Clayton Byrd Goes Underground audiobook

Click here to watch a video review of this book on my channel, From Beginning to Bookend. Clayton Byrd delights in playing music with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and his band of Bluesmen. Though he’s occasionally permitted to join in on his blues harp, Clayton longs for his own twelve-bar so

Young African-American Clayton Byrd yearns “to be a true bluesman among bluesmen,” playing blues harp alongside his grandfather Cool Papa Byrd and his band. When Cool Papa dies suddenly in his sleep, Clayton grieves deeply, his loss amplified by his mother’s anger toward her father’s blues playing d

Digital audiobook performed by Adam Lazarre-White.4.5**** From the book jacket: When, Cool Papa, when? That’s what Clayton Byrd is always asking his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd. When does he get a solo to show off his talent on the blues harp? Clayton feels most alive when he’s with Cool Papa Byrd and the Bluesmen, playing the music he feels in his bones. But then the unexpected happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies. Clayton’s mother forbids him from playing the blues. For Clayton, that’s no way to live. Armed with his grandfather’s porkpie hat and his blues harp, he runs away from home and to the New York City subways in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. My reactions:This was wonderful on so many levels. First on a purely superficial level, I loved the lesson in blues history that Williams-Garcia has given to young readers, introducing them to historic figures in the development of this uniquely American music. Secondly, I loved the relationship between Clayton and his grandfather. The respect and love between them was palpable, even after Cool Papa has died, you can feel the deep connection they had and Clayton remembers some of the lessons his grandfather imparted, which help him when he’s “underground.”Third, I really liked that Williams-Garcia did NOT paint a rosy picture of Clayton’s “adventure” as he ran away. He was in real danger and he suffered some consequences of his inexperience, rashness and youth. On the other hand, he also showed himself to be an astute observer, a clever negotiator, and he had the kind of determination and grit that will see him through on his life’s journey. And I loved the way in which this wrapped up. The apologies and understandings that Clayton, his mother and his father came to, by really talking about what was important and putting aside some of their own hurt to help one another through this terrible grief. Adam Lazarre-White does a marvelous job of performing the audiobook. I love his deep bass voice for Cool Papa and Clayton’s dad. I would have liked a little blues music underscore, but that’s not enough to deter me from listening again, or re-reading the text.

Clayton and his grandfather share a close bond and a love of the blues. When Clayton's grandfather passes away suddenly, he is lost in his grief. His mother isn't processing her grief in a similar fashion, she is selling his grandfather's prized possessions, which feels like she's trying to erase his existence to Clayton who is having a difficult time expressing the depths of his loss to his mother. This puts the two at odds and Clayton's behavior is treated as acting out which is punished by taking away beloved possessions and privileges.Fed up and frustrated with issues at school, Clayton decides to pack up his things and seek out a life on the road playing blues with his grandfather's band mates. Along the way, he runs into a group of young people making their living by performing hip-hop on the streets and in the subway. Clayton learns quickly that he's not nearly as tough or smart as he thought he was and before long he's in pretty big trouble.with the law. When at last, Clayton faces all of his issues at home and school head on, he finds that his support system is stronger than he expected and with his father's help and a solid plan he begins to put his life back together even while grieving the loss of his grandfather.Back matter includes some insight on how blues music is related to hip-hop music and the author's inspiration in writing this story. The celebration of music is at the heart of this book. The language with which the author describes why music, specifically blues music, is so important to Clayton is beautiful and nearly poetic. The writing is lushly detailed and really helps the reader get into the mindset of a musician; helps them grasp what music does to their minds, bodies, and souls. The conflicts are layered and realistic and help the reader to invest in the story as well as keeps the pages turning. I really appreciated how grief was explored and processed through different relationships. This added to the authenticity of the story. The ending was a bit rushed for my liking, but I'd still recommend this for grades 5-8.

** spoiler alert ** *I received an advance copy of this book from Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*This is the first book I've read from Rita Williams-Garcia, but it was just lovely. Clayton idolizes his blues-playing grandpa, to the dismay of his mother. When his grandfather dies, Clayton's grief runs up against his mother's pain from her youth, when her father loved the road more than his family. As Clayton tries to cope with his loss, he turns to his harmonica (blues harp), upsetting his mother. Finally, Clayton realizes what he needs to do-- he needs to play a solo with his grandpa's blues buddies. He sets out one day across the city to find them at the park. Much of the book is just Clayton's experience on the subway, his experiment with creating his own image of himself in his grandpa's porkpie hat, blues harp at the ready. I loved that the book is essentially timeless-- there are no name brands or gadgets mentioned, so it could be anytime in the last twenty years. Clayton's pain is believable, and as an adult, I see that his mother's is, too. If I was to use this book with kids, I'd definitely pair it with a primer on the blues, so that students can hear what Clayton hears.

I read "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" on my Kindle while on my treadmill mostly and the last couple pages in my bed, under the covers (the best place to read). Rita Williams-Garcia books are so catchy. I have read almost all of them. I truly felt the music in "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground"--the blues, the tunes from Clayton's blues harp (his harmonica), and Cool Papa's guitar Wah-Wah-nita. This book took me on an emotional journey. It felt like one continuous thread as the reader follows one day in the life of Clayton Byrd that changed everything for him. Having dealt with my own grief over the past six months (sudden deaths of my younger brother passed in July and my publisher passed away in November), I completely related to Clayton's desire to hold on to what little physical reminders he had left of the man who had the most influence in his life, Cool Papa. I felt Clayton's pain and his desire to run away from it all when those around him did not understand the losses he experienced, his emotions, or even his narcolepsy. Like all of Rita's books, there is this realism and sadness but also tons of hope and humour. I don't want to give it all away here either so I will stop describing here. I was so happy to learn this week that "Clayton Byrd Goes Underground" also won the 2018 NAACP Image Award for Young Adult and Middle Grade Literature. Congratulations, Ms. Rita! Lastly, I really loved the afterword as well that gave the background, research, and inspiration for this story as well as history of hip hop and the blues.

This was really good. A short book will move you and is full of meaning. Clayton’s relationship with his grandfather was sweet and felt familiar. It was interesting to see how Clayton processed his anger and grief. While it was frustrating that the adults didn’t try to look deeper, initially, it was good to see Clayton try to express himself verbally. While he didn’t always make the best choices, it was nice that we got to see Clayton react to what was going on. That made him feel real and relatable.I wasn’t a fan of how Clayton’s mother dictated the relationship he had with his dad. I know, as a character, she had her issues, but her actions throughout the book were selfish and she was frustrating. I wanted more from her in the end, but overall this was a great book.

