First published 2018
Clayton dreams of the day he can perform alongside his grandfather Cool Papa Byrd and his band of musicians. He just needs to write his own blues song first. When Cool Papa Byrd suddenly dies, Clayton's world falls apart. His mother makes things worse by banning him from playing blues music entirely. Clayton refuses to accept this new reality. He takes his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and harmonica, then leaves home to track down the Bluesmen on his own. His journey through the city becomes a search for more than just musicians. Clayton must figure out who he is without his grandfather's guidance and what the blues really mean to him. Along the way, he discovers truths about his family and himself that he never expected.
Genres: family-life, african-american, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, self-discovery
Setting: City
Period: Contemporary
191 pages · Library Binding · Thorndike Press Large Print