Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty
By G. Neri
Illustrated by Randy DuBurke
Paperback: $16.95
Ebook
View the Teacher's Guide
View the InterviewsEleven-year-old Roger is trying to make sense of his classmate Robert "Yummy" Sandifer's death, but first he has to make sense of Yummy's life. Yummy could be as tough as a pit bull sometimes. Other times he was as sweet as the sugary treats he loved to eat. Was Yummy some sort of monster, or just another kid?
As Roger searches for the truth, he finds more and more questions. How did Yummy end up in so much trouble? Did he really kill someone? And why do all the answers seem to lead back to a gang—the same gang Roger's older brother belongs to?
Yummy: The Last Days of a Southside Shorty is a compelling dramatization based on events that occurred in Chicago in 1994. This gritty exploration of youth gang life will force readers to question their own understandings of good and bad, right and wrong.
Jason Low: From Comics Fan to Children's Publisher
"Murder in Miniature," the original Time Magazine article on Yummy's life and death
Yummy Book Trailer
Read about G. Neri's visit to one New York City middle school and how he is inspiring the next generation of writers.
Check out activities and discussion topics for Yummy in the Coretta Scott King Book Awards 2011 Discussion Guide created by the 2011 CSK Book Awards Committee.
Reviews & Comments
School Library Journal
Kirkus Reviews
Booklist
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Library Journal
Publishers Weekly
The Horn Book Magazine
Gene Luen Yang, creator of American Born Chinese and Boxers & Saints
About the Creators
G. Neri - Author
G. Neri is the Eisner-nominated, Coretta Scott King Honor-winning author of Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty, which CNN and Flavorwire hailed as one of the top 25 essential graphic novels of all-time. He has written thirteen books for young people, including Ghetto Cowboy, which was made into the movie, Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba, debuting at #1 on Netflix. His books have been translated into multiple languages in more than 25 countries. In 2023, he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from SUNY for his literary output. Mr. Neri lives on the Gulf coast of Florida. For more information, visit his website at gneri.com.
Randy DuBurke
is a full-time artist, whose work has appeared in books for young readers, DC and Marvel comics, The New York Times, and MAD magazine. A native of Brooklyn, New York, DuBurke now lives in Switzerland with his wife and their two sons. His Web site is randyduburke.com.
Related Titles
About This Title
ISBN
Paperback: 9781584302674
Awards
Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor
American Library Association
Best Books
Kirkus Reviews
Starred Review
Booklist
Starred Review
Kirkus Reviews
Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens
American Library Association (ALA)
Editor's Choice
Booklist
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
American Library Association (ALA)
Notable Books for a Global Society
International Reading Association (IRA)
100 Magnificent Children's Books
Fuse #8 Production, SLJ
Best Books of the Year
Publishers Weekly
Choices
Cooperative Children's Book Center (CCBC)
Cybils Award Winner - Graphic Novel Category
The Cybils
Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award Program
Indiana Library Federation
Glyph Award Nominee
Highlighted Review
VOYA
Louisiana Teen Readers' Choice Title List
State Library of Louisiana
Maverick Graphic Novel List
Texas Library Association (TLA)
Nomination
Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards
Once Upon a World Children's Book Award
The Simon Wiesenthal Center and Museum of Tolerance Library and Archives
Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults
American Library Association
Starred Review
Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Storytelling World Honor Award
Storytelling World
Street Lit Book Award, Emerging Classic Winner
Street Lit Book Award Medal Committee
Ten Best Nexus Graphica Books
The SF Site
Top 10 List, Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Readers
YALSA
Top Ten Great Graphic Novels
Booklist
Virginia Readers' Choice
Virginia State Reading Association
Guided Reading:
VLexile:
GN510LInterest Level:
Grades 5 - 12Reading Level:
Grades 4 - 5Themes
Middle Grade, YA interest, Identity/Self Esteem/Confidence, Overcoming Obstacles, Neighbors, History, Families, Coping with Death, Conflict resolution, Bullying, African/African American Interest, Biography/Memoir, Poverty, Integrity/Honesty , Persistence/Grit, Self Control/Self Regulation, Pride, Childhood Experiences and Memories, Grandparents, Teen Interest
Part of These Collections
African American English Collection Middle School, African American English Collection High School, Diverse Background English Collection Middle School, Fluent English, Fluent Dual Language , Teaching Tough Topics with Children's Literature Webinar, English Guided Reading Level V, Graphic Novel Collection, Social and Emotional Learning Collection, Trauma-Informed Collection High-Low Books for Teens: Middle and High School,