Originally reviewed for YA Books Central: http://www.yabookscentral.com/yaficti...A stirring, tuneful tale of familial ties—those that bind and those that constrain. This contemporary Middle Grade book is told almost entirely from the third-person past-tense perspective of Clayton Byrd, a young boy who lives in New York City with his willfully single mother and his beloved “Cool Papa.” (Clayton’s father, Mr. Miller, is as present in Clayton’s life as his mother will allow… more on this later.) Clayton plays the “Blues Harp” (a.k.a Harmonica) for his grandfather’s band, The Bluesmen. Despite his pre-teen status, Clayton is passionate about music—longing to be just like his Cool Papa. Cool Papa is a devoted, nurturing grandparent the likes of which most readers (myself included) could only wish for. He not only cares for Clayton, he mentors and guides him—bestowing musical training, life lessons, and bedtime stories in abundance. So when Cool Papa passes away in his sleep and Clayton is the one to find him, the boy’s loss is heart-wrenchingly palpable. And knowing it’s coming doesn’t make it any easier on readers. Adding insult to injury, Clayton’s mother is in an almost inexplicable hurry to erase all evidence of her father. The day after the funeral, she holds a yard sale and more or less gives away all of Cool Papa’s belongings—including his guitars—and everything meant for Clayton. All he is able to save is his blues harp and his grandfather’s porkpie hat. Ms. Byrd’s ruthlessness, combined with her forbidding of the blues and insistence on blaming all of Clayton’s undesirable behaviors on her late father, eventually pushes him beyond what he can bear. “Happy people need the blues to cry, and sad people need the blues to laugh.” The author walked a tricky tightrope of conflict. On the one hand, Clayton’s rage with his bitter, controlling (and somewhat unstable) mother is completely justifiable—especially in conjunction with his recent trauma and grief. It is clear Ms. Byrd loves her son, in her own dysfunctional way. But it’s also clear she is so damaged as to not comprehend (or perhaps not want to comprehend) when she is behaving in an irrational and emotionally abusive manner toward him. And on the other hand, Clayton’s misadventure in running away is ill-conceived from the get-go—involving a gang of criminal “entertainers” and some potentially life-threatening situations in and around the New York subway system. Readers will want to see Clayton escape his tyrannical domestic situation, but not in the foolish manner in which he goes about it. Ms. Byrd is difficult to like or sympathize with for most of the book—even taking into consideration the obvious hints of neglect and abandonment her child-self experienced thanks to having a father who was either away as a Navy officer, or away touring with his blues band. It isn’t difficult to believe that Cool Papa may have indeed been a lousy husband and father. But there is also no disputing his excellence as a grandfather. The brokenness of her mentality is eventually summed up by Clayton’s father—the man she holds at arm’s length out of her own pride and guardedness: “The hurt just never went away. It’s like she’s still that little girl waiting at the window.” Williams-Garcia’s descriptions of music—the initial explanation of the blues especially—was a joy and a pleasure to read. For those who aren’t familiar with the blues and its appeal, there is experiential learning to be had in her rhythmic, evocative writing. There were just two issues that detracted from the story for me. The abruptness of the ending, and the rarity of Ms. Byrd’s perspective. -The wrap-up, while not unsatisfying, felt rushed—lots of action with little time taken to examine emotional impact.-We are given just two 2-page chapters from Ms. Byrd’s perspective—one toward the beginning and one 3/4ths of the way through. I would have loved to see more of what Ms. Byrd felt and learned, and how she presumably grew through the experience. The idea that adults can get help for their problems, and sometimes need to, is well worth addressing.I don’t usually include quotes that aren’t pulled directly from the book I’m reviewing, but in this case, I wanted to offer one that felt so irresistibly suited to both the book and the subject matter:"The blues was like that problem child that you may have had in the family. You was a little bit ashamed to let anybody see him, but you loved him. You just didn't know how other people would take it." --BB King

Richie’s Picks: CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND by Rita Williams-Garcia, HarperCollins/Amistad, May 2017, 176p., ISBN: 978-0-06-221591-8“When no one steps on my dreams there'll be days like thisWhen people understand what I mean there'll be days like thisWhen you ring out the changes of how everything isWell my mama told me there'll be days like this ”-- Van Morrison (1995)“It was seven forty-five and the plan was in action. Clayton avoided the main streets and began the three-quarter-mile hike to his house. His mother should have been on her way to work, creeping along on the expressway in her car.Still, Clayton took a deep, careful breath when he turned the corner onto his block. He saw what he expected to see. An empty driveway. He exhaled, ran to the side door, let himself in with his key, and ran up the stairs. So far, so good.He opened his mother’s bedroom door carefully, as if she might still be there. But he was alone. And now, to find his blues harp.He opened drawer after drawer of her highboy. Six drawers of silky things. Underthings that belonged to his mother. It was when he pulled open the highest drawer that he knew. He should have known to begin with! The highest drawer was a hiding drawer to keep something away from a kid. But though Clayton was a kid, he was tall enough to get what he needed from the top drawer without having to stand on anything, He was sure he’d be able to look his mother straight in the eye in another year. After all, his mother wasn’t growing any taller, but he could feel himself inching up.His hand found the candy-bar-shaped metal instantly. He wiped it clean of the silky, girly things it had been smothered by, and then sank it in his mouth to slick it up. Then he blew into all the holes, sliding upward, and drew in the air to slide back down.He went inside his room, opened the closet, and grabbed the porkpie hat. He took the rest of his money--seventeen dollars in bills--folded them, and zipped up the cash in his book bag. He ran down the stairs, threw a peanut butter cracker snack into the nearly empty book bag, tucked his MetroCard in his pants pocket, stuffed his silver blues harp in his jacket pocket, and put the porkpie hat on his head. He was about to run out the back door, but he stopped. Turned. Walked to the dining room table. Picked up the glass saltshaker. The angel with the glued-on wing. He put it on the floor, raised his right foot, and smashed it.Then he left.”Clayton Byrd is miserable. His blues-playing guitarist grandfather has died. He loved his grandfather who taught him to play a blues harp and took him along to jam with his blues band. Clayton Byrd’s mother, the daughter of his beloved grandfather, still resents her father for having been off on tour through much of her childhood. She thoughtlessly sells off all of her dead father’s belongings in a yard sale, including the guitars that Clayton thought would be his. All he can salvage from the sale is his grandfather’s porkpie hat. On top of all this, Clayton’s teacher is requiring the class to read the very same book that Clayton’s grandfather would read him to get Clayton to fall asleep. Clayton can’t read it without thinking about his grandfather’s voice and, embarrassingly, falling asleep in class. This leads to his mother confiscating his blues harp.Clayton is so miserable that he decides to run away and go hang out with his grandfather’s blues musician friends. His adventure lasts just one harrowing day before he’s caught up in the arrest of a gang of teens on the subway. Fortunately, Chayton’s father, who we hadn’t previously met, steps up to help Clayton sort out his feelings about his mother.Some people are fortunate enough to forgive and be forgiven for the terrible manner in which we humans sometimes treat one another. So often, this bad behavior is rooted in the way in which parents treat their offspring. CLAYTON BYRD GOES UNDERGROUND leaves us hopeful that Clayton will be able to move toward a better, more communicative relationship with both of his parents. It may inspire readers to make peace with their own.Richie Partington, MLISRichie's Picks http://richiespicks.pbworks.comhttps://www.facebook.com/richiespicks/[email protected]

