FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. Based on the author's own experiences as a child growing up in the projects, a delightful picture book follows DeShawn Williams, who wants to be a rap star and who is terrified that the graffiti in his neighborhood will come alive.
From Publishers Weekly
Medina (Love to Mam : A Tribute to Mothers) attributes the first-person poems in his prosaic collection to 10-year-old DeShawn Williams, who invites readers to "come see who I live with / who I love!" Poet Medina doesn't stint on details, convincingly melding the warmth of family life with the stark realities of the streets. DeShawn answers the question "What is life like in the 'hood/ People walking everywhere/ broken bottles in the stairs/ / and dog mess smell in the air." But home is a safe place where the boy can tell his grandmother "anything/ she never tells my secrets," where his Uncle Richie consoles him when he has a bad dream, and where he lies "under the table/ listening to the grown-ups/ telling stories and the kitchen/ is warm and the windows wet/ with the smell of cornbread/ and baked chicken." Because Medina's portrait of the hard-working family is so positive, Christie's (The Palm of My Heart) bleak and sophisticated paintings seem misplaced; sharp angles and corners doorways, beams of light, people's heads and bodies dominate the compositions. In two standout spreads, words and artwork are completely in sync: when DeShawn's grandmother dies, and when his mother comforts him. Here a mood of sorrow and joy remembered create a perfect balance. Ultimately, however, the starkness of Christie's illustrations belie the life-affirming joy apparent in Medina's sweet-natured and imaginative hero. Ages 6-up.
From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-"I'm DeShawn Williams/I'm ten years old/come see who I live with-/who I love!" Told in verse and segmented into descriptive passages each illustrated on double-page spreads, Medina's story introduces readers to the world of an African-American boy who lives in the projects. Happy, sad, or scary, the experiences DeShawn shares are vivid, thought-provoking, and insightful. "What Is Life Like in the 'Hood": "You don't just hear music/you hear sirens too/cop cars and ambulances/screaming all the time/real loud at you." Other segments describe his household, the news on TV ("When I watch the news it's always/about somebody dying and there's/ always mothers and kids crying/because somebody got shot or/two countries are fighting"), his friends, and rap. Though many of the verses deal with the harsh reality of living in a turbulent environment, the optimism of this child is evident and convincing. Christie's acrylic paintings are bold, vibrant, and childlike, adding to the moods created by Medina's poetry. A wonderful book to read aloud and a possible springboard for teachers to use in creative-writing and art classes.
I enjoyed this book. It gave a look at a young boy not living in a conventional household. It doesn't give into stereotypes regarding children from split homes. I like the fact that the story focuses on the important aspects of DeShawn's life. He tends to notice the little things rather than on the big picture. I like the way it is something that many kids are able to relate to. It isn't just for one group, one gender, or one race. Certain aspects of the story are relatable to anyone who reads the book. DeShawn is also a very relatable character. The reader feel drawn into the story and cannot wait to turn to the next page to see what will happen. The illustrations are also so tied into the story that a reader need not read the story, they could figure out what was going on through the pictures.
Mr. Medina's "DeShawn Days" captures what life looks like from the view of a child growing up in an urban and distinctly ethnic area. DeShawn is an African-American child, but this is only by coincidence. He describes his world from a universal perspective-- he sees and experiences both love, friendship, play, and family bond like any other kid would, except these experiences are juxtaposed against what can sometimes be a harsh and unforgiving landscape. Mr. Medina somehow presents just the right balance between both the difficult realities as well as the, yes, believe it or not, joys, both of which actually do exist in what some folks like to call "the ghetto." It's reading that I think kids like DeShawn will relate to, and other kids will learn, understand, and yes, enjoy.
Tony Medina shares his inner city neighborhood with lively verse, a sense of humor and a tender heart. Reaching out to his young audience, Medina's story inspires joy and compassion without being the least bit didactic.
R. Gregory Christie's energetic paintings celebrate De Shawn's world with sensitivity and passion. Bravo, this book is a gem.
