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.
National Book Award Finalist *
Kirkus
Best Books of 2017 *
Horn Book
Publishers Weekly
Best Books of 2017 *
School Library Journal
NAACP Image Awards Youth/Teens Winner * Chicago Public Library Best Books *
Boston Globe
Best Books of 2017
"This slim novel strikes a strong chord."—
(starred review)
"This complex tale of family and forgiveness has heart.”
—
"Strong characterizations and vivid musical scenes add layers to this warm family story.”
Kirkus Reviews
“An appealing, realistic story with frequent elegant turns of phrase." —
The Horn Book
"Garcia-Williams skillfully finds melody in words.” —
Booklist