e-Audio, 03:32:00
Narrated by: Kwame Alexander & Jerry Craft
Release Date: May 6, 2025
Published by: Hachette Audio
Read from: May 8-9, 2025
Stand-alone
Source: Netgalley (I received a free e-ALC from Netgalley and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review.)
Content Warning: N/A
For Readers Interested In: LOL, MG, Books About Books, Contemporary, Own, Own Voices, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Black), Realistic FictionCreated by real-life rivals and #1 New York Times bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft this hilarious illustrated story features two talented fifth graders going head-to-head in a competition for the ages.
J and K are the most creative fifth graders at Dean Ashley Public School (DAPS). J loves to draw and his wordless stories are J-ENIUS! K loves to write and his stories are K-LASSIC!! Both J and K are determined to win the DAPS annual creative storytelling contest or at least get in the top five. And when they find out that they are both entering The Contest, it’s the beginning of one of the most intense rivalries the world has ever seen.
It’s artist vs. writer with plenty of shady double crosses as J and K plot their way to the top. This epic match-up from Newbery medal winners Kwame Alexander (The Crossover) and Jerry Craft (New Kid) celebrates comics, creativity, and the magic of collaboration.
*MY THOUGHTS*
These two authors are a joy apart, so I was FLOORED when I saw they were doing something together. This was so much fun and I laughed so hard at my big age lol I can only imagine what those who are the target age are feeling. Also, if you do pick this up, listen to it, but also look through the finished copy as well. This is definitely worth an immersive read lol
When I say this was hilarious, I mean it. They wrote this basically like they were having a conversation. I loved the way they broke character in some places just to argue and change some things. And the way they basically sabotaged each other had me cackling. I truly thought it was going to be funny, but I did not think it was going to be like THAT.
I think the coolest part about this is the way they incorporated some people they knew into the other characters. It wasn’t until my co-worker interviewed them that I figured out who one of them was. And I gotta say, I wonder who in the world was that one kid. I don’t want to name names, but I’m sure once you get into it you’ll know who I mean lol
The best thing about this tho was quite possibly the narration. Yeah I missed out on the images, but when I tell you it seemed like I was listening to a weird conversation between the two of them lol And it was like I was listening to a convo that was happening right in front of me. I also loved that the way they narrated? Does that make sense? Like they took the right inflections, they paused, they had the dramatic timing down, and of course the random titles of their books that kept popping up lol Those were actually my favorite.
This was so much fun and I loved being able to experience this story in almost real life lol I really hope y’all blow this book up. It really helped me get back to my happy place, so I imagine it’s going to do the same for the kiddos that get their hands on it as well.
Overall, I give this
