Ten-year-old Tae Kwon Do blue belt and budding rock hound Brendan Buckley keeps a "Confidential" notebook for his top-secret scientific d...
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Apr 05, 2008
Julie
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Brendan is endlessly curious, and he has taken to writing queries (and hopefully their answers) in his Book of Big Questions. However, one thing that he knows not to ask about is his mother’s father, and why he is absent from their lives; one thing that hasn’t occurred to him as a question is how he, the son of a black father and white mother, is seen. During the summer he will turn eleven, a chance encounter with his missing grandfather sends him searching for more answers than will fit in hi
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Jan 02, 2012
Jackie
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Brendan Buckley is a geologist in the making...he loves rocks, minerals, and the earth. Little does he know, however, that part of his love for the science comes from his grandpa, Ed (his mom's dad). Brendan has never met Ed and doesn't know anything about him. When Grandma Gladys (his dad's mom) takes him to the mall one summer day, he finds a rock exhibit and talks to the man at the counter. Instantly, they both know they have a passion and fascination with minerals. But, when Gladys sees who
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Oct 13, 2011
Chris
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Brendan Buckley is a ten year old boy interested in rocks and Tae Kwon Do. He keeps a journal called Brendan Buckley’s Book of Big Questions About Life, the Universe and Everthing In It. Lately he’s had plenty of questions for that journal. While at the mall looking at a rock collection, his grandmother vigorously drags him away from an old man. Brendan realizes that the man is his estranged granfather of whom no one in his family speaks well. Using his curious and scientific mind, Brendan
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May 02, 2011
Margaret Boling
rated it: 
5/2/11 ** This was a Young Hoosier Nominee for 2010-2011; before I returned all the nominees to the library, there were a few I still wanted to read. I think this has to go onto my wishlist of books to own.
I thoroughly enjoyed Brendan's character. His internal dialogue during his quest to understand the world around him keeps the book lighthearted, while also sometimes poignant. Brendan is a self-described scientist - asking questions, looking for answers, and struggling to against th More...
I thoroughly enjoyed Brendan's character. His internal dialogue during his quest to understand the world around him keeps the book lighthearted, while also sometimes poignant. Brendan is a self-described scientist - asking questions, looking for answers, and struggling to against th More...
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Nov 22, 2008
Carrie
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This is an upper-elementary/middle school novel. I found it on the Coretta Scott King award page. It's about a ten year old boy who's really into geology and asking lots of questions. He comes from a biracial family. He discovers a grandfather from whom he has been estranged for his entire life. Really great message!
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Sep 22, 2009
babyhippoface
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There is much to like here:
~ It's refreshing to have a protagonist who is an average kid who just happens to like all-things-scientific. His "Big Book of Questions" is a great idea for classrooms and all science-minded readers.
~ Brendan's family is well-adjusted and loving, and they teach him to be honest and responsible. (I enjoyed the moments when Gladys was on the scene and those times Brendan would remember his Grandpa Clem.)
~ When Brendan refuse More...
~ It's refreshing to have a protagonist who is an average kid who just happens to like all-things-scientific. His "Big Book of Questions" is a great idea for classrooms and all science-minded readers.
~ Brendan's family is well-adjusted and loving, and they teach him to be honest and responsible. (I enjoyed the moments when Gladys was on the scene and those times Brendan would remember his Grandpa Clem.)
~ When Brendan refuse More...
Oct 13, 2009
Throughout this book you will discover a boy named Brendan Buckley, who loves science. He has a confidential notebook for his top secret scientific discoveries. He finds out a top-secret: that he has a never met Grandpa. Soon a new experience comes along. A Grandpa he has met tells him that even though he doesn’t really know him he still wants him to treat him like he treats his other Grandpa. I recommend this book to the best book I’ve read so far. It taught me that there can be people th
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Jul 22, 2009
Regina
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Great book, great topics. We have many biracial children in our school, and we need more books with characters like Brendan. Lots of discussion topics on racism, biracial families, science, rock collecting, Tae Kwon Do, integrity, honesty, bullying, and family relationships. Brendan's scientific mind is evident throughout the story, especially when he and his friend Khalfani try to see who has the larger bladder. (Yes, guzzling water then waiting to pee into a 2-later bottle.) I almost lost it w
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Aug 29, 2011
Holly
rated it:
I listened to this middle-grade story about Brendan Buckley, a biracial 10-year-old science enthusiast and purple belt in Tae Kwon Do. Brendan tries to figure out why his grandfather, Ed DeBose, is estranged from the family. His mother has never allowed them to see each other. Through a chance meeting, Brendan discovers that Ed is a rock and mineral collector just like him. They begin a relationship sharing facts about geology until his mother finds out, and she is angry! We find out the re
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Jan 16, 2010
Erin
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Brendan is a 10 1/2 year old who is fascinated by the universe and everything in it and loves asking questions in a notebook and using science to figure out the answer, like "what is dust?", "how do they get the ripple in fudge ripple ice cream?" and "What am I? Black? Biracial? Am I white, too?" When Brendan discovers that grandpa is alive and lives close by, he wonders why they've never met. The story is compelling (a boy's connection to a grandpa admist the cont
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Feb 07, 2012
H
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Brendan Bucley is the son of a white mother and black father, and for the most part, his bi-racial make-up isn't an issue. But when Brendan pursues his intersest in rocks and minerals, he encounters a fellow rock-hound who has more of a connection to Brendan's life than at first appears. A thoughtful look at race and family for younger students, but this wasn't my favorite book when I read it, and I'm not sure how much students will connect to the story. Suffers in comparison to "Stanfor
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Aug 05, 2010
Andrea
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This was a cute book. It is a children's book, so the race issues were not written about at all subtly, Frazier basically smacks the reader in the face with it. But I think this would be a great book to read with a small group, in a literature circle or something. It could lead to some really great discussions. It is a Coretta Scott King Award winner, which is what drew me too it in the first place. Frazier reminds me a bit of Christopher Paul Curtis in that she attempts to use some slapstick hu
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May 13, 2010
M.
rated it:
Excellent book, winner of a Coretta Scott King Award. Brendan, a child with black father and white mother, accidentally meets estranged white grandfather and pursues a relationship with him. Brendan has a passionate interest in science, particularly geology, which also happens to be the grandfather's passion. The main theme of the book is
why so many white people hate black people without cause but also has a lot of introspection regarding being biracial. I would recommend this book to More...
why so many white people hate black people without cause but also has a lot of introspection regarding being biracial. I would recommend this book to More...
Jan 21, 2009
Wendy
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My boyfriend's son is participating in the Reading Olympics, and after his disaster of a science project, the only way to really help him out, I figured, is to read the books. So, I began the book with trepidation, uch, a kid's book, but you know what, it was great! And really timely, in light of yesterday's inauguration. A great way to discuss race, and how to ask difficult questions with kids. The metaphors are definitely the "hit you over the head" kind, but it's a great steppin
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Nov 02, 2009
Sarah
rated it:
Brendan is into science. There are so many questions to find the answers to, and he keeps them all in his top secret notebook of scientific discovery. He is mastering the study of Tae Kwon Do, and is working on creating his own rock collection. Brendan is thrilled to meet Ed DeBose, who is a famous rock collector. He is even more excited when he learns that Ed is actually his long-lost grandpa! Brendan's parents don't want to talk about why Ed hasn't been part of the family. Can Brendan us
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Mar 14, 2011
Tanja
rated it:
Brendan Buckley is a scientist and inquirer, always searching for answers and explanations to his many questions and wonderings. When he accidentally meets his mum's father, he tries to find out what happened that destroyed the relationship between his mum and her dad. I enjoyed Brendan's confidence and perseverance in uncovering answers and think the author did a wonderful job in narrating a biracial kid's search for his own identity. Young readers will also enjoy Brendan's passion for Tae Kwan
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Oct 29, 2009
Kelly
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I was excited to read this book and had high expectations--it is a Coretta Scott King award winner. Brendan thinks of himself as a scientist and as the book progresses also begins collecting rocks. The family issues (an estranged white grandfather and a recently deceased black grandfather) and the name-calling (because he's biracial) he deals with throughout the books are constantly compared to the rocks he is collecting. He is the one that draws these comparisons...it seemed unlikely that a
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Sep 08, 2009
Jon
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I read this book aloud to my eight-year-old daughter before bedtime every night, and we both loved it. It's a great story of a boy struggling to understand Big Questions in his life, ranging from scientific queries to strange family dynamics. In the midst of it he comes face to face with inter-racial struggles within his family (his dad is African-American and his mother is European-American) from a kid's perspective. My daughter and I had a great time talking about these issues, which are relev
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Aug 18, 2008
Eva
rated it:
This was much more moving and involving than I thought it would be. 10-year-old Brendan's mom is white and his dad is black - while he has gotten to know the black side of his family, his mother has always remained silent about his white grandparents. Brendan, a budding scientist and rock hound, meets his white grandpa, Ed DeBose, by accident at the mall during an exhibition of rocks and minerals (Ed is president of a local club devoted to rock hounds and collectors), and from then on he seeks
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Dec 20, 2011
Jennifer
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Reviewed by Dianna Geers for TeensReadToo.com
Brendan Buckley is into Tae Kwon Do and studying rocks. He would love to be a scientist and faithfully keeps a notebook with important questions and findings. During the summer, Brendan plans on becoming a rock collector. And he is trying to adjust to losing his best fishing buddy, Grandpa Clem.
