As Brave as You

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade realistic contemporary
• Originally Published: 2016
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 750L; grades 6-8
• Structure/Length: 21 chapters; approx. 410 pages; approx. 7 hours on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: Brothers Genie and Ernie spend the summer in Virginia at their grandparents’ farm. Being away from Brooklyn is a learning experience in itself, but Genie learns even more as he observes his grandfather’s struggle with blindness. Genie’s experiences lead to conclusions about bravery and courage.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Death of family member; blindness; divorce; suicide

Jason Reynolds, Author

• Bio: Born in 1983 in Washington, DC; inspired to begin poetry writing through interest in rap; became an award-winning writer of middle grade and young adult fiction and verse novels; honors include National Book Award finalist, a Newbery Honor, a Printz honor, and a CILIP Carnegie Medal
• Other Works: When I Was the Greatest (2014); The Boy in the Black Suit (2016); Ghost (2016); Long Way Down (2017); Patina (2017); Sunny (2018)
• Awards: Kirkus Prize (2016); NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Literary Work for Youth/Teen (2017); Schneider Family Book Award (2017); Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Bravery and Masculinity
• Guilt
• The Effect of Marital Problems Upon Children