the dismay of his mother. When his grandfather dies, Clayton's grief runs up against his mother's pain from her youth, when her father loved the road more than his family. As Clayton tries to cope with his loss, he turns to his harmonica (blues harp), upsetting his mother. Finally, Clayton realizes what he needs to do-- he needs to play a solo with his grandpa's blues buddies. He sets out one day across the city to find them at the park. Much of the book is just Clayton's experience on the subway, his experiment with creating his own image of himself in his grandpa's porkpie hat, blues harp at the ready.
I loved that the book is essentially timeless-- there are no name brands or gadgets mentioned, so it could be anytime in the last twenty years. Clayton's pain is believable, and as an adult, I see that his mother's is, too. If I was to use this book with kids, I'd definitely pair it with a primer on the blues, so that students can hear what Clayton hears.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2017
Could have been just a little longer to really better examine the issues discussed.
May 25, 2018
This was really good. A short book will move you and is full of meaning. Clayton’s relationship with his grandfather was sweet and felt familiar. It was interesting to see how Clayton processed his anger and grief. While it was frustrating that the adults didn’t try to look deeper, initially, it was good to see Clayton try to express himself verbally. While he didn’t always make the best choices, it was nice that we got to see Clayton react to what was going on. That made him feel real and relatable.
I wasn’t a fan of how Clayton’s mother dictated the relationship he had with his dad. I know, as a character, she had her issues, but her actions throughout the book were selfish and she was frustrating. I wanted more from her in the end, but overall this was a great book.
I wasn’t a fan of how Clayton’s mother dictated the relationship he had with his dad. I know, as a character, she had her issues, but her actions throughout the book were selfish and she was frustrating. I wanted more from her in the end, but overall this was a great book.
September 5, 2017
Clayton loves his grandfather and music. They share the love of blues. There is nothing more that Clayton wants than to be a musician with his grandpa's band. At what lengths will he go to achieve this goal?
March 7, 2018
3.5
So sad!
So sad!
June 23, 2017
Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...
A stirring, tuneful tale of familial ties—those that bind and those that constrain.
This contemporary Middle Grade book is told almost entirely from the third-person past-tense perspective of Clayton Byrd, a young boy who lives in New York City with his willfully single mother and his beloved “Cool Papa.” (Clayton’s father, Mr. Miller, is as present in Clayton’s life as his mother will allow… more on this later.) Clayton plays the “Blues Harp” (a.k.a Harmonica) for his grandfather’s band, The Bluesmen. Despite his pre-teen status, Clayton is passionate about music—longing to be just like his Cool Papa.
Cool Papa is a devoted, nurturing grandparent the likes of which most readers (myself included) could only wish for. He not only cares for Clayton, he mentors and guides him—bestowing musical training, life lessons, and bedtime stories in abundance. So when Cool Papa passes away in his sleep and Clayton is the one to find him, the boy’s loss is heart-wrenchingly palpable. And knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it any easier on readers.
Adding insult to injury, Clayton’s mother is in an almost inexplicable hurry to erase all evidence of her father. The day after the funeral, she holds a yard sale and more or less gives away all of Cool Papa’s belongings—including his guitars—and everything meant for Clayton. All he is able to save is his blues harp and his grandfather’s porkpie hat. Ms. Byrd’s ruthlessness, combined with her forbidding of the blues and insistence on blaming all of Clayton’s undesirable behaviors on her late father, eventually pushes him beyond what he can bear.
“Happy people need the blues to cry, and sad people need the blues to laugh.”
The author walked a tricky tightrope of conflict. On the one hand, Clayton’s rage with his bitter, controlling (and somewhat unstable) mother is completely justifiable—especially in conjunction with his recent trauma and grief. It is clear Ms. Byrd loves her son, in her own dysfunctional way. But it’s also clear she is so damaged as to not comprehend (or perhaps not want to comprehend) when she is behaving in an irrational and emotionally abusive manner toward him. And on the other hand, Clayton’s misadventure in running away is ill-conceived from the get-go—involving a gang of criminal “entertainers” and some potentially life-threatening situations in and around the New York subway system. Readers will want to see Clayton escape his tyrannical domestic situation, but not in the foolish manner in which he goes about it.
