Isaiah Dunn is My Hero by Kelly J. Baptist

Synopsis:

A coming-of-age tale about a boy who discovers a love of poetry after finding his late father's journal. Adapted from a story that first appeared in Flying Lessons & Other Stories.

Isaiah is now the big man of the house. But it's a lot harder than his dad made it look. His little sister, Charlie, asks too many questions, and Mama's gone totally silent.

Good thing Isaiah can count on his best friend, Sneaky, who always has a scheme for getting around the rules. Plus, his classmate Angel has a few good ideas of her own--once she stops hassling Isaiah.

And when things get really tough, there's Daddy's journal, filled with stories about the amazing Isaiah Dunn, a superhero who gets his powers from beans and rice. Isaiah wishes his dad's tales were real. He could use those powers right about now!

My Thoughts:

There aren't a lot of middle grade novels featuring BIPOC male characters (and even less in the young adult world - it's hard to find even white male protagonists). I often wonder why. Do we assume that boys read less than girls do? And if so, is it because of the lack of books that reflect their own lives?

I bought a copy of Isaiah Dunn for our elementary school's diverse free little library, but I couldn't help reading it first. I'm so glad that I did. Middle grade novels often have heavy, heavy subjects, and here Isaiah deals with the sudden death of his father, his mother's depression and drinking, and living in a motel that reeks of smoke. He connects with his Dad through his stories, and that (and a slow accumulation of money from hustling candy and working after school) is the only thing keeping him tethered to an "okay" reality. Things get worse when Isaiah's family is kicked out of their motel room, but luckily he finds support through new friendships and caring adults. I know that sounds like a very depressing novel, but it isn't. There's a beautiful, hopeful theme that runs through this book, and at the end of it, everything does seem ... better. Isaiah's ability to remain connected to his father through their shared love of writing is powerful as well.