Take Back the Block

Take Back the Block

AN NPR BOOKS WE LOVE SELECTION! WINNER OF THE ILA SOCIAL JUSTICE LITERATURE AWARD! Can sixth grader Wes save his neighborhood? "This book made me want to step aside, hand over the mic, and listen to Wes. A must-read." --Mariama J. Lockington, author of For Black Girls Like Me Brand-new kicks, ripped denim shorts, Supreme tee -- Wes Henderson has the best style in sixth grade. That—and hanging out with the crew (his best friends since little-kid days) and playing video games—is what Wes wants to be thinking about at the start of the school year, not the protests his parents are always dragging him to. But when a powerful real estate developer makes an offer to buy Kensington Oaks, the neighborhood Wes has lived in his whole life, everything changes. The grown-ups are supposed to have all the answers, but all they’re doing is arguing. Even Wes’s best friends are fighting. And some of them may be moving. Wes isn’t about to give up the only home he’s ever known without a fight. He’s always been good at puzzles, and he knows there must be a missing piece that will solve this puzzle and save the Oaks. But can he find it before it’s too late? Chrystal D. Giles’s timely debut explores community, social justice, family, and friendship, and asks what it means to belong—to a place and a movement—and to fight for a cause that you believe in. * " Outstanding ." — School Library Journal , Starred Review * “Transformative .” — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review ★ "The story echoes contemporary realities that, as its culmination indicates, take an entire community to confront, and it will undoubtedly push readers into action. An ambitious invitation for young readers that delivers promise for all ." — Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review ★ "This impressive debut is notable for its depiction of how gentrification pushes the working-class poor out of neighborhoods, as well as substantive ways that communities can protest, all for a middle grade audience. Wes is a humorous, likable, relatable narrator. . . . Giles has crafted an outstanding depiction of the nuances of gentrification as well as the struggle and joys of working-class Black families and communities." — School Library Journal, Starred Review “A  timely, relatable  story about family, friendship, community, and racism. The underlying message: you are never too young to make your voice heard.” —The Horn Book   "Timely and penetrating." --Kelly Starling Lyons, author of  Sing a Song: How Lift Every Voice and Sing Inspired Generations   "Chrystal Giles's sparkling debut will have you standing up and cheering."—Lisa Yee, National Book Award Finalist "Filled with hope, friendship, and grit." --Stacy McAnulty, author of The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl "Chrystal Giles really nailed it. I loved this book." —Linda Williams Jackson, author of  Midnight Without a Moon "Necessary and inspiring. An empowering read." —Ashley Herring Blake, author of the Stonewall Honor Book Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World Chrystal D. Giles is a champion for diversity in children's literature and made her debut with Take Back the Block, which has received multiple starred reviews. Chrystal lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and son and is currently working on her next middle grade novel. Visit her at chrystaldgiles.com and @creativelychrys.   I spent the morning of my eleventh birthday carrying a sign that read we were here first!   There are so many other things I could have been doing on my birthday, but there I was, the only kid, as usual. I had no chance of blending in with the sea of old ladies. Mom didn’t like me calling the ladies old, but they were old.   I walked a few steps back from everyone, ducking behind my sign as cars sped by. No way was I going to be spotted by some kids from my school. We were out for the summer, but I couldn’t be too careful.   It was a thousand degrees outside, and my favorite Carolina Tar Heels blue T-shirt was sticky and clung to my chest. It didn’t even match my Nike Air Max anymore. My kicks were now dusty and barely blue. That was my fault, though; I never should have worn my good stuff to trample through dirt.   “Wes, hold the sign up straight and uncover your face,” Mom said.   “Come on, Mom, it’s hot and I’m thirsty.”   “Don’t backtalk me!”   I knew better than to talk back, but it was too hot for manners. I wiped the sweat from my forehead and swallowed a glob of spit to wet my throat.   It didn’t help.   This was the third march this month, all part of a monthlong protest. The third Saturday I was here instead of playing NBA 2K with Brent and Alyssa. This week’s protest was the largest so far. Thirty of us stepped over bricks and construction trash, chanting, “Stop tenant replacement!” Which didn’t make much sense, because there were no tenants left to replace.   I got why we were there, but I was a little tired of fighting battles that didn’t have anything to do with me, though Mom