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Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

By: Rita Williams-Garcia
Narrated by: Adam Lazarre-White
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Publisher's summary

National Book Award Finalist * Kirkus Best Books of 2017 * Horn Book Best Books of 2017 * Publishers Weekly Best Books of 2017 * School Library Journal Best Books of 2017 * NAACP Image Awards Nominee * Chicago Public Library Best Books * Boston Globe Best Books of 2017

From beloved Newbery Honor winner and three-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Rita Williams-Garcia comes a powerful and heartfelt novel about loss, family, and love that will appeal to fans of Jason Reynolds and Kwame Alexander.

Clayton feels most alive when he’s with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen—he can’t wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton’s mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that’s no way to live.

Armed with his grandfather’s brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.

"This slim novel strikes a strong chord."—Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"This complex tale of family and forgiveness has heart.” School Library Journal (starred review)

"Strong characterizations and vivid musical scenes add layers to this warm family story.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“An appealing, realistic story with frequent elegant turns of phrase." —The Horn Book (starred review)

"Garcia-Williams skillfully finds melody in words.” —Booklist (starred review)

©2017 Rita Williams-Garcia (P)2017 HarperCollins Publishers
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What listeners say about Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

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Audio Difficult

The audio is really hard to hear based on low tone of narrator. We didn't finish listening because there was no point--couldn't hear .

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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We are all Clayton Byrd

I loved reading this book with my 7yr old. The special relationship he has with his "Cool Papa" is beautiful when tragedy strikes you get to see how the adults in his life respond and the journey it takes him on. I wish it were longer! Took a while to get into the narration but I understand why he was selected - Cool Jazz voice. :)

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    5 out of 5 stars
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amazing 👏

usually I don't like books but this was amazing i can't beleve how much i liked it

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Horrible Book to say the least

Bad story actually bad everything. Generic book story about how the kids guardian or the person they look up to die and how they have to get used to it or all that. Read 100 story’s like this. Do not recommend!

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2 people found this helpful