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Jayson Goes for It!: A Contemporary Middle Grade Novel About an Eighth Grader Who Stutters and His Campaign for Student Body President
A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!
From fourteen-year-old author Brayden Harrington, the young boy who electrified the nation when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2020, comes a fictional middle grade contemporary story about a boy named Jayson who stutters and the challenges he faces and the obstacles he must overcome as he campaigns for student-body president.
Eighth grader Jayson Linden has had a stutter his whole life. Though his fellow classmates can sometimes be mean, Jayson tries not to let it get to him; he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his friends. Then Jayson’s best friend, Gloria, is kicked off the debate team because of her stutter and Jayson starts to notice other injustices happening at their school.
In order to make their middle school a more inclusive place and to stand up for his friends, Jayson decides to run against Mack, the most popular boy at school and captain of the basketball team, for student-body president. But as the campaign heats up, will Jayson be able to face his fears of public speaking and win the election?
This poignant middle grade debut reminds us all that nothing can hold us back when we’re standing up for what’s right.
From fourteen-year-old author Brayden Harrington, the young boy who electrified the nation when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2020, comes a fictional middle grade contemporary story about a boy named Jayson who stutters and the challenges he faces and the obstacles he must overcome as he campaigns for student-body president.
Eighth grader Jayson Linden has had a stutter his whole life. Though his fellow classmates can sometimes be mean, Jayson tries not to let it get to him; he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his friends. Then Jayson’s best friend, Gloria, is kicked off the debate team because of her stutter and Jayson starts to notice other injustices happening at their school.
In order to make their middle school a more inclusive place and to stand up for his friends, Jayson decides to run against Mack, the most popular boy at school and captain of the basketball team, for student-body president. But as the campaign heats up, will Jayson be able to face his fears of public speaking and win the election?
This poignant middle grade debut reminds us all that nothing can hold us back when we’re standing up for what’s right.
- GenresMiddle Grade
224 pages, Hardcover
Published August 29, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
October 19, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this title. Jayson and Gloria are two students who both stutter. Instead of letting it stand in their way, they decide to use their voices to run for class president and vice president. Can two kids who take extra time to say their words win the election?
Tween and young teens who like stories about school and overcoming obstacles will enjoy this along with those who are interested in and/or involved with student government.
Tween and young teens who like stories about school and overcoming obstacles will enjoy this along with those who are interested in and/or involved with student government.
May 10, 2023
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jayson is in middle school, and likes to play basketball and hang out with his friends at the Rock and Bowl. He is a person who stutters, and while it isn't always a concern, he does goes to a speech therapist, Dr. Dan. When his friend, Gloria, is told that she can research for the debate team but won't be able to speak because her stutter tends to put her over the time limit, the two are galvanized to stand up to many of the problems at their school. There is a class presidential election, and Mack (who is on the basketball team with Jayson and often makes fun of him) is expecting to run uncontested, with his girlfriend Suzy as his running mate. In addition to the injustice of the speech team, Jayson, which Gloria as his running mate, also wants to address the fact that the student council is mainly honorary and the student voices aren't heard. His friend Amia, who is nonbinary, would like to see the restrooms turned into gender neutral ones. As the election heats up, Jayson finds out that his single dad (his mother died when he was young) is dating Suzy's mother! Jayson also is at odds with his father because he doesn't care for Dr. Dan and doesn't feel that his techniques are helpful, while Gloria's therapist really seems to help him not only with his speech challenges but also with the way he feels about them. After some disastrous debates, the students decide to have one at the Rock and Bowl, since the principal is trying to quash the student involvement. Jayson has a lot of good ideas for what should be changed at his school, but does he have the confidence to make himself heard?
Strengths: I know that young Mr. Harrington came to national prominance when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention, but I don't know if this story is based on his own life. Certainly, the details of navigating the world while dealing with the difficulties of a stutter are well drawn, and it was interesting to see two different approaches to speach and emotional therapy. There's a nice cast of characters, and an interesting dive into student politics. Amia's quest for nonbinary bathrooms is definitely on trend, as is the idea that student voices should be heard. I'm glad to see a young person trying to write a compelling tale of trying to make the world a better place.
