First published 2022
Jay fills his days with the best parts of childhood. He plays with his friends, receives warm hugs and kisses from Grandma, rides shotgun in Dad's impressive car, and stands against the wall as Mom marks his growing height with pencil lines. Each measurement shows Jay getting taller and stronger, ready to take on more of the world around him. But his family sees something troubling in his growth. Grandpa tells him not to gather in large groups with his friends anymore. Grandma explains that people won't find him as adorable now that he's bigger. Dad sits him down for a serious conversation about how to behave if police officers stop their car. Jay struggles to understand why growing up means losing the freedom to simply be a child. This Coretta Scott King Author Honor book explores how Black and Brown families must prepare their children for the realities of racism while trying to preserve their innocence and hope.
Genres: fiction, family-life, american-fiction, african-american, contemporary, childrens
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family
40 pages · Kindle Edition · Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books
Content warnings: racism