What do you think?
Rate this book
Isaiah Dunn #1
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero
A coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers a love of poetry after finding his late father's journal. Adapted from a story that first appeared in Flying Lessons & Other Stories and perfect for fans of The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson.
Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it's a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama's gone totally silent.
Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own--once she stops hassling Isaiah.
And when things get really tough, there's Daddy's journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad's tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!
Kelly J. Baptist's debut novel explores the indomitable spirit of a ten-year-old boy and the superhero strength it takes to grow up.
Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it's a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama's gone totally silent.
Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own--once she stops hassling Isaiah.
And when things get really tough, there's Daddy's journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad's tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!
Kelly J. Baptist's debut novel explores the indomitable spirit of a ten-year-old boy and the superhero strength it takes to grow up.
208 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 18, 2020
52 people are currently reading
1545 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 29 of 278 reviews
July 29, 2021
I didn't really read the summary of this book before I started this book and I'm really glad that I didn't. This was such a powerful book and is a must read for people who enjoy middle grade.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is a powerful novel about a young boy who becomes the "man of his house" after his father passes away. Unfortunately, after this loss Isaiah's mother never fully processes or deals with her husband’s death. She's often absent and Isaiah is forced to take on responsibilities that belong to an adult. To help cope with everything going on, Isaiah finds solace in his dad's old writings which feature a superhero who gets his powers from eating beans and rice. It is through these writings that Isaiah finds his own passion in writing and the strength to support his sister and mother.
The character development of Isaiah is the center of the story. He fights adversity that comes in the form of homelessness, alcoholism, and death. It is a constant reminder that there are kids in the world who are forced to grow up too quickly. It's unfortunate yet realistic. From the beginning to the end of the novel, Isaiah makes decisions in the best interest of his family. And while he doesn't have the support of family, Baptist creates an amazing cast of side characters that both challenge and help Isaiah heal. The relationships that Isaiah has with his friends are extremely realistic. They are not perfect. In fact, one of his best friendships begins as a classroom conflict. It's only after teacher intervention do the two realize how much they have in common and attempt to reconcile the hurt that they've caused each other. Although this book is targeted at a middle grade audience, it is one that will tug on the heartstrings of any reader.
The writing of this book was easy to get into and it is clear that Baptist understands the resilience of children. She doesn't sugar coat anything; however, she writes tough scenes in an accessible that will not only make children feel seen, but will also provide a window for some children to learn about the experiences of others. With such even pacing and brilliant writing, I can't wait to see what Baptist does with other books.
Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero is a powerful novel about a young boy who becomes the "man of his house" after his father passes away. Unfortunately, after this loss Isaiah's mother never fully processes or deals with her husband’s death. She's often absent and Isaiah is forced to take on responsibilities that belong to an adult. To help cope with everything going on, Isaiah finds solace in his dad's old writings which feature a superhero who gets his powers from eating beans and rice. It is through these writings that Isaiah finds his own passion in writing and the strength to support his sister and mother.
The character development of Isaiah is the center of the story. He fights adversity that comes in the form of homelessness, alcoholism, and death. It is a constant reminder that there are kids in the world who are forced to grow up too quickly. It's unfortunate yet realistic. From the beginning to the end of the novel, Isaiah makes decisions in the best interest of his family. And while he doesn't have the support of family, Baptist creates an amazing cast of side characters that both challenge and help Isaiah heal. The relationships that Isaiah has with his friends are extremely realistic. They are not perfect. In fact, one of his best friendships begins as a classroom conflict. It's only after teacher intervention do the two realize how much they have in common and attempt to reconcile the hurt that they've caused each other. Although this book is targeted at a middle grade audience, it is one that will tug on the heartstrings of any reader.
The writing of this book was easy to get into and it is clear that Baptist understands the resilience of children. She doesn't sugar coat anything; however, she writes tough scenes in an accessible that will not only make children feel seen, but will also provide a window for some children to learn about the experiences of others. With such even pacing and brilliant writing, I can't wait to see what Baptist does with other books.
August 16, 2020
Wow this was amazing! So happy I got an e-arc from netgalley and the publishing house early and read it in time!
This comes out Tuesday August 18!
This comes out Tuesday August 18!
November 8, 2020
This book is so stunning - heartaching, so genuine, confronting, but ultimately hopeful. I loved this - loved even more that this is an adaptation from Baptist's contribution to the We Need Diverse Book's Flying Lessons anthology (one of my first anthologies ever!).
- Follows Isaish, a Black boy who is grieving the loss of his father, and enters his father's story - where Isaiah is the hero - into his local library's story competition.
- Where the short story and this book differ: we see more of Isaiah's school life, we see him grapple and navigate a relationship with his bully-turned-friend, we see Isaiah's love for writing, and, importantly, we see a lot more of Isaiah's home life.
- This book interweaves a lot of things, which is what makes this book so remarkable: friendship, love for writing and the power of stories, homelessness, grief, and the power of community.
- This book is filled with so many emotions - it really takes you on a journey of Isaiah's life and the ups and the many downs. But it never feels like a 'pain' narrative; rather, an honest story about the realities that many families face.
Trigger/content warning: death of loved one (mentioned multiple times), bullying, alcohol consumption (of an adult in the story), homelessness.
- Follows Isaish, a Black boy who is grieving the loss of his father, and enters his father's story - where Isaiah is the hero - into his local library's story competition.
- Where the short story and this book differ: we see more of Isaiah's school life, we see him grapple and navigate a relationship with his bully-turned-friend, we see Isaiah's love for writing, and, importantly, we see a lot more of Isaiah's home life.
- This book interweaves a lot of things, which is what makes this book so remarkable: friendship, love for writing and the power of stories, homelessness, grief, and the power of community.
- This book is filled with so many emotions - it really takes you on a journey of Isaiah's life and the ups and the many downs. But it never feels like a 'pain' narrative; rather, an honest story about the realities that many families face.
Trigger/content warning: death of loved one (mentioned multiple times), bullying, alcohol consumption (of an adult in the story), homelessness.
August 21, 2020
I love, love, love that Isaiah Dunn is My Hero is an Own Voices middle grade novel that really honestly depicts the difficult things that many young people face. But it doesn’t only depict the bad- there’s so much beautiful depiction of the kind of care communities that exist in the Black community- the way people step up and look out for one another and their kids and families. There’s also the awesomeness that is a little boy who loves poetry even though at first he feels embarrassed about it. This is the kind of book we need more of.
Isaiah Dunn is a 10 year old boy who loves writing and poetry. His father, Gary, passed away last year and his mom is having a really rough time coping. They’ve lost their apartment and are living in a hotel. And Isaiah knows his mom has good day and bad, but is never quite sure just what kind of day each will be. He clings to a notebook his father wrote stories in about a superhero named Isaiah Dunn who gets his powers from beans & rice. It’s in these stories that Isaiah is able to escape and hold onto his father. He just wishes he had real superpowers and could get his mom and younger sister Charlie into a new and even better home. Isaiah sets out to help his mom out by earning money and along the way he learns what real strength is.
This story was everything an good story should be- there was a lot of emotion. At times my heart broke for Isaiah and his family. We get to watch Isaiah learn and grow too, all the good and bad that entails. There’s his friendship with a boy named Sneaky and a school bully named Angel. But in so many ways this is a story that teaches that we all contain multitudes- no one is all good or all bad. There’s a redemption narrative throughout that doesn’t condescend or seek to tokenize or sensationalize the difficulties lower income families and those who have lost a loved one or faced homelessness deal with.
Isaiah also ends up finding a couple of fantastic male role models who help him honor his father and continue to grow. There’s Mr. Shepard, the librarian and Rock, the barber. There’s also Miz Rita, an older woman and friend of the family from their old apartment building who really looks out for the whole family. I think in many ways Isaiah ultimately learns none of us have superhuman strength or special powers but that by working together a lot of good can happen.
This is a beautiful, complex story that deals with real issues. And the kinds of issues that rarely or are never written about in kidlit. I could see this book being a lifeline for the right kid, in much the same way writing and stories are a lifeline for Isaiah.
