Looking for an engaging and imaginative book for a reader between the ages of six and nine? Look no further than this award-winning book. (Author Jason Reynolds must be running out of space on his awards shelf because he just keeps receiving them.) The illustrations are fabulous, the subjects spot-on for the age group, and the world as seen through Portico’s eyes is wonderful. Portico is a positive kid, but he is dealing with some real stuff. Besides being a fun read for kids, there is some good discussion material here and some play on words around deeper themes. Mr. Reynolds also captures the vibe of living in an apartment building and all the personalities that exist in that close environment.
The audiobook version has multiple readers, sound effects, and music. Yep, all the bells and whistles (literally). It is a little spastic at times, but when you look at the written version of the book it all makes sense and is a perfect translation from page to audio version, capturing the spirit of the book.
Review of the Unabridged Audiobook
Content Analysis:
Profanity/Language: None
Violence/Gore: Minor scrapes; a water ballon is thrown in someone’s face resulting in broken glasses; reference to dodgeball; instances of verbal bullying.
Sex/Nudity: None
Mature Subject Matter:
Divorce, anxiety, parent leaving family, bullying, parental fighting.
Alcohol/Drug Use:
None