Weaknesses: I struggled with this one because the details of the election, while they may be an accurate reflection of how school politics work in California (where this seems to be set) or New England (where Harrington lives), they are absolutely not the way I've seen any elections happen in 25 years of teaching in Ohio. For one thing, the campaigning started at the beginning of the year and the election was held around Thanksgiving, which would mean that about a third of the school year was spent on campaigning. There were three debates, which would be hard to do, because students would have to get out of class. At one point, Jayson wants to use money set aside for the football team to renovate the bathrooms, and that's just not how school budgets usually work. Money for student actitivities comes out of a different fund than building renovations. While this might be fine for schools that have similar politics, I think the students at my school are just going to be confused by this portrayal.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are really interested in student government, or who found it illuminative to read about speech challenges in Tandon's The Way I Say It or The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
Jayson is in middle school, and likes to play basketball and hang out with his friends at the Rock and Bowl. He is a person who stutters, and while it isn't always a concern, he does goes to a speech therapist, Dr. Dan. When his friend, Gloria, is told that she can research for the debate team but won't be able to speak because her stutter tends to put her over the time limit, the two are galvanized to stand up to many of the problems at their school. There is a class presidential election, and Mack (who is on the basketball team with Jayson and often makes fun of him) is expecting to run uncontested, with his girlfriend Suzy as his running mate. In addition to the injustice of the speech team, Jayson, which Gloria as his running mate, also wants to address the fact that the student council is mainly honorary and the student voices aren't heard. His friend Amia, who is nonbinary, would like to see the restrooms turned into gender neutral ones. As the election heats up, Jayson finds out that his single dad (his mother died when he was young) is dating Suzy's mother! Jayson also is at odds with his father because he doesn't care for Dr. Dan and doesn't feel that his techniques are helpful, while Gloria's therapist really seems to help him not only with his speech challenges but also with the way he feels about them. After some disastrous debates, the students decide to have one at the Rock and Bowl, since the principal is trying to quash the student involvement. Jayson has a lot of good ideas for what should be changed at his school, but does he have the confidence to make himself heard?
Strengths: I know that young Mr. Harrington came to national prominance when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention, but I don't know if this story is based on his own life. Certainly, the details of navigating the world while dealing with the difficulties of a stutter are well drawn, and it was interesting to see two different approaches to speach and emotional therapy. There's a nice cast of characters, and an interesting dive into student politics. Amia's quest for nonbinary bathrooms is definitely on trend, as is the idea that student voices should be heard. I'm glad to see a young person trying to write a compelling tale of trying to make the world a better place.
Weaknesses: I struggled with this one because the details of the election, while they may be an accurate reflection of how school politics work in California (where this seems to be set) or New England (where Harrington lives), they are absolutely not the way I've seen any elections happen in 25 years of teaching in Ohio. For one thing, the campaigning started at the beginning of the year and the election was held around Thanksgiving, which would mean that about a third of the school year was spent on campaigning. There were three debates, which would be hard to do, because students would have to get out of class. At one point, Jayson wants to use money set aside for the football team to renovate the bathrooms, and that's just not how school budgets usually work. Money for student actitivities comes out of a different fund than building renovations. While this might be fine for schools that have similar politics, I think the students at my school are just going to be confused by this portrayal.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are really interested in student government, or who found it illuminative to read about speech challenges in Tandon's The Way I Say It or The Boy Who Made Everyone Laugh.
February 2, 2023
I recieved a free eARC of this book. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.
Jayson mostly wants to avoid speaking up. As a stutterer, he just wants to avoid drawing attention, except on the basketball court. But when his friend Gloria, who also stutters, is not allowed to participate in debate club except as a researcher because of her speech difficulties, he decides to go for it. He and Gloria run for class president and vice president, with the goal of making things better.
As someone with a speech impediment, it's nice to see a book that approaches things realistically and shows that your speech doesn't have to limit what you have to say. Well done!
Jayson mostly wants to avoid speaking up. As a stutterer, he just wants to avoid drawing attention, except on the basketball court. But when his friend Gloria, who also stutters, is not allowed to participate in debate club except as a researcher because of her speech difficulties, he decides to go for it. He and Gloria run for class president and vice president, with the goal of making things better.
As someone with a speech impediment, it's nice to see a book that approaches things realistically and shows that your speech doesn't have to limit what you have to say. Well done!
April 23, 2023
Jayson Goes for it! by Brayden Harrington & David Ritz due to be published on August 29, 2023 by HarperCollins.
This middle-grade book is about a boy who stutters and is friends with other children who are under-represented. Due to this situation, he makes the choice to run for class president.
I found this book to be well-written, inspiring and uplifting. The moral is that everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin and fight for what's right.
My singular "trigger warning" is that this a very liberal book so it may not align with everyone's values.
This middle-grade book is about a boy who stutters and is friends with other children who are under-represented. Due to this situation, he makes the choice to run for class president.
I found this book to be well-written, inspiring and uplifting. The moral is that everyone should feel comfortable in their own skin and fight for what's right.
My singular "trigger warning" is that this a very liberal book so it may not align with everyone's values.
November 5, 2023
A bit of a slow start and I almost gave up, but the story really picked up about 50 pages in and I read straight through to the end.
January 1, 2024
More like 3.5 stars
April 23, 2024
Love that this is written by a teen! The ending is a bit too perfect but I enjoyed Jayson's genuine voice as a person who stutters.
Grades 5 and up.
Grades 5 and up.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews