Chrystal D. Giles

Gr 3–7—Eleven-year-old Wes Henderson would rather be doing anything else for his birthday than going to a
protest. He is ambivalent about the issues his community activist mother holds dear until gentrification causes
changes in his own neighborhood of Kensington Oaks, dividing his friend group and the community as a whole.
Giles's debut is a timely coming-of-age story of a Black boy grappling with personal growth and enacting change on
a micro and macro level.

I really liked the first 75% of this book and then the plot ran out of stream and I found it slow at the end. Still, I appreciate that it didn’t have a cliche ending. My favorite aspect of this book was how it used chess as both a metaphor and motivation for the main character.

Slowwww start but becomes charming once you get into it. Take Back the Block makes gentrification, community organizing, and activism digestible and simple for kids. The way all the loose ends come together at the end was great.

Also, love the cover!

TW: Police brutality

3.5

In this engaging and heartfelt book, Lawrence is kicked out of school for fighting and ends up spending his time at a local rec center. At the center, he learns how to play chess and goes onto join a local competition. Along the way, he makes new friends (including dealing with a new crush and a thorny rival), finds mentors, and learns some important truths about himself, family, and loyalty. A highly recommended read!