Change the Game by Colin Kaepernick

e-book, 144 pages
Release Date: March 7, 2023
Published by: Graphix
Read from: June 7-22, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: Library’s Libby
TW: Racial Microaggressions, Microaggressions from his parents
For Readers Interested In: Family Diversity (Transracial Adoption), Sports, Romance, College Scouts, YA

    Colin Change the Game is an inspiring high school graphic novel memoir for readers 12 and up from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick. High school star athlete Colin Kaepernick is at a crossroads in life. Heavily scouted by colleges and MLB as a baseball pitcher, he has a bright future ahead of him as a highly touted prospect. Everyone from his parents to his teachers and coaches are in agreement on his future. Colin feels differently. Colin isn’t excited about baseball. In the words of five-time all-star MLB player Adam Jones, “Baseball is a white man’s game.” Colin looks up to athletes like Allen talented, hyper-competitive, unapologetically Black, and dominating their sports while staying true to themselves. College football looks a lot more fun than sleeping on hotel room floors in the minor leagues of baseball. But Colin doesn’t have a single offer to play football. Yet. This touching graphic novel explores the story of how a young change-maker learned to find himself and never compromise. How the right decision is very rarely the easy one, but taking the road less traveled can make all the difference in the world.

*MY THOUGHTS*

Ok so I read this in prep for my Library System’s program. We were considering it and I have to say, it just wasn’t what I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but just not what I was expecting. But I will say this, y’all, I really need to start reading the synopsis of books because it really puts me in a bad position…. Kind of like this one.

So the writing was ok, but I was left wanting. He said he liked both baseball and football, but then he decided he wanted only football. But that was literally the entire book. I wanted more? Like there was so much more about himself that he could have talked about. But he only talked about how he might not have gotten chosen by a good football scout. Normally I wouldn’t care, but there was also his terrible parents who made it into this story, which I don’t see why. Like they were terrible. Definitely made me think why tf did they even take him in if they weren’t even going to try to really see him? It just made me mad. And it made me wonder if they even acknowledged the wrong they did at the time. Idk, them not making ammends in the book kind of rubbed me the wrong way.

The one thing that stood out to me was obviously the art. All of it was good. I remember being more critical of it since I was looking at it on my iPad. I thought it should be hella clear since I was reading it from a screen. In general I don’t think it mattered, but it was still good lol Definitely was worth me reading it all the way through and then going back to re-read it while also looking at the art.

This wasn’t my favorite, but it was still ok. I don’t think I’d recommend it for the program. Like I’ll tell the kids to still read it, but I don’t like it for the program. While this book may be good, I just didn’t feel like there was enough there to discuss. I hope you don’t change your mind about it if you want to read it. Still do and let me know what you think.

Overall, I give this