"Twelve-year-old Kingston James is sure his brother Khalid has turned into a dragonfly. When Khalid unexpectedly passed away, he shed what was his first skin for another to live down by the bayou in their small Louisiana town. Khalid still visits in dreams, and King must keep these secrets to himself as he watches grief transform his family.
It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy—that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"
But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King's friendship with Sandy is reignited, he's forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death."
It would be easier if King could talk with his best friend, Sandy Sanders. But just days before he died, Khalid told King to end their friendship, after overhearing a secret about Sandy—that he thinks he might be gay. "You don't want anyone to think you're gay too, do you?"
But when Sandy goes missing, sparking a town-wide search, and King finds his former best friend hiding in a tent in his backyard, he agrees to help Sandy escape from his abusive father, and the two begin an adventure as they build their own private paradise down by the bayou and among the dragonflies. As King's friendship with Sandy is reignited, he's forced to confront questions about himself and the reality of his brother's death."
Awards and Nominations:
- National Book Award for Young People's Literature (2020)
- Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children's (2020)
- Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ Children's/Middle Grade (2021)
- Coretta Scott King Award Nominee for Author (2021)
- Rebecca Caudill Young Readers' Book Award Nominee (2022)
This is another book I received as being a part of the Scholastic Insider program. I glanced through the chapter books I had remaining to read. After reading the inside flap I was quickly drawn to this book. I'm from a small town where no one questions law enforcement and I've heard many people talk down on people who are "different" aka gay. I devoured this book at an alarming rate.
King is going through a lot. King's brother passed away unexpectedly and King is trying to process and cope with it. He honestly believes that his brother is a dragonfly. He keeps this to himself, along with other things, as his parents try to move through their own grief. Before Khalid died he had a conversation with King about staying away from a boy named Sandy because Sandy was gay. Now that Khalid is gone King feels like he should follow the advice of his brother. But King must sort through his own feelings when Sandy goes missing, only for King to find him in a tent in his backyard. Sandy confides in King and asks for his help. Now King must really make a decision to follow the advice of his brother or follow his heart.
This book. Guys. I have no words. I love, love, LOVE the way that this book handled sexuality and King questioning his. I want to state that I'm not gay, so I cannot speak for the experience of those who are gay living or having grown up in small towns. But I know that small towns, especially those in the South, are EXTREMELY judgey. I live in the bible belt and for the most part it is definitely not accepted to be anything but on the straight and narrow. I think this book definitely captured that small town vibe and the astigmatism that is around being gay in a small town. King is told not to be around Sandy because Sandy is gay, but not openly. King goes through the motions of feeling different, but feeling like he is expected to date girls. He tries to date Jasmine, but finds he doesn't have the same connection with her that he has when he is with Sandy. King eventually realizes that he is gay, and he works on coming out to his parents and his friends. King's entire process of finding himself was so beautifully written. And with all the confusing feelings he was also grieving the death of his brother. Callender did a wonderful job at writing King's character and pacing the grieving and the questioning sexuality and the healing. King had a wonderful character development over the course of this book, and honestly, I would love to read a follow up novel of King and Sandy later in life. Maybe college?
My heart absolutely broke for Sandy in this book. Because his father was sheriff in town and from a family in town that was part of the KKK, Sandy didn't feel he could just go to anyone. Sandy knew that his family had power and that no one would believe that his father was abusing him. I felt terrible for this fictional character because he was being abused and he was gay. He had no safe place. And honestly, if King hadn't intervened there's a solid chance that Sandy would have ended up killing himself because there wasn't a way out. I would really like to read a story from Sandy's perspective. Maybe allow him to be a little older in life and let there be flashbacks that give us a real glimpse into his life being part of a prominent white family in the South.
I absolutely loved this book. A lot of books nowadays force themes into the story so that the book will fit under multiple categories. One of the biggest forced themes I read is LGBTQ+ characters. I feel like so many authors shove a character into the story just so they can label their book as being pro LGBTQ+. This book didn't do that, but the LGBTQ+ characters were beautifully written and the story centered around them. It has been a LONG time since I've read a book that felt natural including LGBTQ+ characters. I really hope that some of my students read this book this upcoming school year, and hopefully if they need help or guidance they will feel safe talking to me. I give this 5 big and bold stars!
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