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Title details for Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride - Available

Onyx & Beyond

by Amber McBride
André Santana
Audiobook
1 of 1 copy available
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"McBride's verse novel, inspired by her father's life, gets an aural uplift from the accomplished narrator Andre Santana."—School Library Journal (Starred Review)
Onyx lives with his mother, who is showing signs of early-onset dementia. He doesn't want to bring attention to his home—if Child Protective Services finds out, they'll put him into foster care.
As he's trying to keep his life together, the Civil Rights Movement is accelerating. Is there anywhere that's safe for a young Black boy? Maybe, if only Onyx can fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut and exploring space, where none of these challenges will follow him. In the meantime, Onyx can dream. And try to get his mom the help she needs.
Based on her own father's story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.
A Macmillan Audio production from Feiwel & Friends.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    October 1, 2024

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Listen audiobook

      • ISBN: 9781250365873
      • File size: 64462 KB
      • Duration: 02:14:17

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      July 22, 2024
      Black 10-year-old Onyx, who lives with his grandmother and mother, is obsessed with the moon, stones, and space travel. After Onyx’s grandmother dies, he is tasked with the responsibility of caring for his mother, who has early onset dementia. This includes cooking meals, getting himself ready for school, and making sure no one finds out about her worsening symptoms, or risk social services getting involved. Onyx then plots to steal a piece of a moon rock from the Smithsonian space exhibit (“I have to get a tiny part of this rock for Mama”), convinced that it will help his mother get her memories back. Set in the 1970s, this meandering verse novel by McBride (Gone Wolf) depicts several historical events, including the assassination of Dr. King and desegregation within public schools, and their effects on Onyx. Surreal descriptions of the protagonist’s inner thoughts—“I grew wings,” he whispers upon discovering a mural while on a walk with his mother—interspersed throughout add gentle magic to this perceptive interpretation of a child growing up with a caregiver navigating illness. Ages 8–12. Agent: Elena Giovinazzo, Pippin Properties.

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from November 1, 2024

      Gr 3-7-In 1968 Alexandria, VA, "home" for young Onyx includes "Mama & Gran & Me"-and his 25 rocks. Two years later, Gran "has gone to the sky" and 10-year-old Onyx has become Mama's caretaker for her early-onset dementia. Its progression means that besides school, Onyx cooks, shops, launders, and hopes no one will notice he's not okay-not even his Pops, cousins, or other grandmother for fear of losing Mama forever. The world, meanwhile, doesn't stop for a young Black boy: "It's strange to me that things that are dark are bad./ Black hole./ Blackout./ Black death./ Black cat./ Blacklisted." Remembering Gran's stories of enslaved ancestors flying to freedom, Onyx, too, tries to fly to get the moonstone to save Mama. Santana is a gently emotive cipher, empathically channeling a young boy's wishful determination. VERDICT McBride's verse novel, inspired by her father's life, gets an aural uplift from the accomplished Santana.

      Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • AudioFile Magazine
      Andr Santana narrates this short novel in verse about the power of dreams and finding compassion in one's community. Twelve-year-old Onyx is entranced by space, the stars, and the idea of flying. His daydreams are one of his only escapes from anxiety over his mother's increasing memory loss. Santana voices Onyx in soft, lyrical tones that evoke the verse format without becoming too caught up in the rhythm. As Onyx's worries that he will be separated from his mother increase, Santana builds that panic into his inner monologue, the tension mounting as Onyx's various plans go awry. The members of Onyx's extended family and community get distinct voices of their own as Onyx learns to lean on them. N.M. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine

Formats

  • OverDrive Listen audiobook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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