When looking at a mineral and gemstone exhibit, he meets a man who has awesome rocks and who knows a TON about rocks and minerals. His More...
Brendan Buckley is into Tae Kwon Do and studying rocks. He would love to be a scientist and faithfully keeps a notebook with important questions and findings. During the summer, Brendan plans on becoming a rock collector. And he is trying to adjust to losing his best fishing buddy, Grandpa Clem.
When looking at a mineral and gemstone exhibit, he meets a man who has awesome rocks and who knows a TON about rocks and minerals. His More...
Jun 28, 2009
Laura
rated it:
An engaging, perceptive and honest novel about growing up mixed race. Like Lensey Namikoka's "Half and Half," this also takes place in the greater Seattle area though it has more emotional depth. Featuring a charming and amusing boy protagonist, this is a book you might have to hand sell to kids but that will hook them once they start it. The audio version is well done, although I wish the narrator had attempted to replicate a more authentic Korean accent. Recommended for ages 9-13.
Sep 09, 2010
Wanda
rated it:
Brendan is a smart kid, a budding scientist who asks questions. When he accidently meets his estranged grandfather, he has to investigate what bad thing had happened between his grandfather and mother to cause the split between them. The story explores the difficulties of a biracial family. I liked Brendan and the way he figured out his problems. And as a bonus, he taught me something about rocks and minerals, and Tae Kwon Do, too.
Jun 06, 2009
Sherrie
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9th of 15 SSYRA books read for 3rd to 5th grade next school year...this book is among the more substantial ones in the 3rd to 5th grade selection, I highly recommend it. It is the story of a mixed race boy and his quest to get to know his white grandfather and discover the reason that his parents have no contact with him. While still appropriate for younger readers, it will still be enjoyed by older or more able readers.
Aug 01, 2011
I loved it!
The book deals so sensitively and honestly with racism that I've decided to read it to my son and use it to initiate a conversation about how the differences between people might seem like barriers, but really they're the Good Stuff. There are many things in my family that I can't wait to pass down to my son - stories, heirloom jewelry, the cream puff recipe - but racism is not one of them.
The book deals so sensitively and honestly with racism that I've decided to read it to my son and use it to initiate a conversation about how the differences between people might seem like barriers, but really they're the Good Stuff. There are many things in my family that I can't wait to pass down to my son - stories, heirloom jewelry, the cream puff recipe - but racism is not one of them.
Nov 16, 2009
Marfita
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Brendan has questions he needs answered and he'll do just about anything to get those answers. Brendan has a grandfather he knew nothing about until an accidental meeting over some rocks and minerals. This is a good book if you like rocks or tae kwon do (both resonate with me). This is also a good book for beginning a discussion of race relations and biracial families. Had me boo-hooing though.
Jul 09, 2008
Amy
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Brendan, according to his gram is "chocolate milk"---chocolate from his dad and milk from his mom. He's a good kid with a good stable family. One day when he's walking around the mall with his gram he sees this old man at a table full of rocks. He strikes up a conversation but when his gram happens up on them she goes bezerk. Turns out the old man is his grandfather, his mom's father, who he's never met. His other grandpa recently passed away and so Bren is determined to learn mor
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Jan 11, 2011
Lillian
rated it:
It's the summer of Brendan's tenth year. Having recently lost his Grandpa Clem, Brendan discovers another grandfather Ed Debose. But why has no one ever told him of this grandparent? Why has he been in hiding and how does Brendan go about finding the truth? Brendan learns the answers to these questions and learns a lot about himself.
YA566-Q4, YA566-P4 It's all about identity!
YA566-Q4, YA566-P4 It's all about identity!
Aug 03, 2010
Angie
rated it:
I like how the author tied in scientific questioning, rock hunting, and Tae Kwan Do into a truly personal story. Brendan is quite a character--he keeps track of all of his questions! That's awesome.
I'm just more of a fantasy or mystery person. So ... four stars for the writing quality and three stars only because it's not my usual "thing." But it's good to read outside of that.
I'm just more of a fantasy or mystery person. So ... four stars for the writing quality and three stars only because it's not my usual "thing." But it's good to read outside of that.
Nov 04, 2009
Helen
rated it:
Brendan has to come to terms with the idea that his white grandfather is of the opinion that black and white people can be friends but are genetically incompatible ie his parents shouldn't have married and Brendan shouldn't exist. Well written with a good message that is sold in the story, you don't really think about the issues, just the characters in the book.
Jul 26, 2011
Touching book (made me cry), maybe a bit predictable and the ending too tidy, but all in all a very good read. I will definitely recommend this to the middle schools guys; girls should llike it too. The racial discussion was handled with great care and sensitivity.