Isaiah Dunn is a 10 year old boy who loves writing and poetry. His father, Gary, passed away last year and his mom is having a really rough time coping. They’ve lost their apartment and are living in a hotel. And Isaiah knows his mom has good day and bad, but is never quite sure just what kind of day each will be. He clings to a notebook his father wrote stories in about a superhero named Isaiah Dunn who gets his powers from beans & rice. It’s in these stories that Isaiah is able to escape and hold onto his father. He just wishes he had real superpowers and could get his mom and younger sister Charlie into a new and even better home. Isaiah sets out to help his mom out by earning money and along the way he learns what real strength is.
This story was everything an good story should be- there was a lot of emotion. At times my heart broke for Isaiah and his family. We get to watch Isaiah learn and grow too, all the good and bad that entails. There’s his friendship with a boy named Sneaky and a school bully named Angel. But in so many ways this is a story that teaches that we all contain multitudes- no one is all good or all bad. There’s a redemption narrative throughout that doesn’t condescend or seek to tokenize or sensationalize the difficulties lower income families and those who have lost a loved one or faced homelessness deal with.
Isaiah also ends up finding a couple of fantastic male role models who help him honor his father and continue to grow. There’s Mr. Shepard, the librarian and Rock, the barber. There’s also Miz Rita, an older woman and friend of the family from their old apartment building who really looks out for the whole family. I think in many ways Isaiah ultimately learns none of us have superhuman strength or special powers but that by working together a lot of good can happen.
This is a beautiful, complex story that deals with real issues. And the kinds of issues that rarely or are never written about in kidlit. I could see this book being a lifeline for the right kid, in much the same way writing and stories are a lifeline for Isaiah.
July 16, 2024
Absolute middle grade perfection. I read this after my 4th grade daughter recommended it when her class read this and then did a whole poetry unit. It had a profound effect on her at 10, both as a reader and as a catalyst to writing her own poetry.
I first read the short story that inspired this novel in FLYING LESSONS AND OTHER STORIES and it was one of my favorites. The novel expounded on that story and left nothing on the table. This is a fantastic example of an early middle grade novel that lets the reader walk in someone else’s shoes appropriately and empathetically. This is the kind of book that leave you with a broad perspective of the world, but ultimately, with hope.
I first read the short story that inspired this novel in FLYING LESSONS AND OTHER STORIES and it was one of my favorites. The novel expounded on that story and left nothing on the table. This is a fantastic example of an early middle grade novel that lets the reader walk in someone else’s shoes appropriately and empathetically. This is the kind of book that leave you with a broad perspective of the world, but ultimately, with hope.
October 22, 2020
(This review first appeared on my Reading Ladies blog)
Are you someone’s Hero?
Isaiah is the older brother and is grieving the loss of his father. Isaiah feels the burden of holding the family together. The most important people in his life include his four-year-old sister who never stops asking questions, his mother who is depressed and drinking too much, and his best friend Sneaky. Because of her grief, Mom has taken a leave of absence from her job and they lose their apartment when she has difficulty paying the rent. As the pressure mounts, Isaiah gets in trouble at school and fights with his best friend. Isaiah’s one true comfort is reading the stories in his dad’s journal that his dad wrote for him, and his safe place is the library. In his dad’s stories, Isaiah is a hero and Isaiah ponders how he can be a hero and help his family.
Can librarians, barbers, and neighbors be heroes?
I love the “hero” theme in this story that plays out on many different levels. Of course, Isaiah is a hero as he bravely manages his daily life and grieves for his dad at the same time. His little sister views Isaiah as her hero as he cares for her and reads to her. There are unsung heroes in the story, as well, as we consider the librarian, the barber, and a caring neighbor. I love that compassionate, insightful, and caring people in the community find it in their hearts to be heroes to struggling kids. All MG fiction weaves in an element of hope, and it’s not a spoiler to say you will love the heartfelt end of this story!
On the subject of themes, I love the other thoughtful themes here that include grief, homelessness, poverty, compassion, bullying, kindness, depression, writing, and family. I love that Middle Grade lit addresses issues that kids might face in gentle and hopeful ways (because the middle-grade genre always infuses hope!).
For literacy advocates, Isaiah Dunn has a strong, lovely, and compelling story line about writing, the power of words, reading, poetry, and libraries! Kids interested in writing will love Isaiah and this story!