This perfectly pitched novel about a young black boy's musical journey out of grief after the death of his beloved Cool Papa is pure gold. Funny, smart and full of authentic middle school moments that made me nod in recognition on almost every page, it has the added personal bonus of being set in Queens and the neighborhood where I work in Manhattan. What a delightful, timely addition to RWG's already stupendous body of work.

Clayton and his grandpa, Cool Papa, sneak away on nights Clayton's mom works a long shift. They go to play the blues at Washington Square Park with Cool Papa's band--grandpa on guitar and Clayton on the blues harp (harmonica). But then Cool Papa dies unexpectedly after reading a bedtime story to Clayton. Clayton's mom immediately starts getting rid of every trace of her father--from his guitars to his pork pie hat and she forbids Clayton to play the blues. Clayton wishes his mother could understand his need to have Cool Papa's possesions, even though she didn't share this bond with her father. Clayton plans a secret getaway on the New York subway system to pay homage to Cool Papa by joining up with the band and playing a solo with them. On the way he meets up with a Hip Hop group and backs them up on the blues harp. They earn some money but then as Clayton follows them, the group commits some petty crimes and they all end up in jail.Clayton's mom blames everything on Cool Papa's influece but Clayton's dad help her understand the important role Cool Papa played in Clayton's life and his need to mourn in his own way.The story hits on the theme of how differently people mourn, especially when we see Clayton repeatedly falling asleep when his class reads the same book his grandfather read to him. I appreciated the role Clayton's father had in his life, even if he wasn't physcially present in the home. Also, the importance of grandparents in the lives of children was a constant in the story.

** spoiler alert ** This heart melting story tells us about a boy named Clayton Byrd and how he loved playing the blues as much as he loved his grandfather, which Clayton calls him Cool Papa. But when everything comes crashing down, his grandfather leaving Clayton's life,his mother taking his blues harp because she hates the blues, and Clayton's mom selling all of Cool papa's things. Unable to live his once happy life, Clayton decided to run away and live with the blues men. His plan didn't go too well. Forced to do something he didn't want to do, just because he wanted to get a piece of Cool Papa. That lead him going to jail. His mother wasn't happy to see Clayton in jail, especially after she worried about where Clayton went. What happens next? read this awesome book to find out

Clayton Byrd loves playing the blues with his Cool Papa. He is talented with the blues harp and doesn't like when people call it a harmonica. Cool Papa typically watches Clayton because his mom works long hours. Cool Papa and Clayton have a beautiful relationship, but Clayton's mom doesn't particularly like the influence the blues might have on her son. This book is a sweet story about love and acceptance. It is also a story about coping with loss and grief. Highly recommend.

"This slim novel strikes a strong chord"—Publishers Weekly