In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom who many have wondered if he was super-human. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play senior school ball, and now they're overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.
Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn't as loved by the people as he thought.
In that moment, Henson's town is divided into two chaotic sides when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can't see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain people who may not even see him as human, or if he's destined for a different kind of greatness.
Derrick Barnes's groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America's strange obsession with the Black body, relegated to labour or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, it shows how much has changed over centuries. . . and, at the same time, how little.
Rezensionen / Stimmen
? "Barnes has masterfully crafted a story that's grounded in history and has fantastical elements woven into it. Henson is an irresistible lead surrounded by a strong supporting cast, and his story sheds light on the reality of racial dynamics. Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review
? "Barnes weaves together stories of spirituality, injustice, unrealistic expectations, and police brutality into a powerful tale." -Publishers Weekly, starred review
? "For readers prepared to look critically at American sports culture and its intersections with legacy white supremacy, this contemporary novel, both in its messaging and prose, is presented with a timeless rhythm, a modern folktale that leaves a damning indictment." -BCCB, starred review
"A unique, powerful tale." -Booklist
"You've never read a book like this. Derrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him--allegory, folktales, and classics-to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human. You won't be the same after reading it."
-Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal
"With humor, honesty and a touch of magic, Derrick Barnes gives a powerfully told tale of self discovery and community, a delightful ode to boyhood, manhood, sonhood, fatherhood and the blues."
-Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award-winning author of All My Rage
"Derrick Barnes has been one of greatest writers in the nation for a while, but this book cements him as one of the most genius storytellers the world has ever witnessed. The skill, mystery, and propelling prose here are absolutely once in a generation."
-Kiese Laymon, Carnegie Medal-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir
"A gut-wrenching and heart-expanding novel that celebrates an incredibly human hero."
-Ibi Zoboi, author of the National Book Award finalist American Street
"A breathtaking story-one that moved me to tears, laughter, and reflection. With vibrant prose, unflinching honesty, and love that sings on every page, Derrick Barnes has given us a gift that is equal parts powerful, necessary, and hopeful. Through the eyes of Henson-a character you will cheer for, cry for, and want to hold tenderly-we explore what it means to grow up Black in America: the joy, the pain, the dreams, and the weight of simply existing. This novel is another powerful offering from a writer whose heart beats fiercely for a better world, and whose voice we desperately need in the ongoing conversation about who we are, where we've been, and where we must go next."
-Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author of This Thing of Ours
"Henson Blaze might end up being the most unforgettable character of 2025."
-Colby Sharp, co-founder of Nerdy Book Club
"This book will carve out its own legacy . . . It's brilliant, necessary, and exceptional."
-Pernille Ripp, creator of the Global Read Aloud
Sprache
Verlagsort
Verlagsgruppe
Zielgruppe
Für Kinder
US School Grade: Fifth Grade and over, Interest Age: From 10 years
Produkt-Hinweis
Fadenheftung
Gewebe-Einband
Maße
Höhe: 213 mm
Breite: 145 mm
Dicke: 28 mm
Gewicht
ISBN-13
978-1-9848-3675-5 (9781984836755)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Klassifikation
Derrick Barnes is a National Book Award Finalist for his graphic novel Victory. Stand!-Raising My Fist For Justice, which also won the YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award, and a Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers. In 2020, he became the only author to win the Kirkus Prize twice for the New York Times bestseller, I Am Every Good Thing, which also won a Charlotte Huck Award and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor. Derrick is also the creator of the New York Times bestselling companion picture books, The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten. He is a native of Kansas City, MO, but currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his enchanting wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes, and their four sons, the Mighty Barnes Brothers.
