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missluker's review
5.0
An extremely engaging graphic novel that I pair with the TIME article on the same topic in my sophomore English/Language Arts class. Gives students the opportunity to debate and decide how a person is a product of his society/environment versus his choices (and the consequences of those choices). I use this as an introduction to [b:Monster|44184|Monster|Walter Dean Myers|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255571443s/44184.jpg|1386643] by [a:Walter Dean Myers|13291|Walter Dean Myers|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1230178601p2/13291.jpg]. Most of my students love it!
pantehnreads's review
5.0
I am gonna keep my review of this graphic novel short like the book is. Impactful. Beautifully written. Great art and a story that will affect me forever.
saidtheraina's review
3.0
This is the story of an 11-year-old kid who killed somebody.
When he did it, I was about the age of the girl he killed. I vaguely remember hearing about this in the news. I don't remember realizing it was gang-related.
DuBurke's realistic, black and white style is very appropriate to the story.
It's sad and tragic, and I'm trying to decide if it's one to booktalk. It isn't a fun read. But it may be an important read. Especially for kids who weren't alive when it happened.
When he did it, I was about the age of the girl he killed. I vaguely remember hearing about this in the news. I don't remember realizing it was gang-related.
DuBurke's realistic, black and white style is very appropriate to the story.
It's sad and tragic, and I'm trying to decide if it's one to booktalk. It isn't a fun read. But it may be an important read. Especially for kids who weren't alive when it happened.
beths0103's review
4.0
Don't let the spare number of pages in this graphic novel fool you into thinking it's an easy read. It is intense and incredibly tragic.
tx2its's review
5.0
Reading 2020
Book 76: Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G.Neri
Another list, another graphic novel. G. Neri also wrote one of my class's favorite read alouds one year, Ghetto Cowboy.
The book is based on real events that happened in Chicago in 1994. Robert "Yummy" Sandifer is 11 years old, he sometimes attends school, he lives with his grandmother (who has many kids to take care of), his parents abused him when he was younger, he can be a mean kid, and he can be a very sweet kid. Yummy (he loves sweets) starts hanging around with a gang, he is asked to prove himself for his gang initiation. No spoilers if you do not know the story, it did appear in Time magazine in 1994.
This graphic novel was so powerful. Yummy was a little boy, at an age that he could have sat in my classroom. His innocence taken from him so young. This book may have you questioning your thoughts about good and evil. I have a physical copy of this book if anyone local who wants to borrow it. Book is reviewed for grade 7 and higher. My rating 5⭐️.
Book 76: Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty by G.Neri
Another list, another graphic novel. G. Neri also wrote one of my class's favorite read alouds one year, Ghetto Cowboy.
The book is based on real events that happened in Chicago in 1994. Robert "Yummy" Sandifer is 11 years old, he sometimes attends school, he lives with his grandmother (who has many kids to take care of), his parents abused him when he was younger, he can be a mean kid, and he can be a very sweet kid. Yummy (he loves sweets) starts hanging around with a gang, he is asked to prove himself for his gang initiation. No spoilers if you do not know the story, it did appear in Time magazine in 1994.
This graphic novel was so powerful. Yummy was a little boy, at an age that he could have sat in my classroom. His innocence taken from him so young. This book may have you questioning your thoughts about good and evil. I have a physical copy of this book if anyone local who wants to borrow it. Book is reviewed for grade 7 and higher. My rating 5⭐️.
jennifermreads's review
4.0
Is there really anything more to say than what Jon D. Hull did? The brief life that Robert “Yummy” Sandifer led, his father in prison, mother in & out of prison, grandmother stressed & overwhelmed with so many grandchildren to watch, Yummy had all the warning signs that his life would be brief. While he thought he found family in the local gang, Black Disciples Nation, he ended up finding his end: a planned initiation shooting that ended with an innocent bystander, another teen, killed.
I wish these stories would end. The fact that the book is almost 15 years old, and Yummy’s story actually took place nearly 20 years ago, and we still have gang initiations gone wrong, children killing children, poverty and broken families, too many guns. My heart breaks. I feel helpless. I take the small steps I can to make a difference, be the change. But it doesn’t seem to make a difference, does it? Hopefully, my small steps at least make a difference to one life…or two.
droar's review
4.0
Good handling of the factual materials for this fictional retelling of the end of Robert 'Yummy' Sandifer's life. The black and white illustrations feel harsh in a way that really works well for the materials. What I like most is that this work gives you many options on how to view Yummy, but it never tells you which one to use. The author's note in the back encourages us to view Yummy complexly, but the narrative itself allows the reader to form their own opinion from the collected facts and opinions. Masterful work.
readerpants's review
3.0
I've had this on my to-read list since 2008 -- it's actually tagged "looking forward in 2008" -- and it's finally out and available. The story was compelling, but the art really lacked specificity and detail. The characters were so roughly sketched that it was hard to get a sense of their personalities beyond the basic text. Unfortunately the text and voice weren't the strongest ever. I'd like to hear some kids' and teens' responses to this one.