Ms. Byrd is difficult to like or sympathize with for most of the book—even taking into consideration the obvious hints of neglect and abandonment her child-self experienced thanks to having a father who was either away as a Navy officer, or away touring with his blues band. It isn’t difficult to believe that Cool Papa may have indeed been a lousy husband and father. But there is also no disputing his excellence as a grandfather. The brokenness of her mentality is eventually summed up by Clayton’s father—the man she holds at arm’s length out of her own pride and guardedness:
“The hurt just never went away. It’s like she’s still that little girl waiting at the window.”
Williams-Garcia’s descriptions of music—the initial explanation of the blues especially—was a joy and a pleasure to read. For those who aren’t familiar with the blues and its appeal, there is experiential learning to be had in her rhythmic, evocative writing.
There were just two issues that detracted from the story for me. The abruptness of the ending, and the rarity of Ms. Byrd’s perspective.
-The wrap-up, while not unsatisfying, felt rushed—lots of action with little time taken to examine emotional impact.
-We are given just two 2-page chapters from Ms. Byrd’s perspective—one toward the beginning and one 3/4ths of the way through. I would have loved to see more of what Ms. Byrd felt and learned, and how she presumably grew through the experience. The idea that adults can get help for their problems, and sometimes need to, is well worth addressing.
I don’t usually include quotes that aren’t pulled directly from the book I’m reviewing, but in this case, I wanted to offer one that felt so irresistibly suited to both the book and the subject matter:
"The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn't know how other people would take it." --BB King
A stirring, tuneful tale of familial ties—those that bind and those that constrain.
This contemporary Middle Grade book is told almost entirely from the third-person past-tense perspective of Clayton Byrd, a young boy who lives in New York City with his willfully single mother and his beloved “Cool Papa.” (Clayton’s father, Mr. Miller, is as present in Clayton’s life as his mother will allow… more on this later.) Clayton plays the “Blues Harp” (a.k.a Harmonica) for his grandfather’s band, The Bluesmen. Despite his pre-teen status, Clayton is passionate about music—longing to be just like his Cool Papa.
Cool Papa is a devoted, nurturing grandparent the likes of which most readers (myself included) could only wish for. He not only cares for Clayton, he mentors and guides him—bestowing musical training, life lessons, and bedtime stories in abundance. So when Cool Papa passes away in his sleep and Clayton is the one to find him, the boy’s loss is heart-wrenchingly palpable. And knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it any easier on readers.
Adding insult to injury, Clayton’s mother is in an almost inexplicable hurry to erase all evidence of her father. The day after the funeral, she holds a yard sale and more or less gives away all of Cool Papa’s belongings—including his guitars—and everything meant for Clayton. All he is able to save is his blues harp and his grandfather’s porkpie hat. Ms. Byrd’s ruthlessness, combined with her forbidding of the blues and insistence on blaming all of Clayton’s undesirable behaviors on her late father, eventually pushes him beyond what he can bear.
“Happy people need the blues to cry, and sad people need the blues to laugh.”
The author walked a tricky tightrope of conflict. On the one hand, Clayton’s rage with his bitter, controlling (and somewhat unstable) mother is completely justifiable—especially in conjunction with his recent trauma and grief. It is clear Ms. Byrd loves her son, in her own dysfunctional way. But it’s also clear she is so damaged as to not comprehend (or perhaps not want to comprehend) when she is behaving in an irrational and emotionally abusive manner toward him. And on the other hand, Clayton’s misadventure in running away is ill-conceived from the get-go—involving a gang of criminal “entertainers” and some potentially life-threatening situations in and around the New York subway system. Readers will want to see Clayton escape his tyrannical domestic situation, but not in the foolish manner in which he goes about it.
