WINNEROFTHENAACPIMAGEAWARDWINNEROFTHECORETTASCOTTKINGAUTHORAWARDNationalBookAwardwinnerJacquelineWoodson’sstirringnovel-in-verseexploreshowafamilymovesforwardwhentheirglorydayshavepassedandthecostofprofessionalsportsonBlackbodies.Covermayvary.ForaslongasZJcanremember,hisdadhasbeeneveryone’shero.Asacharming,talentedprofootballstar,he’sasbelovedtotheneighborhoodkidsheplayswithasheistohismillionsofadoringsportsfans.ButlatelylifeatZJ’shouseisanythingbutcharming.Hisdadishavingtroublerememberingthingsandseemstobeangryallthetime.ZJ’smomexplainsit’sbecauseofalltheheadinjurieshisdadsustainedduringhiscareer.ZJcanunderstandthat--butitdoesn’tmakethestinganylessrealwhenhisownfatherforgetshisname.AsZJcontemplateshisnewreality,hehastofigureouthowtoholdontighttofamilytraditionsandrecollectionsoftheglorydays,allthewhilewonderingwhattheirpastamountstoifhisfathercan’trememberit.Andmostimportantly,canthosehappyfeelingseverbereclaimedwhentheyareallsobusyachingforthepast?
