DeShawn Days

May 21, 2001
Medina (Love to Mamá: A Tribute to Mothers) attributes the first-person poems in his prosaic collection to 10-year-old DeShawn Williams, who invites readers to "come see who I live with—/ who I love!" Poet Medina doesn't stint on details, convincingly melding the warmth of family life with the stark realities of the streets. DeShawn answers the question "What is life like in the 'hood/ People walking everywhere/ broken bottles in the stairs/ …/ and dog mess smell in the air." But home is a safe place where the boy can tell his grandmother "anything/ she never tells my secrets," where his Uncle Richie consoles him when he has a bad dream, and where he lies "under the table/ listening to the grown-ups/ telling stories and the kitchen/ is warm and the windows wet/ with the smell of cornbread/ and baked chicken." Because Medina's portrait of the hard-working family is so positive, Christie's (The Palm of My Heart) bleak and sophisticated paintings seem misplaced; sharp angles and corners—doorways, beams of light, people's heads and bodies—dominate the compositions. In two standout spreads, words and artwork are completely in sync: when DeShawn's grandmother dies, and when his mother comforts him. Here a mood of sorrow and joy remembered create a perfect balance. Ultimately, however, the starkness of Christie's illustrations belie the life-affirming joy apparent in Medina's sweet-natured and imaginative hero. Ages 6-up.

Starred review from July 1, 2001
Gr 2-5-"I'm DeShawn Williams/I'm ten years old/come see who I live with-/who I love!" Told in verse and segmented into descriptive passages each illustrated on double-page spreads, Medina's story introduces readers to the world of an African-American boy who lives in the projects. Happy, sad, or scary, the experiences DeShawn shares are vivid, thought-provoking, and insightful. "What Is Life Like in the 'Hood": "You don't just hear music/you hear sirens too/cop cars and ambulances/screaming all the time/real loud at you." Other segments describe his household, the news on TV ("When I watch the news it's always/about somebody dying and there's/ always mothers and kids crying/because somebody got shot or/two countries are fighting"), his friends, and rap. Though many of the verses deal with the harsh reality of living in a turbulent environment, the optimism of this child is evident and convincing. Christie's acrylic paintings are bold, vibrant, and childlike, adding to the moods created by Medina's poetry. A wonderful book to read aloud and a possible springboard for teachers to use in creative-writing and art classes.-Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.