Ms. Byrd is difficult to like or sympathize with for most of the book—even taking into consideration the obvious hints of neglect and abandonment her child-self experienced thanks to having a father who was either away as a Navy officer, or away touring with his blues band. It isn’t difficult to believe that Cool Papa may have indeed been a lousy husband and father. But there is also no disputing his excellence as a grandfather. The brokenness of her mentality is eventually summed up by Clayton’s father—the man she holds at arm’s length out of her own pride and guardedness:
“The hurt just never went away. It’s like she’s still that little girl waiting at the window.”
Williams-Garcia’s descriptions of music—the initial explanation of the blues especially—was a joy and a pleasure to read. For those who aren’t familiar with the blues and its appeal, there is experiential learning to be had in her rhythmic, evocative writing.
There were just two issues that detracted from the story for me. The abruptness of the ending, and the rarity of Ms. Byrd’s perspective.
-The wrap-up, while not unsatisfying, felt rushed—lots of action with little time taken to examine emotional impact.
-We are given just two 2-page chapters from Ms. Byrd’s perspective—one toward the beginning and one 3/4ths of the way through. I would have loved to see more of what Ms. Byrd felt and learned, and how she presumably grew through the experience. The idea that adults can get help for their problems, and sometimes need to, is well worth addressing.
I don’t usually include quotes that aren’t pulled directly from the book I’m reviewing, but in this case, I wanted to offer one that felt so irresistibly suited to both the book and the subject matter:
"The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn't know how other people would take it." --BB King
July 27, 2017
Richie’s Picks: CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND by Rita Williams-Garcia, HarperCollins/Amistad, May 2017, 176p., ISBN: 978-0-06-221591-8
“When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this ”
-- Van Morrison (1995)
“It was seven forty-five and the plan was in action. Clayton avoided the main streets and began the three-quarter-mile hike to his house. His mother should have been on her way to work, creeping along on the expressway in her car.
Still, Clayton took a deep, careful breath when he turned the corner onto his block. He saw what he expected to see. An empty driveway. He exhaled, ran to the side door, let himself in with his key, and ran up the stairs. So far, so good.
He opened his mother’s bedroom door carefully, as if she might still be there. But he was alone. And now, to find his blues harp.
He opened drawer after drawer of her highboy. Six drawers of silky things. Underthings that belonged to his mother. It was when he pulled open the highest drawer that he knew. He should have known to begin with! The highest drawer was a hiding drawer to keep something away from a kid. But though Clayton was a kid, he was tall enough to get what he needed from the top drawer without having to stand on anything, He was sure he’d be able to look his mother straight in the eye in another year. After all, his mother wasn’t growing any taller, but he could feel himself inching up.
His hand found the candy-bar-shaped metal instantly. He wiped it clean of the silky, girly things it had been smothered by, and then sank it in his mouth to slick it up. Then he blew into all the holes, sliding upward, and drew in the air to slide back down.
He went inside his room, opened the closet, and grabbed the porkpie hat. He took the rest of his money--seventeen dollars in bills--folded them, and zipped up the cash in his book bag. He ran down the stairs, threw a peanut butter cracker snack into the nearly empty book bag, tucked his MetroCard in his pants pocket, stuffed his silver blues harp in his jacket pocket, and put the porkpie hat on his head.
He was about to run out the back door, but he stopped. Turned. Walked to the dining room table. Picked up the glass saltshaker. The angel with the glued-on wing. He put it on the floor, raised his right foot, and smashed it.
Then he left.”
Clayton Byrd is miserable. His blues-playing guitarist grandfather has died. He loved his grandfather who taught him to play a blues harp and took him along to jam with his blues band.
Clayton Byrd’s mother, the daughter of his beloved grandfather, still resents her father for having been off on tour through much of her childhood. She thoughtlessly sells off all of her dead father’s belongings in a yard sale, including the guitars that Clayton thought would be his. All he can salvage from the sale is his grandfather’s porkpie hat.
On top of all this, Clayton’s teacher is requiring the class to read the very same book that Clayton’s grandfather would read him to get Clayton to fall asleep. Clayton can’t read it without thinking about his grandfather’s voice and, embarrassingly, falling asleep in class. This leads to his mother confiscating his blues harp.
