I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book! I adore Wes and feel like this is a great book for kids to aid in conversations about activism. I'm really looking forward to more titles by this author. I highly recommend this title!

I read an advanced copy of Take Back the Block. It’s a sweet debut featuring best-dressed Wes and his ride or die crew. Wes, like many kids his age, is big hearted and well intentioned, but sometimes a little self-centered. His friends begin moving away one by one, and at first Wes feels helpless to stop it. With the encouragement of his family and teacher, he finds his own voice and his own way to challenge gentrification and hopefully, take back his block.

Wes is more concerned about starting middle school than he is about the causes for which his parents force him to attend protest marches. He'd rather get together with his friends and play video games, or start planning his outfits. Things are changing around him very quickly: his best friend, Brent, is drifting away, Mya has moved to a posh neighborhood, Takari's family is living in a hotel after losing their home, and he has a small crush on his friend Alyssa. When his Kensington Oaks neighborhood is approached by a developer hoping to turn the prime real estate near the city center into condos and coffee shops. While Wes' parents have a neighborhood meeting about the deal, they are resigned to losing the neighborhood and the home whose ownership was such an accomplishment for earlier generations. Wes, however, becomes very invested in efforts to save the area. His teacher, Mr. Baker, has a friend in the Save Our City organization, Ms. Greene, and she helps Wes and his friends formulate a plan. They plan a nostalgic block party, and think they have convinced their neighbors not to sell. Unfortunately, while Wes and Takari are cleaning up, they are approached by a police man they have never seen in the neighborhood who accuses them of trespassing. He asks them where they live, and when Takari tells the officer he lives in another neighborhood, he is forced into a police car and taken to that precinct. Because his mother is working, Wes' parents come and retrieve him. The parents talk to the boys about the incident, and suggest that there might be a case against the officer should they wish to pursue it. Takari eventually declines, since his mother thinks it will make issues worse. Both boys are shaken, and Takari's family goes to like with his grandmother two hours away. Wes keeps researching Kensington Oaks, and is using it as a topic for a presentation in Mr. Baker's class. When he comes across the fact that the neighborhood was started by a Black owner of a lumber mill, Frederic Pippin, he brings this information to Ms. Greene, who files for designating the area as a historic place. In the meanwhile, neighbors are offered even more money for their properties, and even Brent's family sells up. Will Wes be able to save his neighborhood and survive middle school?
Strengths: Wes is a realistically drawn 6th grader, who chafes at the restrictions his parents impose, struggles to keep up with the evolution of his friends, and wants desperately to keep his world from changing. His friends' lives are also well described, so we can understand why their interactions with Wes are changing. I loved that Wes' parents had high expectations and were really involved in his life; so many middle grade books have parents as unengaged, absent, or dead. The inclusion of a scene where Wes and Takari are accosted by the police was timely and important, especially since this was not the entire focus of the story. Mr. Baker is a great teacher, and the Save Our City organization (represented by Ms. Greene) was an interesting one. I loved that Wes dug deep into print resources to find information about his neighborhood, and it was easy to cheer him on as he tried to save Kensington Oaks.
Weaknesses: I wasn't entirely convinced that Wes could go so quickly from being a self-involved tween to championing his neighborhood so effectively. I also brought personal family baggage to the fighting of developers; it's not that easy to win. I had ancestors whose farm was cut in two by the Pennsylvania turnpike, family who had their streets cut in two by freeways, and plenty of relatives who were priced out of their own neighborhoods; none of them won their fights. Younger readers will have more hope that they can win this sort of battle, and gentrification has become more of a racial issue in the last fifty years.
What I really think: This has a very appealing cover and is a solid, quickly moving middle grade novel that touches on many current social issues. Give this to readers who enjoy a good evil developer story like Watson's This Side of Home, Cartaya's The Epic Fail of Arturo Zamora, Krone's Small Mercies. Dilloway's Five Thing About Ava Andrews, Tarpley's The Harlem Charade or King's Me and Marvin Gardens.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

Can I be Wes when I grow up? I loved this middle grade novel about a strong young man fighting for the neighborhood he loves! Wes was smarter, tougher, and more caring than I could have ever hoped to be in 6th grade, loved his character so much.

