Susie Anderson
Staff writer
In Week Three, Young Readers will follow two best friends navigating the successes and failures in adolescence, and early readers will sway, dance and sing to a vibrant history celebrating the history and impact of Black music in America.
The CLSC Young Readers program will meet at 12:15 p.m. today on the porch of the Literary Arts Center at Alumni Hall. In a week themed “Art in Action: Building Community through the Arts,” Sharon G. Flake’s The Family I’m In highlights difficulties and triumphs in Black adolescence, and How Sweet the Sound, written by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Charly Palmer, presents the achievements of Black musicians in this early readers’ selection.
The Family I’m In follows John-John and Caleb, childhood best friends facing the tumultuous task of navigating young adulthood. From family illness to divorced parents to generational expectations, the pair rely on one another every step of the way.
“It’s a really incredible portrayal of friendship between John-John and Caleb and how they help each other through those difficult moments and help each other find the joy in their lives,” said Managing Director of Literary Arts Stephine Hunt.
The novel is Flake’s most recent publication and the highly anticipated sequel to the Coretta Scott King Award-winning novel The Skin I’m In. With a focus on young Black characters navigating typical adolescent struggles, such as social pressure, friendships and familial stress, Hunt said that Flake’s young adult novels have opened the door for underrepresented narratives in the genre.
“She brings a teenage life to the page — the Black boy experience in particular — that’s something we need to see more of or we don’t get enough of in canonized literature,” Hunt said. “Her book The Skin I’m In really propelled that into a larger conversation about young adult literature, and The Family I’m In is carrying that legacy forward.”
The Family I’m In serves as a perfect preview to Flake’s work before she arrives in Week Six to lead a young adult fiction workshop titled “Young at Heart: How to Write YA (Teen) Fiction at Any Age” through the Chautauqua Writers’ Center.
For readers ages 4 and up, building community through the arts in Week Three entails diving into the vibrant history of Black American music in Alexander’s How Sweet the Sound. Alexander, Chautauqua’s very own Michael I. Rudell Artistic Director of Literary Arts, joined forces with artist Palmer to create a melodious narrative with illustrations that reference more than 80 influential Black artists, bridging several artforms for an immersive reading experience.
“I think this book does a really great job showing how music can inspire different artforms, like art work, and there’s even little bits and hints in there about how literature has inspired music as well,” said Hunt.
For a fully-rounded reading experience, Hunt recommends listening to the referenced songs while reading, especially since the book invites readers to sway to Miles Davis’ trumpet, float with Billie Holiday’s voice, scream with James Brown and dance to Beyoncé.
Stephanie Dawson and Mary Pat McFarland will lead the discussion about The Family I’m In on the porch of Alumni Hall. Immediately following the discussion, Play CHQ will host activities on the lawn for Young Readers.