Clayton is so miserable that he decides to run away and go hang out with his grandfather’s blues musician friends. His adventure lasts just one harrowing day before he’s caught up in the arrest of a gang of teens on the subway. Fortunately, Chayton’s father, who we hadn’t previously met, steps up to help Clayton sort out his feelings about his mother.
Some people are fortunate enough to forgive and be forgiven for the terrible manner in which we humans sometimes treat one another. So often, this bad behavior is rooted in the way in which parents treat their offspring. CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND leaves us hopeful that Clayton will be able to move toward a better, more communicative relationship with both of his parents. It may inspire readers to make peace with their own.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
“When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like this
When people understand what I mean there'll be days like this
When you ring out the changes of how everything is
Well my mama told me there'll be days like this ”
-- Van Morrison (1995)
“It was seven forty-five and the plan was in action. Clayton avoided the main streets and began the three-quarter-mile hike to his house. His mother should have been on her way to work, creeping along on the expressway in her car.
Still, Clayton took a deep, careful breath when he turned the corner onto his block. He saw what he expected to see. An empty driveway. He exhaled, ran to the side door, let himself in with his key, and ran up the stairs. So far, so good.
He opened his mother’s bedroom door carefully, as if she might still be there. But he was alone. And now, to find his blues harp.
He opened drawer after drawer of her highboy. Six drawers of silky things. Underthings that belonged to his mother. It was when he pulled open the highest drawer that he knew. He should have known to begin with! The highest drawer was a hiding drawer to keep something away from a kid. But though Clayton was a kid, he was tall enough to get what he needed from the top drawer without having to stand on anything, He was sure he’d be able to look his mother straight in the eye in another year. After all, his mother wasn’t growing any taller, but he could feel himself inching up.
His hand found the candy-bar-shaped metal instantly. He wiped it clean of the silky, girly things it had been smothered by, and then sank it in his mouth to slick it up. Then he blew into all the holes, sliding upward, and drew in the air to slide back down.
He went inside his room, opened the closet, and grabbed the porkpie hat. He took the rest of his money--seventeen dollars in bills--folded them, and zipped up the cash in his book bag. He ran down the stairs, threw a peanut butter cracker snack into the nearly empty book bag, tucked his MetroCard in his pants pocket, stuffed his silver blues harp in his jacket pocket, and put the porkpie hat on his head.
He was about to run out the back door, but he stopped. Turned. Walked to the dining room table. Picked up the glass saltshaker. The angel with the glued-on wing. He put it on the floor, raised his right foot, and smashed it.
Then he left.”
Clayton Byrd is miserable. His blues-playing guitarist grandfather has died. He loved his grandfather who taught him to play a blues harp and took him along to jam with his blues band.
Clayton Byrd’s mother, the daughter of his beloved grandfather, still resents her father for having been off on tour through much of her childhood. She thoughtlessly sells off all of her dead father’s belongings in a yard sale, including the guitars that Clayton thought would be his. All he can salvage from the sale is his grandfather’s porkpie hat.
On top of all this, Clayton’s teacher is requiring the class to read the very same book that Clayton’s grandfather would read him to get Clayton to fall asleep. Clayton can’t read it without thinking about his grandfather’s voice and, embarrassingly, falling asleep in class. This leads to his mother confiscating his blues harp.
Clayton is so miserable that he decides to run away and go hang out with his grandfather’s blues musician friends. His adventure lasts just one harrowing day before he’s caught up in the arrest of a gang of teens on the subway. Fortunately, Chayton’s father, who we hadn’t previously met, steps up to help Clayton sort out his feelings about his mother.
Some people are fortunate enough to forgive and be forgiven for the terrible manner in which we humans sometimes treat one another. So often, this bad behavior is rooted in the way in which parents treat their offspring. CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND leaves us hopeful that Clayton will be able to move toward a better, more communicative relationship with both of his parents. It may inspire readers to make peace with their own.
