• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Happily Ever Elephants
Happily Ever Elephants

Happily Ever Elephants

The Best Kids Books Found Here!

  • Home
  • Book Lists
  • Kids Book Clubs
  • Spring Books!
  • About
  • Home
  • Baby + Toddler (0-2)
  • Pre-K (3-5)
  • Beginning Readers (6-7)
  • Growing Readers (7-9)
  • Tweens (10-12)
Books by Age » 10-12 » Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground by Rita Williams-Garcia

By Lauren Bercuson ·  Published: Oct 16, 2017 ·  Modified: Aug 27, 2022 ·  This post may contain affiliate links


FullSizeRender-3 copy.jpg

A song. A harmony. A refrain. It’s amazing how music can stir the soul, touch a heart, and keep us connected to loved ones both while they are living and long after they are gone. So it is in Rita Williams-Garcia’s beautiful new novel, Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, a poignant story of love and loss, steeped in music, that details one boys struggle to cope with the sudden death of his beloved grandfather. 

In Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, Clayton, a young musician, idolizes his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd.  Cool Papa is a true bluesman, but Clayton’s mother doesn’t approve of Cool Papa’s music — or his lifestyle. When Cool Papa suddenly dies, Clayton’s grief is unbearable and is compounded by his mother’s seeming indifference. Thus, he runs away one day, on a mission to find and join Cool Papa’s fellow bluesmen. The result is an emotionally resonant journey, not to be missed, as Clayton learns not just about life, but himself too.

Williams-Garcia has created yet another noteworthy novel that has already been short-listed for the National Book Award. In Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, the author masterfully creates vivid scenes with sensory details so rich they transport the reader right into the pages of the settings she creates. The relationships between her characters are nuanced and real, highlighting the challenges that exist between some family members and the closeness shared between others. The book explores life & death, music, family, and even jealousy with such authenticity, resulting in middle grade literature at its finest.  Two enthusiastic trunks up from our team. 

Want the book? Get it here! Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, by Rita Williams-Garcia. *This is an affialite link. 

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

10-12

« Previous PostThe Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser
Next Post »Grandmother Thorn, by Katey Howes

OTHER POSTS YOU MAY LIKE:

  • 10-12

    One Crazy Summer, by Rita Williams Garcia
  • 10-12

    Garcia & Colette Go Exploring, by Hannah Barnaby
  • 10-12

    Mr. Tiger Goes Wild, by Peter Brown

Never Miss a Happily Ever Elephants Newsletter!

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Happily Ever Elephants!

Lauren

Hi! I’m Lauren. I’m a boy mom, former attorney, current elementary school librarian, and moderator of book clubs for kids around the country. My goal is to make storytime with your children both magical and meaningful. Welcome! LEARN MORE 

AS FEATURED IN

Good Housekeeping

Spring Books!

15+ Cute Bunny Books for Kids!

The Best Easter Books for Toddlers

15 Sweet Children’s Books About Flowers

10+ Children’s Books About Rain

SEE ALL SPRING BOOKS

Popular Posts

kindergarten-read-alouds

These Kindergarten Read Alouds Will Wow Kids!

The covers of 9 of the best books for 10 year olds.

The Best Books for 10-Year-Olds To Excite Your Kids!

The cover of Gossie with some rubber ducks, a great book for 2 year olds.

The Best Books for 2-Year-Olds Your Reader Will Love!

beginning-reader-books

The Ultimate List of the Best Books for Beginning Readers!

JOIN OUR BOOK CLUB

Browse by Age

BABY + TODDLER (0-2)
PRE-K (3-5)
BEGINNING READER (6-7)
GROWING READER (7-9)
TWEENS (10-12)
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Join 70k+ Instagram Followers

Find even more great book recommendations with the @happily.ever.elephants Instagram community!
Join more than 70k+ parents for more tips, recommendations and reviews.

Footer

Don’t miss a single book.

Join our community and discover 28 Unforgettable Books to Make Storytime Magical and Meaningful.

Thank you for subscribing!

Buy the Books

The best virtual book clubs for kids. Why read alone when we can read together?

JOIN NOW!
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 ·  Happily Ever Elephants LLC ·  Review Policies & Disclosures ·  Accessibility ·  Website by Anchored Design

0 shares