I’m highly recommending Isaiah Dunn for middle-grade readers and for adult readers who love middle-grade lit, for fans of poignant and inspiring stories, for those looking for more diversity in their reading, and for superheroes! This will definitely be added to my list of favorite middle grade reads.
***Trigger Warnings are always a bit “spoilerish.”***
Content Considerations/Trigger Warnings: grieving the loss of a parent, depression and drinking, bullying, homelessness and poverty. (all approached in gentle and light ways and appropriate for middle grade readers)
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
Are you someone’s Hero?
Isaiah is the older brother and is grieving the loss of his father. Isaiah feels the burden of holding the family together. The most important people in his life include his four-year-old sister who never stops asking questions, his mother who is depressed and drinking too much, and his best friend Sneaky. Because of her grief, Mom has taken a leave of absence from her job and they lose their apartment when she has difficulty paying the rent. As the pressure mounts, Isaiah gets in trouble at school and fights with his best friend. Isaiah’s one true comfort is reading the stories in his dad’s journal that his dad wrote for him, and his safe place is the library. In his dad’s stories, Isaiah is a hero and Isaiah ponders how he can be a hero and help his family.
Can librarians, barbers, and neighbors be heroes?
I love the “hero” theme in this story that plays out on many different levels. Of course, Isaiah is a hero as he bravely manages his daily life and grieves for his dad at the same time. His little sister views Isaiah as her hero as he cares for her and reads to her. There are unsung heroes in the story, as well, as we consider the librarian, the barber, and a caring neighbor. I love that compassionate, insightful, and caring people in the community find it in their hearts to be heroes to struggling kids. All MG fiction weaves in an element of hope, and it’s not a spoiler to say you will love the heartfelt end of this story!
On the subject of themes, I love the other thoughtful themes here that include grief, homelessness, poverty, compassion, bullying, kindness, depression, writing, and family. I love that Middle Grade lit addresses issues that kids might face in gentle and hopeful ways (because the middle-grade genre always infuses hope!).
For literacy advocates, Isaiah Dunn has a strong, lovely, and compelling story line about writing, the power of words, reading, poetry, and libraries! Kids interested in writing will love Isaiah and this story!
I’m highly recommending Isaiah Dunn for middle-grade readers and for adult readers who love middle-grade lit, for fans of poignant and inspiring stories, for those looking for more diversity in their reading, and for superheroes! This will definitely be added to my list of favorite middle grade reads.
***Trigger Warnings are always a bit “spoilerish.”***
Content Considerations/Trigger Warnings: grieving the loss of a parent, depression and drinking, bullying, homelessness and poverty. (all approached in gentle and light ways and appropriate for middle grade readers)
For more reviews visit my blog www.readingladies.com
May 18, 2020
“Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero” was a children to middle grade standout and I was surprised it touch based on sensitive subjects such as death, grievance, alcoholism, bullying, and homelessness which is all told in a 10-11 year old boy’s perspective. It touched home and most readers can easily relate to Isaiah’s story. Needless to say, I was impressed with the author's ability to tell the story in a child's eyes and what his thought process was when it seemed like everything in his life was falling apart when his late father suddenly passes.
April 2, 2020
Even though this book is geared towards the younger crowd I really enjoyed it. Isaiah was written as a really strong character from the beginning and throughout the entire book he grew stronger. His little sister Charlie was written in to show Isaiah’s soft side and she really brought it out of him. This book goes to show that even though you think you have it bad you never know what someone else may be going through. I read this book in two sittings and if it wasn’t for work I’d have finished it in one!
July 16, 2021
I’m glad I didn’t know Isaiah Dunn was only ten years old at the start of this book, or I might have not read it (trying to read books my 7th graders will really like), and I’m soooo glad I read this one. A bit sad from the beginning, I loved to see Isaiah’s attitude changing throughout the book. He had a couple of steps backwards, just like we all do, and yet he kept going back to what he thought was right - all because of his (deceased) father’s written words. It was good to see so many characters grow in this book.
January 30, 2022
4+ stars, Kelly J. Baptist is an author to keep an eye on.
