“I tried to figure out who the real Yummy was. The one who stole my lunch money? Or the one who smiled when I shared my candy with him? I wondered if I grew up like him, would I have turned out the same?”
Yummy is based on a true story, which makes it even more tragic. Yummy, an eleven year old boy in a rough Chicago neighborhood,starts running with a gang. While trying to impress older gang members and develop a reputation, he accidentally shoots and kills a fourteen-year-old girl. This graphic novel, told from the perspective of an acquaintance of Yummy’s, examines the “why?” of the events. Stark black and white illustrations give the novel a gritty feel. I thought it was incredible! It won the Coretta Scott King Honor Award-richly deserved.
Author’s website:
Illustrator’s website:
Neri, G. Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty. New York: Lee and Low Books, 2010. 94 pp.
Happy Reading!
A Better World through Books 