Richie Partington, MLIS
Richie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.com
https://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/
richiepartington@gmail.com
August 24, 2017
This perfectly pitched novel about a young black boy's musical journey out of grief after the death of his beloved Cool Papa is pure gold. Funny, smart and full of authentic middle school moments that made me nod in recognition on almost every page, it has the added personal bonus of being set in Queens and the neighborhood where I work in Manhattan. What a delightful, timely addition to RWG's already stupendous body of work.
June 8, 2017
Clayton and his grandpa, Cool Papa, sneak away on nights Clayton's mom works a long shift. They go to play the blues at Washington Square Park with Cool Papa's band--grandpa on guitar and Clayton on the blues harp (harmonica). But then Cool Papa dies unexpectedly after reading a bedtime story to Clayton. Clayton's mom immediately starts getting rid of every trace of her father--from his guitars to his pork pie hat and she forbids Clayton to play the blues.
Clayton wishes his mother could understand his need to have Cool Papa's possesions, even though she didn't share this bond with her father. Clayton plans a secret getaway on the New York subway system to pay homage to Cool Papa by joining up with the band and playing a solo with them. On the way he meets up with a Hip Hop group and backs them up on the blues harp. They earn some money but then as Clayton follows them, the group commits some petty crimes and they all end up in jail.
Clayton's mom blames everything on Cool Papa's influece but Clayton's dad help her understand the important role Cool Papa played in Clayton's life and his need to mourn in his own way.
The story hits on the theme of how differently people mourn, especially when we see Clayton repeatedly falling asleep when his class reads the same book his grandfather read to him.
I appreciated the role Clayton's father had in his life, even if he wasn't physcially present in the home. Also, the importance of grandparents in the lives of children was a constant in the story.
Clayton wishes his mother could understand his need to have Cool Papa's possesions, even though she didn't share this bond with her father. Clayton plans a secret getaway on the New York subway system to pay homage to Cool Papa by joining up with the band and playing a solo with them. On the way he meets up with a Hip Hop group and backs them up on the blues harp. They earn some money but then as Clayton follows them, the group commits some petty crimes and they all end up in jail.
Clayton's mom blames everything on Cool Papa's influece but Clayton's dad help her understand the important role Cool Papa played in Clayton's life and his need to mourn in his own way.
The story hits on the theme of how differently people mourn, especially when we see Clayton repeatedly falling asleep when his class reads the same book his grandfather read to him.
I appreciated the role Clayton's father had in his life, even if he wasn't physcially present in the home. Also, the importance of grandparents in the lives of children was a constant in the story.
May 8, 2017
The writing style was wonderful and I loved how Williams-Garcia described the sounds of the music. The story was interesting and drew me in and kept me until the end. I liked Clayton's idealization of Cool Papa and his inability to understand why his mom was so mad at Cool Papa. Cool Papa is always there for Clayton in a way he was never there for his own daughter, so Clayton misses the point entirely. It adds a very rich and a very real level of conflict I think a lot of us can relate to. It begs the questions, "When do we forgive and forget?" "What do we let affect the next generation?" etc.
I gave it 4 stars because the writing was incredible and again and again I fell into how well she described the sounds the instruments made and what the notes asked or said to others. That was unique and incredible.
The cover suggests when Clayton goes underground he would learn about his Cool Papa. I took it as he would meet up with the Blues Boys and learn about Cool Papa's double life and why his mom hated him so much. Perhaps who the three pretty girls were at the funeral? What I got was so unexpected, and there is no real resolution for what happened to him being robbed and jailed. That's a harsh lesson to learn. His mom makes some steps in realizing Clayton loved his Cool Papa in a way she never did and he needs to grieve in his own way, but I was expecting so much more of the "Underground" part. And what we got wasn't really related to "Cool Papa's" background.
I gave it 4 stars because the writing was incredible and again and again I fell into how well she described the sounds the instruments made and what the notes asked or said to others. That was unique and incredible.
