ParentsPick

Clayton Byrd Goes Underground — Content Guide for Parents

By Rita Williams-GarciaScholastic, IncorporatedISBN 9781338268348166 pages
Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

Found in this book

  • Scary contentBrief
  • ReligionBriefChristian
  • Race & cultureBrief

Not found

  • Violence
  • Profanity
  • Climate
  • Sexual content
  • Gender roles
  • Gender & orientation

Content themes

Factual summary of themes present in this book. No opinion — just the facts.

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Summaries and source quotes for every theme.

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Example theme card

Religion

PRESENT

Contains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.

About this book

Clayton feels most alive when he's with his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, and the band of Bluesmen -- he can't wait to join them, just as soon as he has a blues song of his own. But then the unthinkable happens. Cool Papa Byrd dies, and Clayton's mother forbids Clayton from playing the blues. And Clayton knows that's no way to live. Armed with his grandfather's brown porkpie hat and his harmonica, he runs away from home in search of the Bluesmen, hoping he can join them on the road. But on the journey that takes him through the New York City subways and to Washington Square Park, Clayton learns some things that surprise him.

Frequently asked questions

  • Is Clayton Byrd Goes Underground appropriate for a 7-year-old?

    While Clayton is alone in the subway, street toughs threaten to beat people up and an older boy takes his grandfather's hat, though the threats are not carried out. After his grandfather dies, Clayton has counseling with a church pastor, which does not help him.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have violence?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have scary content?

    Found (Brief): While Clayton is alone in the subway, street toughs threaten to beat people up and an older boy takes his grandfather's hat, though the threats are not carried out.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have religion?

    Found (Brief, Christian): After his grandfather dies, Clayton has counseling with a church pastor, which does not help him.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have race & culture?

    Found (Brief): Clayton is an African-American boy, and the story draws on the blues and hip-hop as African-American music born of struggle, but racism is not described as part of the plot.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have profanity?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have climate?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have sexual content?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have gender roles?

    Not found in the sources we checked.

  • Does Clayton Byrd Goes Underground have gender & orientation?

    Not found in the sources we checked.