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Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is serious, literary middle-grade—the kind that wins National Book Awards and sticks with you. Kacen Callender doesn't pull punches: you get grief, abuse, homophobia, racism, all filtered through a 12-year-old's perspective in small-town Louisiana. It's heavy, but it's never gratuitous. The dragonfly metaphor is lovely, the bayou setting is atmospheric, and King's journey from parroting his brother's prejudices to protecting his best friend is genuinely earned.

That said, this isn't for every kid. If your 10-year-old devours everything or is dealing with similar themes in their own life, maybe. But Common Sense Media's 12+ recommendation feels spot-on for most kids. The emotional weight is real, and some readers will find it stressful or sad.

But if your kid is ready? This is the good stuff. It builds empathy, challenges prejudice, and shows how kids can be braver and kinder than the adults around them. Just go in knowing it's not a light read—it's the kind of book that asks something of you.

Age Fit

Best for mature 11-13 year olds who are ready for emotionally complex, challenging material. The writing is accessible, but the themes (death, abuse, homophobia, identity) require emotional readiness. Not for younger or more sensitive readers.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

Beautifully written story that models genuine friendship, courage, and standing up against injustice. King's journey to help Sandy escape abuse while processing his own grief shows real emotional depth and moral courage. The book handles difficult topics (grief, homophobia, abuse) with care and age-appropriate nuance. It doesn't shy away from showing family dysfunction and prejudice, but ultimately moves toward hope, acceptance, and found family. The relationship between King and Sandy is tender and authentic.

Imaginative

78

The dragonfly metaphor woven throughout—King's belief that his deceased brother has transformed into a dragonfly—creates a magical realism layer that elevates the narrative beyond straight realism. The bayou setting is richly atmospheric and specific. The boys building their own 'private paradise' in the wilderness invites readers into a world of possibility and escape. While not fantasy, the book uses imagination as a coping mechanism and explores how kids create meaning through metaphor and symbolism.

Safe

68

This is emotionally heavy material. The book opens with the death of King's brother, deals with Sandy's physically abusive father (a key plot driver), includes homophobic language and attitudes, racism, and bullying. One reviewer noted it 'might stress me out as a kid.' These aren't gratuitous—they're integral to the story—but parents should know this isn't light reading. No sexual content or graphic violence, but the emotional weight and mature themes (abuse, grief, identity crisis) mean younger or more sensitive readers may struggle. Common Sense Media parent reviews recommend ages 12+.

Enriching

88

National Book Award winner (2020) and Coretta Scott King Honor Book for good reason. This book does serious work: it builds empathy around LGBTQ+ identity, grief, racism, and abuse while never feeling preachy. Readers see King wrestle with inherited prejudices, question what his brother told him, and ultimately choose friendship and compassion over fear. The Louisiana setting and Black family dynamics are rendered with specificity and care. It invites conversations about loyalty, courage, toxic masculinity, and what it means to be yourself. The writing is literary without being inaccessible—this is the kind of middle-grade book that stays with you.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

National Book Award winner with four starred reviews—this is the real deal, literary middle-grade that doesn't talk down to kids
Tackles big stuff (grief, homophobia, abuse) with nuance and care, showing how kids navigate prejudice and find their own moral compass
The bayou setting and dragonfly metaphor create an atmospheric, almost magical backdrop to a deeply grounded story
Positive LGBTQ+ representation that feels organic to the story, not token or preachy
Strong model of friendship, courage, and questioning what you've been taught—King's arc from following his brother's homophobic directive to protecting Sandy is genuinely moving

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What to Watch For

This is heavy. Opens with a brother's death, deals with physical abuse, homophobic language, racism, and bullying—not graphic, but emotionally intense
Common Sense Media and parent reviews recommend 12+, and that feels right—younger or more sensitive kids may find this overwhelming
Some kids will be ready for this at 10 or 11, others not until 13—know your reader
The grief and loss themes are persistent throughout; if your kid is dealing with recent loss, consider timing carefully

Conversation Starters

"King's brother told him to stop being friends with Sandy because people might think King is gay too. Why do you think Khalid said that? Was he trying to protect King, or was it something else?"
"King believes his brother turned into a dragonfly. What do you think that means to him? How do you think people deal with losing someone they love?"
"Sandy's dad is abusive, and King decides to help him hide. Would you do the same thing? What would you do if a friend was in danger at home?"
"The book takes place in a small Louisiana town where a lot of people have strong opinions about being gay. How does that affect Sandy? How does it affect King's choices?"
"By the end, King has changed his mind about a lot of things. What do you think helped him see things differently?"

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