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bookreviewswithkb's review
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
this is the first graphic novel i’ve read, thanks to the #20booksbyBlackmen challenge hosted by @asoulversation
this is a powerful read, and the graphics contributed to a deeper understanding of what characters in the story might have been feeling. i appreciate the combination of two beautiful art forms coming together in this way. might be my first graphic novel, but definitely won’t be my last
Yummy is the true story of Robert Sandifer, an 11-year-old child who accidentally killed 14-year-old Shavon Dean in 1994 in Chicago. this novel is an exploration of what created this absolute tragedy, the ways oppressed communities suffer so much criticism but lack any support to address the struggles that exist, and the sometimes thin line between killer and victim
laurelinwonder's review
5.0
While short, this graphic novel is well researched, and clear in it's approach to telling the story through a made up character (Roger). If you want an easy way to discuss class, race, gangs, Chicago, and the ways in which we are born into lives we cannot choose, and have to find a way to be a part of it -- even if that means doing the wrong things for reasons that don't make sense to those outside of what we know. Powerful commentary, worth discussion.
kwbat12's review
4.0
Loved this. It is a true story of a gang boy who kills a young girl while shooting at fellow gangsters. I enjoyed the "boyhood" he portrayed while showing this young gang member just trying to fit in to his hood.
rakishabpl's review
4.0
A story I've heard and seen before, but it didn't stop this stark b&w graphic novel from making a power impact on me. I cried at the end, because so many things have not changed.
catsobvi's review
3.0
This is the story of an 11 year old child who kills and is killed. It is based on the true story of gang violence in Southside Chicago in 1994 and is narrated by Roger, a classmate of Robert “Yummy” Sandifer, as he tries to make sense of what happened. Yummy was part of the Black Disciples, and while trying to impress his fellow gang members he accidentally kills a 14 year old girl.
The narration is more of an unemotional news report than an 11 year old trying to understand a tragedy. Still, it succeeded in raising (not answering) questions objectively. Why was this 11 year old child in a position to kill? Was he a monster? Was he just a kid?
Using information from news stories of the time, Neri shows Yummy to be both childlike and hardened. He was neglected and abused by his parents, he carried a teddy bear, he loved candy and cars, he bullied classmates, he committed a felony a month, he was eager to earn respect from other gang members who were like family to him. It doesn’t vilify him nor does it excuse him. Neighbors and experts weigh in on Yummy’s fate, offering different views and reasons for Yummy’s actions and showing that even within the neighborhood touched by his violence opinions were divided. There isn’t really a clear answer.
The illustrations did a good job of conveying the drama of the situation. The expert use of shadows set the mood and the facials expressions created a visceral response. Though occasionally it was difficult to recognize who was who from frame to frame.
The narration is more of an unemotional news report than an 11 year old trying to understand a tragedy. Still, it succeeded in raising (not answering) questions objectively. Why was this 11 year old child in a position to kill? Was he a monster? Was he just a kid?
Using information from news stories of the time, Neri shows Yummy to be both childlike and hardened. He was neglected and abused by his parents, he carried a teddy bear, he loved candy and cars, he bullied classmates, he committed a felony a month, he was eager to earn respect from other gang members who were like family to him. It doesn’t vilify him nor does it excuse him. Neighbors and experts weigh in on Yummy’s fate, offering different views and reasons for Yummy’s actions and showing that even within the neighborhood touched by his violence opinions were divided. There isn’t really a clear answer.
The illustrations did a good job of conveying the drama of the situation. The expert use of shadows set the mood and the facials expressions created a visceral response. Though occasionally it was difficult to recognize who was who from frame to frame.
tweyant's review
4.0
What an intense, important read! This book leaves you asking questions about what is right and wrong. The pictures are neat and portray violence in an elegant way.
pwbalto's review
5.0
Yummy's eleven, and he was a real person, and that cover picture is a faithful reproduction of his mug shot, the only known photo of him. It's almost impossible, meeting that gaze, not to want to break it, not to want to find something that is not hard, not injured, behind those eyes. No eleven-year-old should seriously look like that. He ought to be playing, with that look.
full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/12/yummy-g-neri-randy-duburke-review.html
full review on Pink Me: http://pinkme.typepad.com/pink-me/2010/12/yummy-g-neri-randy-duburke-review.html
misspentdays's review
Yummy is based on the true story of 11 year old Robert "Yummy" Sandifer. A brief career as a gangbanger led to him killing a neighborhood girl, Shavon Dean, and landed him on the cover of Time as an example of everything wrong with the Southside and gang life.
Neri was inspired to write the book after following the story as a teacher in South Central Los Angeles, where he knew kids like Yummy. Illustrated by Randy DuBurke, who has also worked with Patricia McKissick for Best Shot in the West and on Andrew Helfer's biography Malcolm X. Through the fictional character of Roger, who went to school with Yummy and is the younger brother of a Black Disciples member, the reader is able to learn about Yummy's troubled past and Shavon's promising future.
Stark, but moving narration and black and white illustrations suit the mood of the book and keep the reader enthralled. This is a book where the illustrations and the words are equally powerful. A winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, this is a fast read and a great choice for high-low reading and an excellent example of the power of graphic non-fiction.
Neri has since written several other stories featuring urban settings and inspired by the news, including Knock Out Games, which focuses on the potentially deadly results of these random street attacks. For those who are not in the life, it provides an excellent look in. For those who are living this life, perhaps it will inspire them to make better choices.
Neri was inspired to write the book after following the story as a teacher in South Central Los Angeles, where he knew kids like Yummy. Illustrated by Randy DuBurke, who has also worked with Patricia McKissick for Best Shot in the West and on Andrew Helfer's biography Malcolm X. Through the fictional character of Roger, who went to school with Yummy and is the younger brother of a Black Disciples member, the reader is able to learn about Yummy's troubled past and Shavon's promising future.
Stark, but moving narration and black and white illustrations suit the mood of the book and keep the reader enthralled. This is a book where the illustrations and the words are equally powerful. A winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, this is a fast read and a great choice for high-low reading and an excellent example of the power of graphic non-fiction.
Neri has since written several other stories featuring urban settings and inspired by the news, including Knock Out Games, which focuses on the potentially deadly results of these random street attacks. For those who are not in the life, it provides an excellent look in. For those who are living this life, perhaps it will inspire them to make better choices.