TAKE BACK THE BLOCK is a timely, heartfelt (and funny!) book that tackles gentrification in an accessible way. Wes is such a richly developed and relatable middle schooler: he'd rather be playing NBA 2K than marching with his mom, but he gradually finds his own voice as he understands how the creeping changes in his neighborhood will affect him and his circle of friends. I almost hesitate to call it an "important" book because that word sounds so pedantic, but this book has so much humor and heart that young readers will find Wes and his crew as entertaining as they are inspiring. Highly recommended.

Thank you to the author and publisher for an eARC of this book.

Here’s an example of a great debut middle grade novel; it’s an excellent length at 240 pages, has short chapters, and tells a story that focuses on community and taking action to protect things that matter. It sheds light on the important issue of Black neighborhoods that are being sold and transformed into middle or upper class areas, and the history that is lost in the process.

Wes has grown up in Kensington Oaks, in the same house his mom grew up in, and that his grandfather spent ten years saving to purchase. He knows his neighbors, his friends all live here, and he’s got lots of wonderful memories from his neighborhood. But things start to change when a development group offers to buy the homes in the area to make way for new ventures. Not only does it divide the residents as people wonder what to do, but it also starts to break up Wes’s group of friends. Wes tries to bring everyone together in an effort to Take Back The Block and save it from being demolished, but even with hard work there are some changes that just can’t be prevented. Wes and his friendships are transformed, as is Kensington Oaks, in ways that no one could have predicted.

There are a lot of elements of this story that I really liked. I loved the sense of community that existed in Kensington Oaks, even when people where fighting over whether to stay or leave. Seeing a close-knit Black community in a positive light, with little crime and families who cared about their neighbors, broke many stereotypes that we often find in books. I loved that the Black police officers used to pay kids to wash their police cars, and coach the baseball teams. I also loved that the history of the neighborhood was tied to the only Black lumber mill owner, and that his legacy is remembered as the story unfolds. The characters come from very different family situations and backgrounds, so we get a chance to see a wide-range of experiences, while the group of friends maintain their connections. The involvement of Wes and his family in protests for different causes, Wes’s social studies project on a modern issue in today’s society, and his involvement with Save Our City and other aid organizations is inspiring for young readers who desperately want to find ways to bring about change.

I was reminded many times of TIGHT by Torrey Maldonado and his books that focus on young middle graders, while at the same time I thought of SO DONE by Paula Chase and her characters that dealt with Black friendships and the bonds of the neighborhood. I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from the author.

Take Back the Block is a great and necessary book that sheds light on the impact of gentrification on the communities and people that it's happening to. Main character Wes is a totally relatable hero kids will want to cheer on as he takes on a corporation to save his own home neighborhood. I loved how it shows that kids are empowered to fight for what they believe in, and I know it will inspire more kids to get involved in their own communities.

An excellent title for introducing students to the issues surrounding gentrification. The characters are engaging and realistic. The issues are presented in an age-appropriate and accessible manner for young readers. Highly recommended!

I really wanted to love this book. There are not many children's books dealing with gentrification, and I was looking forward to reading something that dealt with this difficult topic. My impression of the book overall is positive, but more "like" than "love." It was a good story and I liked the main character. But the start of the book felt a bit preachy. It got better as it went along. I had to force myself past the opening chapters, but once I got farther into the book, I wanted to keep reading. I will purchase the book for my library because it fills an important hole in the collection.

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

TAKE BACK THE BLOCK starts us off in the very stylish shoes of 11-year old Wes Henderson. Out marching with his mom when he’d rather be at home celebrating his birthday with his friends, he isn’t too concerned with topics in social justice. But when developers start making offers in his neighborhood, and a collection of eye-opening events start happening around him, Wes grapples with learning how he can stand up for himself and his community. A lovely story with real characters that we cheer for, this book makes complex, important topics accessible for the middle grade reader. Get this book! For you, your kids, their friends, neighbors, and libraries!

This book is a shining example to teach children about social justice issues that are faced within minority communities. We follow Wes as he begins the story at a protest with his mother when he would rather be playing video games with his friends. As the book goes on, we get to see how friendships are changed due to gentrification in their neighborhoods. Kari and his family have already been displaced and now Kensington Oaks is threatening to have the same thing happen. When Wes realizes that his beloved neighborhood is at risk, he takes brave steps for any 6th grader to make. Along the way, he will teach his friends, and readers, all about gentrification and preservation of Black history. I cannot wait until my 3 year old is old enough to fully understand this amazing book.

