Clayton Byrd Goes Underground
Author: | Williams-Garcia, Rita |
Publisher: | Quill Tree Books |
ISBN: | 9780062215949, Related ISBNs: 0062215949, 9780062215932, 9780062215949 |
Classification: | Non-Fiction |
Synopsis
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.
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 Youth/Teens Winner * Chicago Public Library Best Books * Boston Globe Best Books of 2017
"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)
Expand to learn more
Collapse
- IMPROVE YOUR CHILD'S READING LEVEL IN 3 MONTHS OR LESS - GUARANTEED!
- THOUSANDS OF BOOKS & EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS MATCHED TO YOUR CHILD’S LEVEL & INTERESTS!
Why read a book on LightSail?
Clozes
Embedded quick vocabulary assessments
Contextual Action Clips
Children visually experience what they are reading
Multiple choice questions
Assesses comprehension, graded automatically
Short Response Questions
Provide children with actionable feedback
Dictionary & Synonyms
Word definitions and synonyms in multiple languages
Related Videos
Educational videos embedded in a book
LightSail is Lexile® Driven
Included in your subscription
10,000 +
Books from top publishers
1,500 +
Audiobooks with real voice narration
20,000 +
Educational videos
40,000 +
Comprehension questions for all levels
50,000 +
World Book Encyclopedia articles*
1000’s
Multimedia resources
•Maps & Timelines
•360° photos and more
All from
$9.95*
per Month
*Included in the premium subscription
WHY PARENTS LOVE
WHY KIDS LOVE
5 STAR RATING FROM EXPERTS AND TEACHERS ALIKE ...FOR TWO YEARS RUNNING!
Common Sense Media’s Graphite site for educators praises LightSail as “a powerful platform for developing engaged readers.” Real-time assessments and feedback were especially noted in awarding LightSail Graphite’s highest honor.
In addition, LightSail is one of the most highly-reviewed literacy products on Graphite by teachers.
Learning rating
Teacher rating
Our blog
Hook Your Kids on Poetry for World Poetry Day
Posted on 17.Mar.22 in Book Recommendations
Does the thought of reading antiquated love poetry fill your kids with dread? Let’s break down the poetry barrier with verses that are accessible and engaging. With LightSail’s incredible selection of poetry for kids, there’s a poem for every reader. 1. Modern Poems If your students are worried that poetry is going to be dry […]
10 Ways to Use Author a Book with your Young Writers at Home
Posted on 17.Mar.22 in Reading at Home Tips
Are you ready to introduce your kids to Author a Book? You’ll find countless ways to foster children’s literacy development with this feature. Here are 10 suggestions to get you started. Celebrate Write Your Own Story Day (March 14) by encouraging each of your kids to brainstorm a story and write it out. Explore the […]
16 Must-Know Women from History
Posted on 15.Mar.22 in Reading at Home Tips
Women’s History Month is a time to honor notable women from all walks of life. Your students can observe the month by digging into the biographies of must-know women. Where to begin? The 16 women below are sure to make an impression on the readers in your home. 1. Maya Angelou Poet Maya Angelou experienced […]