1 of 1 copy available
"[A] moving journey of self-discovery and a gratifying coming-of-age story." - Publishers Weekly
"Husky . . . is a superb addition to the middle grade literary canon." - VOYA Reviews
"There is not a false note in the writing . . ." - Lambda Literary
A beautifully voiced debut captures an intimate story of change and acceptance.
Twelve-year-old Davis lives in an old brownstone with his mother and grandmother in Brooklyn. He loves people-watching in Prospect Park, visiting his mom in the bakery she owns, and listening to the biggest operas he can find as he walks everywhere.
But Davis is having a difficult summer. As questions of sexuality begin to enter his mind, he worries people don’t see him as anything other than “husky.” To make matters worse, his best girlfriends are starting to hang out with mean girls and popular boys. Davis is equally concerned about the distance forming between him and his single mother as she begins dating again, and about his changing relationship with his amusingly loud Irish grandmother, Nanny.
Ultimately, Davis learns to see himself outside of his one defining adjective. He’s a kid with unique interests, admirable qualities, and people who will love him no matter what changes life brings about.
-
Creators
-
Publisher
-
Release date
September 22, 2015 -
Formats
-
OverDrive Listen audiobook
- ISBN: 9780147519276
- File size: 146913 KB
- Duration: 05:06:04
-
-
Languages
- English
-
Levels
- Lexile® Measure: 700
- Text Difficulty: 3
-
Reviews
-
June 8, 2015
According to Davis’s “mean” friend Ellen, all middle-school students receive
a single adjective that will follow them through high school. Davis—who lives
in a Brooklyn brownstone with his hardworking mother, loud Irish grandmother, and the constant blare of the TV that belonged to his late grandfather—spends all summer fearing his adjective will be “husky.” First-time novelist Sayre, a screenwriter and performer, grants readers an intimate window into Davis’s candid thoughts. When listening to his beloved operas: “It’s just me and the music, and we’re alone. And safe.” Threatened when “pretty” best friend Sophie becomes friends with “cool” Allegra, Davis makes harsh self-assessments: “Gross and smelly and fat and dirty and all by myself.” The discovery that he has not been invited to Sophie’s girls-only makeover party devastates Davis: “I need to be made over, because this, whatever this thing is that’s me, isn’t working.” Upsetting revelations (like his mother’s love life) and surprising acts of kindness awaken Davis to the abundant unconditional love in his life, preparing him to accept a completely unexpected adjective. It’s a moving journey of self-discovery and a gratifying coming-of-age story. Ages 10–up.
-