Take Back the Block is a fantastic middle grade book about Wes, an 11 year old boy, who is advocating to save his community from development. There are many timely themes that are presented in a way that students can understand and discuss. Readers will be inspired by Wes and his drive and loyalty to his friends and neighborhood.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a great MG book that teaches kids about gentrification in an easy to understand way. I loved the characters, especially Wes. He faced friendship struggles that I think lots of kids can relate to!

So many young people are leading the charge for change in this country and I’d confidently follow twelve-year-old Wes Henderson’s call to action. In debut author Chrystal D. Giles’ completely absorbing TAKE BACK THE BLOCK (1/26/20), the inner-city neighborhood Wes loves and has always called home is at risk and neighbors, friends, and his own family may be forced out. He is no stranger to activism and peaceful protest (thanks to an awesome mom), but now he has found a cause he truly believes in and will do everything he can to fight the gentrification of his beloved Kensington Oaks. Wes is a force and I admired his passion, determination, and drive. I loved getting to know him (and his award-winning style) as he researched, planned, and pursued his goals. His sometimes messy interactions with his friends were utterly relatable and engaging as they all came across so distinctly with unique personalities and interests. I especially felt so deeply for his friend, Kari, who has many personal stories to share. Wes’ voice is humorous and inviting, which made this novel so accessible for young readers as it explored social injustices and racial inequality. His inquisitive nature leads to many poignant scenes about racism and privilege and will leave a lasting impact on readers—I will absolutely be adding this to my classroom library upon its release. An incredible must-read, TAKE BACK THE BLOCK is a powerful and uplifting story that will educate and inspire all to stand up and speak out!

I was super eager to read TAKE BACK THE BLOCK, and for good reason. This contemporary middle grade tackles the realities of urban gentrification, which affects many youth around the country today. The main character, Wes, is unwilling, at first, to get involved when builders move in to redevelop his friend's neighborhood. But when those same developers move to his part of town, Wes' fight to ensure his community's survival gains momentum, in a perfectly crafted story to keep the reader engaged until the very end.

I'm not sure I've ever read a middle grade book that so expertly tackles the difficult and often complex topic on gentrification. The story felt very real and authentic, never shifting into the schmaltzy preaching that MG novels sometimes embrace. Even better, while the main plot of the novel focused on gentrification a host of other complex issues (economic inequality, anti-black racism, police brutality, colorism, single parent challenges, generational wealth, mixed-race identity, and many others) were present in a manner that helped remind the reader that social justice issues never occur in a vacuum. While I don't get the impression this is intended to be part of a series, there is certainly space for a number of novels focused on Wes and his friends.

Great middle grade story about a young boy grappling with gentrification and how it impacts himself and his friends. Love that this young boy is engaged in protesting. I want more on his friend Kari, my heart breaks for him. And the way this text tackled the erasure of Black excellence in an accessible way was great!

TAKE BACK THE BLOCK takes me back to that special time when I was in middle school trying to find my voice as a young Black man starting to see how my city was changing around me and how my friends and I were brought up. This book confronts so many topics head on impacting the Black community. Chrystal D. Giles did an OUTSTANDING job with depicting each kid’s personality, while also finding the perfect balance of informing young people about gentrification without preaching. This book oozes authenticity! The author’s use of historic symbols show the connection between Jim Crow and racial inequality that we’re still facing today. While we’ve come a long way we still have a ways to go, and Wes and his friends experience this directly. This book also shows how being surrounded by love and fighting for what you believe in can change the trajectory of a young person’s life forever. I look forward to reading more of Chrystal’s work. She is a rising-star!

I really liked Wes and how he taught to stand up for himself and what he believes in. Take Back The Block is a stellar debut! I felt we got a phenomenal look at Wes' world and this book gave us a truthful, heartfelt perspective on what gentrification means on an individual level. There is so much going on, but such great looks into family, friendship, and home.

A book that needs to be added to every Middle Grade Library shelf!

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC!

Take Back The Block is a stellar debut. It's phenomenal at letting the reader dig into Wes' world and give us a truthful, heartfelt perspective on what gentrification means on an individual level.