Isaiah has lost his Dad. He, his Mom and younger sister are living out of a motel room. Isaiah feels a strong need to earn money to help his Mom. Then there's school; he and his classmate Angel can't get along, Isaiah isn't sure if he can trust his best friend Sneaky, and he is not feeling supported by his teacher, Mrs. Fisher.
What starts as a heavy book turns inspiring midway as things start to improve for Isaiah. If you are looking for a good story, that will be accessible to tweens with limited reading stamina, this debut novel* with short chapters is it.
*Her previous work was a short story in Ellen Oh's anthology, Flying Lessons & Other Stories.
Isaiah has lost his Dad. He, his Mom and younger sister are living out of a motel room. Isaiah feels a strong need to earn money to help his Mom. Then there's school; he and his classmate Angel can't get along, Isaiah isn't sure if he can trust his best friend Sneaky, and he is not feeling supported by his teacher, Mrs. Fisher.
What starts as a heavy book turns inspiring midway as things start to improve for Isaiah. If you are looking for a good story, that will be accessible to tweens with limited reading stamina, this debut novel* with short chapters is it.
*Her previous work was a short story in Ellen Oh's anthology, Flying Lessons & Other Stories.
January 1, 2021
Definitely needed to have some tissues on hand for some of these pages!
Isaiah is a 10-year-old who has just lost his father, and is now struggling as his mom drowns her sorrow in a very unhealthy way. Through his dad's writing and a bit if his own, Isaiah finds a way to not only navigate his grief but also find hope for the future.
I loved Isaiah's honest voice. The story tackles death, alcoholism, homelessness, and bullying... but it also just shows a kid being a kid: not loving his teacher, having best friend drama, and the like.
Such a good read.
Isaiah is a 10-year-old who has just lost his father, and is now struggling as his mom drowns her sorrow in a very unhealthy way. Through his dad's writing and a bit if his own, Isaiah finds a way to not only navigate his grief but also find hope for the future.
I loved Isaiah's honest voice. The story tackles death, alcoholism, homelessness, and bullying... but it also just shows a kid being a kid: not loving his teacher, having best friend drama, and the like.
Such a good read.
September 15, 2024
The amount of times I cried while reading this story... better review to come!
September 29, 2020
Grades 4-6. Very good! Fabulous ending.
September 24, 2020
This was a good middle-grade book about Isaiah Dunn - a young boy who has to deal with the recent passing of his father, his mother's drinking problem, and living in poverty/homelessness. When Isaiah stumbles upon short stories written by his late father about Isaiah being a hero, it empowered him to work hard to provide for his family and 'hustle the right way' by finding a job and writing poetry.
I would rate this book higher, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the audiobook at times. Even so, I thought this book had great character development and did a fantastic job discussing heavier topics while keeping a hopeful and inspiring tone.
I would rate this book higher, but I wasn't the biggest fan of the audiobook at times. Even so, I thought this book had great character development and did a fantastic job discussing heavier topics while keeping a hopeful and inspiring tone.
February 17, 2021
A wonderful story of a family overcoming hardship.
June 15, 2020
Fact: An estimated 1 out of 14 children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach the age of 18; one out of every 20 children aged fifteen and younger will suffer the loss of one or both parents.
Fact: The number of homeless students enrolled in public school districts and reported by state educational agencies during school year 2017-18 was 1,508,265. This number does not reflect the totality of children and youth experiencing homelessness, as it only includes those students who are enrolled in public school districts or local educational agencies.
Fact: Sometimes these two facts are related.
Statistically these children are hidden in plain sight in our classrooms. Some of them are our students and others are our students’ friends. Readers need to see their lives and the lives of their classmates reflected in story to feel heard and valued and to gain empathy for others.
Isaiah Dunn was one of these children. After his father died suddenly of a heart attack, his mother, too depressed to work, took her solace in bottles. “But I do think. About how the world can be good and happy for one person, but bad and sad for somebody else. And how everything can change in just one minute…like it did for me, Mama, Daddy, and Charlie.” (21) Fifth-grader Isaiah Dunn, his mother, and his 4-year-old sister lost their apartment and moved into the “Smokey Inn,” which is how Isaiah refers to their motel. But they then lost even that and for a few days lived in their car until they were rescued by a former neighbor.
