Eleven-year-old Robert “Yummy” Standifer kills 14-year-old neighbor Shavon Dean on Chicago’s southside, while aiming for a rival gang member. After the shooting, Yummy is on the run while the police and eventually fellow gang members are hunting him. Roger, Yummy’s classmate, narrates this story based on real events.
This book would appeal to mature audience in grades 6-8, that enjoy graphic novels. The illustrations are realistic in that the reader can see the intensity and emotions revealed by characters. The pace keeps the reader engaged because from Yummy’s actions (i.e. home invasion, car theft, gang affiliation) a guess can be made that he is going down a destructive path, but the exact course is unknown.
I would recommend this book to readers that enjoy graphic novels and those that I know could handle mature material and have an interest in urban literature. There is no profanity in this book, but because of the violence and questions that readers are left to explore, this is appropriate for youth in grades 7 and higher. How would Yummy’s life have been different if he was raised in a different manner or environment? Should children be charged as adults?
I would use this in an urban lit book discussion group and in a display with other graphic novels.
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