This is a really beautiful memoir about a Black boy navigating a rough upbringing and leaning on various "geek" comforts to get through. Even if you don't like anime, Pokémon or video games yourself, you can still appreciate the way they formed a world in which Joey could feel safe and in control. This is a really impactful piece of writing, one which fills a gap in the literary world and asks readers to consider what we lose by undervaluing both Black boyhood and nerd culture.
This memoir will make you laugh out loud. The memories of her childhood are uproariously funny and so sad at the same time. Henderson struggles to find herself in a world that has dished out the worst of circumstances. Early on she developed a clear determination to find herself, sprinkled with her foul mouthed grandmother's words of wisdom, she is able to make peace in an unkind world with humor and wisdom.
