Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into-a room so full of songbirds and plants that it’s almost as if it’s been pulled inside-out-he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all.

How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he’s ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house-as in NEVER. Thunderstruck, Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he hides it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans).

The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia-in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind.

In this “pitch-perfect contemporary novel” ( Kirkus Reviews, starred review), Coretta Scott King – John Steptoe Award-winning author Jason Reynolds explores multigenerational ideas about family love and bravery in the story of two brothers, their blind grandfather, and a dangerous rite of passage. Reynolds uses this motif to bring complexity and nuance to the family relationships in the book and to explore larger themes such as courage, loyalty, and family values.The 8th grade needs 10 copies of this book! This is a powerful dynamic in the book because it leads to Ernie taking part in the shooting ritual even though he doesn’t want to-he mistakenly thinks that it’s the best way to model courage to his brother. The boys learn from their grandfather that Wood also felt compelled to protect his younger brother from a school bully, just as Ernie uses his status as the older brother to protect and guide Genie. Genie and Ernie, as adolescents, are still learning how to coexist peacefully, but Genie looks up to Ernie as an example of fearlessness, confidence, and loyalty. Each of these pairs exemplifies protectiveness, loyalty, and common identity as well as the irritation and frustration that are often part of sibling relationships. Reynolds explores the intricacies of brotherhood through two sets of brothers: Genie and Ernie, and Genie’s father and Uncle Wood.

As brave as you are