Actor-author-athlete Terry Crews digs into his childhood in Detroit to tell a story of fitting in and finding your place in his show- stopping debut middle-grade graphic novel. Young Terry Crews has a Big Dream Plan: He wants to become a MULTIHYPHENATE. That means he wants to be an artist. And a football player. And a musician. And maybe a NASA scientist, too! OK, maybe it’s ambitious, but his parents worked hard so he could go to a new school—Rock City Academy, a prestigious institution (read: rich kids go there) where he’s sure he can make his mark at the talent show. He plans an elaborate performance with his new friends, Rani, a passionate engineer, and Xander, a shy kid with a head like an encyclopedia.
Along the way, Terry’s plan is threatened by his grades, which slip below Mom-and-Dad-approved levels, as well as the schemes of the school’s football star, Rick, who won’t stop until Terry quits the talent show altogether. No matter what challenges he faces, though, Terry knows that he always has his crew to back him up. ---from the publisher
208 pages 978-0316499965 Ages 9-12
Keywords: graphic novel, school story, peer pressure, African American and Black stories, talent show, values, friends, friendship, fitting in, finding yourself, belonging, diversity, diverse books, 9 year old, 10 year old, 11 year old, 12 year old
