12 Brown Boys
Grade 4–7—Tyree may bill himself as "Mr. Creative," but his debut for young readers leaves some room for doubt. This collection of unrelated short stories is about 12 African-American preteens who find themselves in a variety of situations and settings. The selections are unoriginal and feature stereotypical characters, such as the loud-mouthed New York hoodlum who is sent to spend the summer with relatives in "Summer Down South" to the sports star (football, basketball, and baseball are all featured) in "Born Leader" and "Big Dreams." Despite the author's attempt to show growth, the characters seem one-dimensional, working solely within their stereotypes. Though they undergo a "change of heart," it feels hollow rather than sincere since most of the boys are helped out by sage elders who happen to step in at just the right time. Their preachy, moralistic viewpoints are eagerly embraced by the boys and result in happy "Chicken-Soup-for-the-Soul" endings. Even if young people are initially attracted to the graphics on the cover, none of the stories is engaging enough to keep them turning the pages.—H. H. Henderson, Heritage Middle School, Deltona, FLCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.