The cover suggests when Clayton goes underground he would learn about his Cool Papa. I took it as he would meet up with the Blues Boys and learn about Cool Papa's double life and why his mom hated him so much. Perhaps who the three pretty girls were at the funeral? What I got was so unexpected, and there is no real resolution for what happened to him being robbed and jailed. That's a harsh lesson to learn. His mom makes some steps in realizing Clayton loved his Cool Papa in a way she never did and he needs to grieve in his own way, but I was expecting so much more of the "Underground" part. And what we got wasn't really related to "Cool Papa's" background.
July 17, 2017
This heart melting story tells us about a boy named Clayton Byrd and how he loved playing the blues as much as he loved his grandfather, which Clayton calls him Cool Papa. But when everything comes crashing down, his grandfather leaving Clayton's life,his mother taking his blues harp because she hates the blues, and Clayton's mom selling all of Cool papa's things. Unable to live his once happy life, Clayton decided to run away and live with the blues men. His plan didn't go too well. Forced to do something he didn't want to do, just because he wanted to get a piece of Cool Papa. That lead him going to jail. His mother wasn't happy to see Clayton in jail, especially after she worried about where Clayton went. What happens next? read this awesome book to find out
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 1, 2017
Clayton Byrd loves playing the blues with his Cool Papa. He is talented with the blues harp and doesn't like when people call it a harmonica. Cool Papa typically watches Clayton because his mom works long hours. Cool Papa and Clayton have a beautiful relationship, but Clayton's mom doesn't particularly like the influence the blues might have on her son.
This book is a sweet story about love and acceptance. It is also a story about coping with loss and grief. Highly recommend.
This book is a sweet story about love and acceptance. It is also a story about coping with loss and grief. Highly recommend.
February 22, 2017
This white girl from small town/small city doesn't know blues and doesn't know subways, but I was pulled into the story of a boy grieving for his beloved grandfather. One of my fifth grade readers gulped it down in no time, and I read it the same way.
June 11, 2017
Wow! Really this one is 4.5 stars for me, only because I wanted to know some of the characters for a bit longer. This book packs a lot of emotion and story in only a few pages. Definitely a Newbery contender.
June 1, 2017
A sweet story of grief, family, hope, and knowing what means the most to you and finding a way to hang on to it.
July 24, 2017
"This slim novel strikes a strong chord"—Publishers Weekly
March 9, 2018
Nothing makes Clayton Bryd happier than sneaking off to Washington Square Park and playing his blues harp (a/k/a harmonica) with his beloved grandfather Cool Papa Byrd and his friends the Bluesmen, except possibly playing a twelve-bar solo. But all Cool Papa keeps telling his not yet. Then, the unthinkable happens and Cool Papa is gone from Clayton's life.
No sooner is Cool Papa's funeral over than his daughter, Juanita, Clayton's mom, decides to sell all his belongings - records, guitars, clothing, everything. All Clayton manages to salvage is Cool Papa's porkpie hat. Sad and angry, Clayton just doesn't understand why his mom is so bitter towards her father.
To make matters worse, Cool Papa always read to Clayton at bedtime, and no sooner does he return to school, when the teacher announces a new book for the class to read together - the very same book Cool Papa read to help Clayton fall asleep, the one he was reading when he passed away. When Clayton tells the teacher he has already read the book, could he please read another, she insists he read what the class is reading. But Clayton associates that book, The Four Corners of the World with going to sleep and that's just what happens everything time the class begins reading it.
After finally getting suspended for constantly falling asleep when he should be reading, Clayton's mother takes his precious blues harp away. Angry and hurt, and still missing his grandfather, Clayton hatches a plan. The next day, instead of going to school, Clayton finds his blues harp, his grandfather's porkpie hat, and his money - all $17.00 of it - and heads to Washington Square Park to find and join the Bluesman. And that is just the beginning of Clayton's coming of age journey, thanks to the ragtag group of buskers he meets on the subway, and who are just trying to make some money performing hip hop underground.
