Brooklyn-born Genie and his older brother Ernie spend part of a summer with their grandparents in rural Virginia while their parents go to Jamaica. Ernie immediately develops a crush on neighbor girl Tess; Genie is surprised that his grandpa is blind, but pleased that Grandpa is willing to answer his endless stream of questions, which he keeps in list form. The boys adapt to country life - picking peas, going to the flea market, flinging dog Samantha's poop from the yard into the woods, and learning some family history. When Ernie turns 14, family tradition dictates he learn to shoot, which Genie is excited about - but Ernie doesn't want to. And in fact, the kickback knocks out Ernie's front teeth, causing an overdue confrontation between the boys' dad and grandpa.

Quotes

"Well, I guess I gotta figure out how to get as brave as you, Little Wood." (Grandpop to Gene, 113)

Can you be trapped and safe at the same time? (177)

"But it's always the smart ones, the ones who know it all, who make the most mistakes." (Grandpop to Ernie, 289)

"...you gotta let me be, okay?"
Let him be? Let him be what? Sad? Guilty? (328)

Turned out Grandpop was pretty much mad about everything, and had been for a long, long time. (356)

Gene hated when his mom told him to go to bed after he'd seen something that was going to keep him awake, for like, the rest of his life. Go to bed for what? It wasn't like he could sleep. (361)

"I'ont have a story, Grandpop. But I do have a question," Genie said.
"Ah. Of course you do. Okay, well, shoot." (386) ( )

- [ ] This book has 432 pages and in English. The reading age is from 10 to 12 years old and the grade is from fifth to sixth. This story is about a boy who’s name Genie and older his brother, Ernie, and how they left Brooklyn for the first time so they they can spend the summer with their grandparents in Virginia. The boys summer will be filled with surprises that will shock them. ( )

I love Jason Reynolds' writing, and the characters in this book were as real and interesting as all of his others. The only problem I had with this book was that the story seemed a bit long and slow moving for the age of the reader it seems aimed at. I think it could've been two really great books about this family, but for kids who want to sink into a good, long family drama with a strong brother relationship, this is a fine book. ( )

Goodreads Review:
When two brothers decide to prove how brave they are, everything backfires—literally.

Genie’s summer is full of surprises. The first is that he and his big brother, Ernie, are leaving Brooklyn for the very first time to spend the summer with their grandparents all the way in Virginia—in the COUNTRY! The second surprise comes when Genie figures out that their grandfather is blind. Thunderstruck and—being a curious kid—Genie peppers Grandpop with questions about how he covers it so well (besides wearing way cool Ray-Bans).

How does he match his clothes? Know where to walk? Cook with a gas stove? Pour a glass of sweet tea without spilling it? Genie thinks Grandpop must be the bravest guy he’s ever known, but he starts to notice that his grandfather never leaves the house—as in NEVER. And when he finds the secret room that Grandpop is always disappearing into—a room so full of songbirds and plants that it’s almost as if it’s been pulled inside-out—he begins to wonder if his grandfather is really so brave after all.

Then Ernie lets him down in the bravery department. It’s his fourteenth birthday, and, Grandpop says to become a man, you have to learn how to shoot a gun. Genie thinks that is AWESOME until he realizes Ernie has no interest in learning how to shoot. None. Nada. Dumbfounded by Ernie’s reluctance, Genie is left to wonder—is bravery and becoming a man only about proving something, or is it just as important to own up to what you won’t do?

As far as reading level, it is for the more advanced elementary student as it is a chapter book and not a picture book, so it is a great way to introduce some of your older students into more advanced readings.

The book itself is about a family with parents who have marital issues, and send their kids off on a trip while they resolve it. The kids learn about the new culture around them and realize that the world is way bigger then they think. ( )