Garvey's Choice

Garvey’s Choice

Grimes, N. (2016). Garvey's Choice. Astra Publishing House.

ISBN: 978-1629797403

Plot Summary:

Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading—anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant father—by speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports.

-Amazon

Analysis:

Nikki Grimes writes a novel in verse that truly sings. Her chosen poetic style, Tanka, is rhythmic and flowing. The simplicity of the verse does not reduce the depth of its meaning. Garvey, a young overweight African American teenager, is facing a world where he doesn’t fit. Name calling and teasing are regular markers in his school day. His one close friend, Joe, is always there for him. But when Garvey joins the chorus, he discovers new friendship that expands his world. The novel includes elements of family dynamics, mostly between Garvey and his father. Garvey is not athletic and his father struggles to find other ways to connect with him. The book explores themes of racial identity, self-esteem, and building confidence in yourself. The writing is hopeful and smart, but touched with realism that gives the characters authenticity. You can read this book in written verse or graphic novel form.

Book Reviews:

Garvey can't quite live up to his father's traditional expectations of masculinity. He would rather sing and ponder space travel than undertake any athletic endeavor. But a chance chorus recital presents a turning point for their relationship: "I stand before the mirror, /smiling at a boy/whose frame is familiar/but changed, unfinished-all me." Using tanka, Grimes expertly crafts a family life that is deeply intimate yet inviting-a story of small but powerful transformations.

School Library Journal, 2016

Garvey is an overweight boy tormented by name-calling at school: "lard butt, fatso, Mister Tubs." His life changes when his best friend suggests he join the school chorus. Employing the Japanese poetic form of tanka, Grimes reveals Garvey's thoughts, feelings, and observations; the spare poetry is a good vehicle for a young man's attempts to articulate the puzzle that is his life.

Horn Book, 2017

Connections:

This is a great book to introduce the topics of self-awareness and courage. It could also be introduced as a study in poetry. Students could sample Nikki Grimes writing and then try writing their own Tanka poems.

Awards:

ALSC Notable Children’s Books, 2017

Junior Library Guild Selections, 2017

Lee Bennett Hopkins Award

CMSCL Best Books, 2016

This review was created as an assignment for SHSU LSSL 5361.