Personalize Your Library Experience

When you choose your preferred branches and age groups, the site will automatically filter the content to match your selections.

Select Your Branches

Select Your Age Groups

This information will be saved as a cookie, and cannot be connected to a library login or transferred between computers

icon of stars; highlighting that you can open the select favorite branch overlay Save & Close
Return to All Blog Posts
Back to Top

“Danté Plays His Blues” by Allen. R Wells; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice

About Blog Post Sep 27, 2024 by SCLSNJ Staff
“Danté Plays His Blues” by Allen. R Wells; illustrated by Shamar Knight-Justice Review by John Mullarkey, Hillsborough branch  “Danté Plays His Blues” by Allen R. Wells is a story about a boy who, along with his mother, have to abruptly move from their home and relocate to move in with his uncles. Dante’s frustration, sadness, and anger is channeled into learning how to play the saxophone over the course of the summer by his uncles who are members of a blues band known as the Jacktown Blues Boys. Dante’s early struggles soon lead to success when he learns to “turn his blues into his muse.”  It is a unique story that demonstrates how music can serve in a healing and creative way. There is also a focus here on home insecurity and the stress and strain of a split family starting over. The artwork by Shamar Knight-Justice is truly excellent – a mixture of different mediums, using collage prints with varied textures and colors to create the different emotion played on by the characters.
chat loading...