Review: Garvey's Choice

Garvey's Choice by Nikki Grimes
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I finished this book and I am crying and smiling and filled with hope and wonder. Get ready because this might be my longest review yet!
I love children's books, I am in a field where I read them often and spread the love for them I hope. This book however, I will recommend to EVERYONE! Adults and children alike should read it. There is a message for all of us in this book. Those who know me, know that I often have to mark up books I read and there are often a multitude of tape flags marking things I love. This rarely happens with children's books. I read them differently and for a different purpose, but this book is marked up.... I will have to keep this one.
The first quotation I marked was only a few pages in, "Do friends make better mirrors"? I often don't listen to my friends when they say nice things to me because I figure they are biased, but maybe I have it all wrong and they see me better than anyone. It makes you think, doesn't it.

This is a book of poetry, Tanka to be precise. The word imagery is beautiful and haunting, here are but a few... "drown the ordinary sound of meanness flung my way", "sneak past any rough wall of words I'm at risk of slamming into" and "ugly name-calling leaves me with bloody bite marks."

The shift and change in tone as the title character gains a new view of himself is beautiful and uplifting.... I need to stop gushing. This book is beautiful, it is a quick read and it can lift your spirit and make you think, both are good qualities in a book.
Read this book. Shed a tear. Smile and maybe be changed a little.... Pretty great for a little Children's book!

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