“Every day Mrs. Fisher writes a sentence on the board, and we have a few minutes to write something about it. Today she wrote, ‘My world is a good and happy place.” (21)…I keep my workbook closed, too, cuz there’s no way I’m writing and words about being safe and happy.” (23) And a few days later, “I wanna tell Mrs. Fisher there’s no way I’m writing about ‘my favorite room in my house’.”(55)
But Isaiah does have his father’s notebook of stories of the superhero Isaiah Dunn which he reads slowly and savors, and he has a love of words, a talent for writing poems, and the goal of making enough money somehow to move his family into a house. He truly wants to be Isaiah Dunn, Superhero. But life is tough, and young adolescent lives are complicated under the best of circumstances. The reader follows Isaiah’s year as he navigates changing relationships with classmates and faces his own grief, attempting to hold his family together, and we cheer him on as he creates a lasting tribute to his father’s memory.
Isaiah Dunn’s story began in the short story anthology Flying Lessons, and author Kelly Baptist develops this engaging character in this first novel which I devoured in one day and a small box of tissues.
Fact: The number of homeless students enrolled in public school districts and reported by state educational agencies during school year 2017-18 was 1,508,265. This number does not reflect the totality of children and youth experiencing homelessness, as it only includes those students who are enrolled in public school districts or local educational agencies.
Fact: Sometimes these two facts are related.
Statistically these children are hidden in plain sight in our classrooms. Some of them are our students and others are our students’ friends. Readers need to see their lives and the lives of their classmates reflected in story to feel heard and valued and to gain empathy for others.
Isaiah Dunn was one of these children. After his father died suddenly of a heart attack, his mother, too depressed to work, took her solace in bottles. “But I do think. About how the world can be good and happy for one person, but bad and sad for somebody else. And how everything can change in just one minute…like it did for me, Mama, Daddy, and Charlie.” (21) Fifth-grader Isaiah Dunn, his mother, and his 4-year-old sister lost their apartment and moved into the “Smokey Inn,” which is how Isaiah refers to their motel. But they then lost even that and for a few days lived in their car until they were rescued by a former neighbor.
“Every day Mrs. Fisher writes a sentence on the board, and we have a few minutes to write something about it. Today she wrote, ‘My world is a good and happy place.” (21)…I keep my workbook closed, too, cuz there’s no way I’m writing and words about being safe and happy.” (23) And a few days later, “I wanna tell Mrs. Fisher there’s no way I’m writing about ‘my favorite room in my house’.”(55)
But Isaiah does have his father’s notebook of stories of the superhero Isaiah Dunn which he reads slowly and savors, and he has a love of words, a talent for writing poems, and the goal of making enough money somehow to move his family into a house. He truly wants to be Isaiah Dunn, Superhero. But life is tough, and young adolescent lives are complicated under the best of circumstances. The reader follows Isaiah’s year as he navigates changing relationships with classmates and faces his own grief, attempting to hold his family together, and we cheer him on as he creates a lasting tribute to his father’s memory.
Isaiah Dunn’s story began in the short story anthology Flying Lessons, and author Kelly Baptist develops this engaging character in this first novel which I devoured in one day and a small box of tissues.
June 21, 2020
Isaiah Dunn is my Hero by Kelly J. Baptist, 191 pages. Crown (Random House), August 2020. $17.
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Isaiah Dunn, 10yo, his little sister, Charlie, and their Mom, are barely holding on. Since Dad dies a few months ago, they live in a month to month apartment. And now Mama seems to be drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Isaiah is working with his best friend, Sneaky on a side hustle – but involves sneaking into gang territory and maybe getting into trouble at school. He finds an after school job sweeping at a local barbershop. But the only thing really holding Isaiah together is reading his dad’s notebooks, where he recorded his thoughts and his stories.
