by Kacen Callender
This bittersweet middle grade book takes us to the bayous of small town Louisiana where homophobia and racism are very real things that twelve year old Kingston James must deal with. Mourning the sudden death of his older brother, King struggles with his own developing identity and how to best honor his brother's memory. Can you speak out against racism but not be willing to speak out against homophobia? This poignant story innocently explores the intersectionality of being Black and gay and pokes at the constructs of toxic masculinity that pop up in our cultures. King and the Dragonflies just won the National Book Award for Young People’s Literature, one of the most prestigious literary awards in the country.