Title: Yummy: The last days of a Southside shorty
Author: Greg Neri
Illustrator: Randy Duburke
Author's Website: http://www.gregneri.com/
ISBN: 978-0-329-78596-3
Publisher: Lee & Low Books
Copyright Date: 2010
Genre: Non-fiction
Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-18
Reading Level/Interest Age: 13-18
Awards: ALA Notable Children's Books, 2011. Coretta Scott King Author Honor, 2011.
Horn Book, 2010. School Library Journal starred, 2010
Horn Book, 2010. School Library Journal starred, 2010
Plot Summary: This is the true story of Robert "Yummy" Sandifer, an eleven year old boy who becomes a gangbanger at a very young age. Through the eyes of one of his classmates, we watch as Yummy accidentally kills a fourteen year old girl and then spends the next week hiding out before being tragically murdered by a member of his own gang. Told through the eyes of his classmate, Roger, we learn that Yummy's neighbors and classmates have mixed feelings about him. Before the readers are able to write Yummy off, we're immediately shown that he is indeed a victim of his circumstances, left to perpetuate a very sad cycle.
Critical Evaluation: Neri and DuBurke pair to produce this absolutely powerful graphic novel. DuBurke's black and white, comic-strip style illustrations pair perfectly with Neri's simply narrated tale. The overall story is a tragic one, and Yummy is beautifully portrayed as both criminal and victim, rendering the reader unable to feel anything but ultimate sadness.
Reader's Annotation: The true story of an eleven year old gangbanger.
Critical Evaluation: Neri and DuBurke pair to produce this absolutely powerful graphic novel. DuBurke's black and white, comic-strip style illustrations pair perfectly with Neri's simply narrated tale. The overall story is a tragic one, and Yummy is beautifully portrayed as both criminal and victim, rendering the reader unable to feel anything but ultimate sadness.
Reader's Annotation: The true story of an eleven year old gangbanger.
Booktalking Ideas: Gangs, violence
Challenge issues if any: While this book contains serious issues such as violence, the overall story serves as a deterent to ganglife.
Why did you include this book: This book gives a very intimate look into the world of gangs and first hand account of the tragedies of life in "hard" areas.
Why did you include this book: This book gives a very intimate look into the world of gangs and first hand account of the tragedies of life in "hard" areas.
Quote: "In no time, the police was looking for Yummy. They called it a manhunt, but I called it a boy hunt...'cause that's what he was."
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