There is so much going on in Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, I almost don't know where to begin. On the one hand, there is Clayton's story, the loss of the most stable person in his life, followed by his anger and frustration at his mother and teacher for not understanding how profoundly his grandfather's death has impacted his young life. Then, there is his desire to recapture what he had with his grandfather by finding and joining the Bluesmen. But there is also Clayton's mother and her anger and frustration at her father for being gone most of her childhood, coupled with feelings of jealousy as she watches Clayton get the love and attention she had once wished to have, while she is now forced to work long shifts at the hospital to make ends meet.
Cool Papa had always said that "a bluesman ain't a bluesman without that deep-down cry" (pg 6) and that is just what Clayton's underground education helps him understand. Now, I've been riding the NYC subways my whole life and even I had a few breath-holding moments reading Clayton's experiences with those hip hop buskers he meets. And yet, kudos to Williams-Garcia for letting Clayton make wrong decisions and have those scary experiences.
The blues and hip hop, both African American musical and cultural genres. are the perfect musical accompaniment for Clayton Orpheus-like journey to the depth of the underworld to find a way to release his "deep-down cry." To his credit, it is his father who ultimately hears Clayton's cry, the father whose access to Clayton has always been limited by the angry Juanita but whose desire to be part of his son's life never flagged.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is an achingly realistic novel, and a brilliant coming of age tale for today young readers.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss Plus
No sooner is Cool Papa's funeral over than his daughter, Juanita, Clayton's mom, decides to sell all his belongings - records, guitars, clothing, everything. All Clayton manages to salvage is Cool Papa's porkpie hat. Sad and angry, Clayton just doesn't understand why his mom is so bitter towards her father.
To make matters worse, Cool Papa always read to Clayton at bedtime, and no sooner does he return to school, when the teacher announces a new book for the class to read together - the very same book Cool Papa read to help Clayton fall asleep, the one he was reading when he passed away. When Clayton tells the teacher he has already read the book, could he please read another, she insists he read what the class is reading. But Clayton associates that book, The Four Corners of the World with going to sleep and that's just what happens everything time the class begins reading it.
After finally getting suspended for constantly falling asleep when he should be reading, Clayton's mother takes his precious blues harp away. Angry and hurt, and still missing his grandfather, Clayton hatches a plan. The next day, instead of going to school, Clayton finds his blues harp, his grandfather's porkpie hat, and his money - all $17.00 of it - and heads to Washington Square Park to find and join the Bluesman. And that is just the beginning of Clayton's coming of age journey, thanks to the ragtag group of buskers he meets on the subway, and who are just trying to make some money performing hip hop underground.
There is so much going on in Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, I almost don't know where to begin. On the one hand, there is Clayton's story, the loss of the most stable person in his life, followed by his anger and frustration at his mother and teacher for not understanding how profoundly his grandfather's death has impacted his young life. Then, there is his desire to recapture what he had with his grandfather by finding and joining the Bluesmen. But there is also Clayton's mother and her anger and frustration at her father for being gone most of her childhood, coupled with feelings of jealousy as she watches Clayton get the love and attention she had once wished to have, while she is now forced to work long shifts at the hospital to make ends meet.
Cool Papa had always said that "a bluesman ain't a bluesman without that deep-down cry" (pg 6) and that is just what Clayton's underground education helps him understand. Now, I've been riding the NYC subways my whole life and even I had a few breath-holding moments reading Clayton's experiences with those hip hop buskers he meets. And yet, kudos to Williams-Garcia for letting Clayton make wrong decisions and have those scary experiences.
The blues and hip hop, both African American musical and cultural genres. are the perfect musical accompaniment for Clayton Orpheus-like journey to the depth of the underworld to find a way to release his "deep-down cry." To his credit, it is his father who ultimately hears Clayton's cry, the father whose access to Clayton has always been limited by the angry Juanita but whose desire to be part of his son's life never flagged.
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground is an achingly realistic novel, and a brilliant coming of age tale for today young readers.
This book is recommended for readers age 10+
This book was an EARC received from Edelweiss Plus
December 20, 2020
Clayton Byrd's momma does not like music, at least it appears that way to Clayton. While Clayton adores and soaks up every word regarding music and playing the blues from his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, his mother wants nothing to do with Cool Papa's beats.
