My Man Blue Book Talk

My Man Blue

By: Nikki Grimes

Pictures by: Jerome Lagarrigue

This book was much more intense than I expected it to be. I picked it out based on the cover thinking it would be about how you can find someone who is like your family, but isn't blood related. That is what this book is about, but the lessons taught to the little boy by the man were a lot more intense than I thought they would be.

Damon, the little boy, and his mother move to a new place in town. She introduces Damon to her friend Blue. Damon explains to Blue that he is the man of the family and he shouldn't come around his family, all while looking him up and down. Blue explains to Damon that he lost his son to the streets, and he know that Damon's dad left their family. Damon tells Blue that he won't fill the loss of his son, but Blue says they will just be friends. Blue teaches Damon to overcome his fears by climbing a tree higher than he has ever climbed a tree, and reassures him that he will be there to catch him if he falls. Blue explains to Damon that even if he can't participate in games, he can still enjoy certain things. Blue gives Damon a hotdog to help him feel better. Damon's ball goes into the street, and right before he jumps into traffic to get the ball, Blue grabs him and pulls him back. Damon admits that, "At times I think Blue's actually some gold-toothed angel, guarding me". Damon is getting bullied at school by a little girl, but Blue explains to Damon that he is never allowed to hit a girl. Blue does fun stuff with Damon too, like playing one-on-one with him at the basketball courts. Damon cooks dinner so it's ready for his mom when she gets home from work. People make fun of him for it, but Blue explains that he needs to take care of his mom. Blue trains Damon so he knows how to defend himself. A boy at Damon's school got shot. Blue tells Damon that hate and fear hold the gun and fire it. Damon doesn't want fear or hate in his life. The last page was one of my favorites. It read, "One day I'll be like Blue. Not fierce in black leather or built like a heavyweight boxing machine But like that other Blue I've seen the one who says he cares and shows it. The one who flashes gold every time he smiles."

Like I said before, this book was much more intense than I thought it would be. As a young kid I grew up with different lessons. However, there are kids who grew up with lessons similar to Damon's. There are some kids who only grow up with one parent and find someone outside their family to teach them lessons. Blue was not Damon's dad, but he stepped up in the position and helped keep Damon away from the streets. 

I wouldn't use this book with the younger kids because of some of the things discussed. It would be a great book to use with the fifth graders because they are more mature and able to handle some of the topics brought up in the book.