When Danté and his mother lose their home, they move in with Danté’s uncles and cousin. The transition is hard for Danté, who misses his old neighborhood and friends. Both of his uncles are musicians, though, with Uncle Ron on sax and Uncle Joe on guitar. Uncle Ron gives Danté an old sax to try, but Danté can’t make it do more than squawk.
Over the course of the summer, though, Danté keeps practicing daily with Uncle Ron, and starts to improve. Still, he struggles with the difficulty and unfairness of his situation. Uncle Joe urges him to “Turn yo’ blues into yo’ muse.”
Danté starts to practice with his uncles’ band, and then takes the stage with them for a fall concert. “It isn’t perfect, but I keep playing,” he says of his music—and perhaps his life. The experience doesn’t solve his problems, but he sees his mother’s pride and feels content knowing that for the moment, the uncles’ house is his, too.
The book offers a thoughtful but not saccharine look at housing insecurity, dealing with change, and finding a way to express one’s feelings. It leaves room for Danté’s sadness while leaning in to the support offered by extended family and community. No special point is made of the uncles’ relationship, which is seamlessly presented. Mixed-media illustrations that emphasize blue tones, the characters’ brown skin, and their close relationship to the music add to the atmosphere. Highly recommended.