So when Cool Papa dies, and Clayton's mother practically gives away all of Cool Papa's things, including selling his two guitars, Clayton's heart is crushed.
His mother wants him to forget all this blues nonsense, and Clayton makes some not very good choices, rebelling against her wishes. Like rescuing his porkpie hat from the yard sale and continuing to sleep through his classes at school, because he's bored and Cool Papa already read him the book his teacher assigns the class to read.
But when she takes away his blues harp, the harmonica, that's too much. Clayton runs away, falls in with some characters who don't have his best interests at heart.
For the first time, Clayton realizes there might be something to his mother's dislike of the blues, and when he finally comes home, he learns there's more to it than he ever imagined.
This is a touching story in a slim volume that even some older than the 10- to 12-year-old kids its aimed at will appreciate.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
So when Cool Papa dies, and Clayton's mother practically gives away all of Cool Papa's things, including selling his two guitars, Clayton's heart is crushed.
His mother wants him to forget all this blues nonsense, and Clayton makes some not very good choices, rebelling against her wishes. Like rescuing his porkpie hat from the yard sale and continuing to sleep through his classes at school, because he's bored and Cool Papa already read him the book his teacher assigns the class to read.
But when she takes away his blues harp, the harmonica, that's too much. Clayton runs away, falls in with some characters who don't have his best interests at heart.
For the first time, Clayton realizes there might be something to his mother's dislike of the blues, and when he finally comes home, he learns there's more to it than he ever imagined.
This is a touching story in a slim volume that even some older than the 10- to 12-year-old kids its aimed at will appreciate.
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
August 30, 2017
Newbery-Honor winner Williams-Garcia returns with another book that is filled with love, loss and family. Clayton loves playing the blue with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, in the park. It’s something they do together when his mother works double shifts, since she doesn’t approve of the blues or his grandfather. Clayton knows he is ready for a solo on his blues harp, but Cool Papa wants him to wait a bit longer. Then one night, Cool Papa doesn’t wake up and Clayton is left with his mother’s anger at her father and his own deep loss. School becomes almost impossible for Clayton as he struggles with his grief and when his teacher makes him read the same book that Cool Papa had been reading aloud to him, it is too much. Clayton decides to hit the road, find the blues men that his grandfather played with and join them on their travels. But it’s not that simple and Clayton soon finds himself on an unexpected journey on the New York subway.
This book is simply incredible. Williams-Garcia writes with an ease that welcomes readers deep into the story. She manages in well under 200 pages to tell a deep and rich story that resonates. It’s a story of the power of music to connect generations, of grandfathers who teach and lead, of subways and busking, of urban landscapes and neighborhoods. It’s a story of loss and grief, of self discovery too. It is a multilayered book that will inspire discussion and connection.
Clayton is a wonderful main character with his grandfather’s porkpie hat on his head and his harmonica in his pocket or in his hands making music. He is clearly a gifted musician and it is a treat to have a young character playing music like the blues and then mixing it with hip hop. Clayton is an individual and proud of it, yet he loses one of his main anchors in life and has to find a way forward once again.
Deep and resonating, this novel is a demonstration of real skill and the power of books and music. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
This book is simply incredible. Williams-Garcia writes with an ease that welcomes readers deep into the story. She manages in well under 200 pages to tell a deep and rich story that resonates. It’s a story of the power of music to connect generations, of grandfathers who teach and lead, of subways and busking, of urban landscapes and neighborhoods. It’s a story of loss and grief, of self discovery too. It is a multilayered book that will inspire discussion and connection.
Clayton is a wonderful main character with his grandfather’s porkpie hat on his head and his harmonica in his pocket or in his hands making music. He is clearly a gifted musician and it is a treat to have a young character playing music like the blues and then mixing it with hip hop. Clayton is an individual and proud of it, yet he loses one of his main anchors in life and has to find a way forward once again.
Deep and resonating, this novel is a demonstration of real skill and the power of books and music. Appropriate for ages 9-12.
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