Baptist’s first short story about Isaiah Dunn is in the Flying Lessons story collection from #weneeddivesebooks. The death of a parent is hard enough for a child or spouse – but watching Isaiah’s safety net disappear is hard to read. Luckily there are a few safety nets that might be able to catch this particular family.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE
AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE
Isaiah Dunn, 10yo, his little sister, Charlie, and their Mom, are barely holding on. Since Dad dies a few months ago, they live in a month to month apartment. And now Mama seems to be drowning her sorrows in alcohol. Isaiah is working with his best friend, Sneaky on a side hustle – but involves sneaking into gang territory and maybe getting into trouble at school. He finds an after school job sweeping at a local barbershop. But the only thing really holding Isaiah together is reading his dad’s notebooks, where he recorded his thoughts and his stories.
Baptist’s first short story about Isaiah Dunn is in the Flying Lessons story collection from #weneeddivesebooks. The death of a parent is hard enough for a child or spouse – but watching Isaiah’s safety net disappear is hard to read. Luckily there are a few safety nets that might be able to catch this particular family.
Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS
https://kissthebookjr.blogspot.com/20...
November 24, 2020
More like a 4.5 rating ~ so many talking points and a tender, sweet story. The characterizations are real and genuine; the problems are not easily solved. Also worth mentioning is the shout out to writing as a balm to help comfort and soothe in times of trouble.
November 2, 2020
Omgosh, this is the most perfect book for 5th and 6th graders. I completely loved it and rooted for Isaiah the whole time. And thank God for good adult influences like Mr. Shepard. the librarian; Rock, the barber; and Miz Rita, an angel on earth.
Oh! There was one thing that bugged me: when Isaiah was in the library looking for Langston Hughes books, the librarian helped him look them up, and said something like, “the biographies are in the fiction section.” Um, no. Absolutely not. How could that error get through editing and proofreading? I had to take away a star for that.
Oh! There was one thing that bugged me: when Isaiah was in the library looking for Langston Hughes books, the librarian helped him look them up, and said something like, “the biographies are in the fiction section.” Um, no. Absolutely not. How could that error get through editing and proofreading? I had to take away a star for that.
July 10, 2020
(E-Arc courtesy of Net Galley)
3.5/5 ✨
( rounded up because I am not the target audience anyways)
Whilst I found the writing style a bit disjointed this book was overall a book about a hardworking kid who is just trynna do what’s right and finding moments of joy throughly the struggle.
I would definitely recommend this to any middle schooler or even elementary school kid. Such a heartwarming story!
3.5/5 ✨
( rounded up because I am not the target audience anyways)
Whilst I found the writing style a bit disjointed this book was overall a book about a hardworking kid who is just trynna do what’s right and finding moments of joy throughly the struggle.
I would definitely recommend this to any middle schooler or even elementary school kid. Such a heartwarming story!
October 21, 2020
Oh my gosh Isaiah Dunn. I just wanted to scoop him, Charlie, and his mama up and hold them close to my heart.
When Isaiah's father dies from a sudden heart attack on Thanksgiving he leaves a hole in the hearts of the entire Dunn family. Isaiah's mom falls into a deep depression that causes her to lose her job and spend her days napping or drinking. Isaiah wants nothing more than to help get his family out of the financial troubles they find themselves in.
What follows is a series of contests, side hustles, hard life lessons, found family bonding, library time, and so many poems.
Reading books that really show you never quite know what is going on in someone else's life until you walk in their shoes is so important. And I love that this book shows a boy who keeps trying his best even and in spite of life being so incredibly unfair to his family. Isaiah Dunn is my hero.
When Isaiah's father dies from a sudden heart attack on Thanksgiving he leaves a hole in the hearts of the entire Dunn family. Isaiah's mom falls into a deep depression that causes her to lose her job and spend her days napping or drinking. Isaiah wants nothing more than to help get his family out of the financial troubles they find themselves in.
What follows is a series of contests, side hustles, hard life lessons, found family bonding, library time, and so many poems.
Reading books that really show you never quite know what is going on in someone else's life until you walk in their shoes is so important. And I love that this book shows a boy who keeps trying his best even and in spite of life being so incredibly unfair to his family. Isaiah Dunn is my hero.
