Brendan Buckley’s Universe and Everything in It

Author: Sundee T. Frazier

First line: It was the first Sunday of summer break, and I was in a hurry to finish my dusting chores fast so I could call Khalfani to ride bikes.

Why you should read this book: Ever since his paternal grandfather died, aspiring scientist and Tae Kwon Do blue belt, ten-year-old Brendan Buckley, has missed their weekly outings, and all his life, Brendan has wondered what happened to his maternal grandfather who is, in his mother’s words, "gone." But a chance meeting at the mall leads Brendan to discover that his grandfather is not gone; he lives only eight miles away but hasn’t spoken to his parents since the wedding because Ed DeBose does not believe white people and black people should get married or have children. Now Brendan’s book of questions about the universe is filling up quickly, and it’s up to him to learn the truth about race, family, and integrity, and maybe, just maybe, bring Grandpa Ed back into his family.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You believe that, when black people and white people procreate, the children always suffer.