The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes
Author of the Newbery Honor book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut and National Book Award finalist Victory. Stand!, Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced middle grade novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.
"You've never read a book like thisDerrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him—allegory, folktales, and classics—to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human. You won't be the same after reading it."
—Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal
“With humor, honesty and a touch of magic, Derrick Barnes gives a powerfully told tale of self discovery and community, a delightful ode to boyhood, manhood, sonhood, fatherhood and the blues.”
—Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award-winning author of All My Rage
"Derrick Barnes has been one of greatest writers in the nation for a while, but this book cements him as one of the most genius storytellers the world has ever witnessed. The skill, mystery, and propelling prose here are absolutely once in a generation."
—Kiese Laymon, Carnegie Medal-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir
"A breathtaking story—one that moved me to tears, laughter, and reflection. With vibrant prose, unflinching honesty, and love that sings on every page, Derrick Barnes has given us a gift that is equal parts powerful, necessary, and hopeful. Through the eyes of Henson—a character you will cheer for, cry for, and want to hold tenderly—we explore what it means to grow up Black in America: the joy, the pain, the dreams, and the weight of simply existing. This novel is another powerful offering from a writer whose heart beats fiercely for a better world, and whose voice we desperately need in the ongoing conversation about who we are, where we've been, and where we must go next."
—Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author of This Thing of Ours
—Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal
“With humor, honesty and a touch of magic, Derrick Barnes gives a powerfully told tale of self discovery and community, a delightful ode to boyhood, manhood, sonhood, fatherhood and the blues.”
—Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award-winning author of All My Rage
"Derrick Barnes has been one of greatest writers in the nation for a while, but this book cements him as one of the most genius storytellers the world has ever witnessed. The skill, mystery, and propelling prose here are absolutely once in a generation."
—Kiese Laymon, Carnegie Medal-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir
"A breathtaking story—one that moved me to tears, laughter, and reflection. With vibrant prose, unflinching honesty, and love that sings on every page, Derrick Barnes has given us a gift that is equal parts powerful, necessary, and hopeful. Through the eyes of Henson—a character you will cheer for, cry for, and want to hold tenderly—we explore what it means to grow up Black in America: the joy, the pain, the dreams, and the weight of simply existing. This novel is another powerful offering from a writer whose heart beats fiercely for a better world, and whose voice we desperately need in the ongoing conversation about who we are, where we've been, and where we must go next."
—Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author of This Thing of Ours
Derrick Barnes wrote the New York Times bestseller The King of Kindergarten, as well as the critically acclaimed picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (illustrated by Gordon James), which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the 2018 Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers. He also wrote the bestselling chapter book series Ruby and the Booker Boys. He owns the copy-writing company Say Word Creative Communications and created the popular blog Raising the Mighty, where he chronicles the experience of bringing up four beautiful Black boys in America. He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and their four sons. Gordon C. James illustrated the critically acclaimed picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut (by Derrick Barnes), which received a Caldecott Honor, a Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor, an Ezra Jack Keats New Illustrator Honor, the 2018 Kirkus Prize for Young Readers, and a Society of Illustrators Gold Medal. He also illustrated Let 'Er Buck!: George Fletcher, the People's Champion (by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson). He lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his wife and two children.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9781984836755 |
| ISBN 10 | 1984836757 |
| Title | The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze |
| Author | Derrick Barnes |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Penguin Putnam Inc |
| Year published | 2025-09-23 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |