Independent Reading Level: Grades 2nd-3rd grade
Awards: Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award (2021), Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature (2021), Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction and Poetry (2021)

Recommended Ages: Gr. 4-7

Plot Summary: Isaiah's had a lot of loss: his beloved dad passed away and his mom moved them into a motel. Isaiah's wants to get out of "Smoky Inn" but more than anything, he wants his mom to stop drinking. She's a totally different person now. Isaiah keeps busy at the library checking his email and reading the notebook of stories his dad wrote about Isaiah Dunn. Although Isaiah used to be a writer himself, he can't seem to do it anymore. Will his life ever get better? Will he find a way to make money and move out? Will his mom get better?

Setting:

Characters:
Isaiah Dunn -
Charlie - 4 yo, Isaiah's sister
Sneaky - Isaiah's best friend, comes up with sneaky ideas such as selling candy bars at lunch time to make money after the lunches changed to be too healthy
Antwan - Sneaky's brother, share a room
Angel Atkins - Isaiah's "enemy" but after going through peer mediation at school they find more in common
Alex - Angel's cousin
Miz Rita - lived in the Dunn's old apartment building, did Charlie's hair, takes in the kids when mom goes to rehab

Recurring Themes: loss of a parent, death, money, alcoholism, writing, poetry, friendship, family, support

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: This book is extremely well written. I really, really enjoyed it after reading it, but I'm surprised when I went back to write this that I couldn't remember much and needed to skim it very briefly for it to come back to me. I like that it features a strong, close Black family. I also like that the author showed the reader instead of told the reader.

Genre: realistic fiction

Pacing: medium-fast
Characters: very well developed
Frame:
Storyline:

Activity:

“Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero” was a children to middle grade standout and I was surprised it touch based on sensitive subjects such as death, grievance, alcoholism, bullying, and homelessness which is all told in a 10-11 year old boy’s perspective. It touched home and most readers can easily relate to Isaiah’s story. Needless to say, I was impressed with the author's ability to tell the story in a child's eyes and what his thought process was when it seemed like everything in his life was falling apart when his late father suddenly passes.

( )

Not an easy story to read -- grief, alcoholism, homelessness, helplessness -- those are all big themes -- however, the shining light of community is also there; both in the adults who step in to help and in the friends who support Isaiah in their own ways. Loved Sneaky and his candy hustle. Loved that there was a restorative justice program that actually helped. Loved that for all the heavy themes, this was not a book without hope or achievement or excellence or recognition. Isaiah is a wonderful character, but so is Rock, the Barber and Mr. Shephard, the librarian and Ms. Rita, the neighbor and the list goes on. ( )

What Isaiah learns about legacy and what he decides to do about it is inspiring.

Admittedly though, I didn't get into this story until about the last third or quarter, as I found much of it rather slow, a little disjointed, and pretty depressing. But I hung in there, partly because it wouldn't take long to finish and also because of how much I liked this author's newer novel, The Swag Is in the Socks.

Besides, I usually connect with stories about writers at some point, and I did connect in that way here—both with Isaiah and with his father, through Isaiah. ( )