March 24, 2022
Isaiah's family is still reeling from his Daddy's death last fall, and things have changed. They had to move out of their apartment and into a cheap motel, and lately, there have been a lot of bottles in the trash. Isaiah doesn't want to tell anyone about how things are, and he's hoping to find enough jobs to help his family get into a nicer place. In the meantime, he's reading the writing journal his dad left behind ... and struggling to re-find his words, because Isaiah had always loved making up poems.
Isaiah's grief and worries ring true, and it's nice to see him always, always looking for ways to be a hero for his family. There are people in his life who care about him. I was hoping hard for his family the whole time. Good stuff.
Isaiah's grief and worries ring true, and it's nice to see him always, always looking for ways to be a hero for his family. There are people in his life who care about him. I was hoping hard for his family the whole time. Good stuff.
June 30, 2020
This is such a fantastic story to explore the depths of homelessness and the emotions that kids experiencing this event feel and how they react. It cuts deep into loss and grief; how someone can spiral downward after an unexpected loss. The interwoven themes of friendship curating from enemies, friendship from legacies, and friendship from the start, are all situations children are experiencing today. The integrity in Isaiah Dunn is something admirable. I hope kids read this and understand life is about what you put into it, and what you get out reflects just that. Can’t wait to share with students.
March 30, 2020
I was rooting for Isaiah Dunn 100% in this book! I hadn’t read about him in Flying Lessons, but have requested the book so I can backtrack and read him as he was originally introduced. Regardless, I sincerely hope his story continues in one way or another. Between losing his dad, taking care of a younger sister that has withdrawn and isn’t talking, bullying, near homelessness and more, the book never loses hope and isn’t written in a way that scares readers away. Fingers crossed we see more of Isaiah or his family in year eleven.
October 26, 2020
I first met Isaiah in “The Rice and Beans Chronicles of Isaiah Dunn,” a short story in 2017’s Flying Lessons & Other Stories. I'm so glad I get to read more about him! 10-year-old Isaiah Dunn’s life has been spiraling out of control since his father died four months ago. His mother struggles with alcoholism, his family is in danger of being evicted from the cheap motel they moved into after losing their apartment, and his very real frustrations are causing problems at school.
July 8, 2024
2025 Bluestem nominee. I did not want to like this one as I thought the main character was going to be a stereotypical African American boy (I.e., poor family, absent father, dealing with gangs). While these were true in some aspects, Isaiah was an amazing protagonist. He was strong, hard working, creative, and thoughtful — despite the turmoil in his life. Definitely a character I want my biracial boys to relate to!
January 13, 2020
Isaiah wants to write like his father, who kept notebooks of his stories, but never had them published. He wants to, but has been unable to since his father died, and his mother has spiraled down into drinking.
This is a great story, inspired by the author, a teacher, seeing children who might go to her school, who are homeless.
Through this all, Isaiah, if he can't write, he makes sure that his dad's stories are out there. He also reads the stories every day.
I read this story so fast, because it was so well written, and I really wanted to know what happened to Isaiah and his family. It is both heart breaking, and wonderful, at the same time.
Friendships, bullying, and hiding his homelessness are all part of Isaiah's world. Yes, he is my hero too.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
This is a great story, inspired by the author, a teacher, seeing children who might go to her school, who are homeless.
Through this all, Isaiah, if he can't write, he makes sure that his dad's stories are out there. He also reads the stories every day.
I read this story so fast, because it was so well written, and I really wanted to know what happened to Isaiah and his family. It is both heart breaking, and wonderful, at the same time.
Friendships, bullying, and hiding his homelessness are all part of Isaiah's world. Yes, he is my hero too.
Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review.
October 24, 2020
There is nothing I didn't like about this book! And Isaiah Dunn really is my hero! Great writing, great characters, great story. A rich read with lots of subplots that are fully developed and great stories on their own. The diversity and sub-themes of homelessness, food insecurity and parental addiction offer lots of representation but with an undercurrent of hope.
November 28, 2020
When I read Flying Lessons & Other Stories, I was drawn to Kelly J. Baptist’s contribution. This year my friend Laurie recommended Isaiah Dunn is My Hero to me because it continues Isaiah’s story. Authentic voice, perfect length, & all the love for super Isaiah. A lovely book enjoyed during #stayhomereadmore!
Displaying 1 - 29 of 278 reviews