The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze - by Derrick Barnes (Hardcover)

About the Book

Thirteen-year-old Henson Blayze strives to be seen as more than just a football player in his predominantly white small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, but when a horrific incident compels him to speak out, he must choose between playing football and seeking justice.

Book Synopsis

Newbery Honoree Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD HONOREE
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Week Junior, Audible, Chicago Public Library
KIRKUS PRIZE FINALIST
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST SELECTION
WNDB WALTER AWARD WINNER
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD HONOR
ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE FINALIST

★ "Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A powerful tale." --Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A modern folktale that leaves a damning indictment." --BCCB, starred review
★ "This is Barnes at his best." --School Library Journal, starred review

In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high school ball, and now they're overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.

Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn't as loved by the people as he thought.

Overnight, Henson's town is divided into two chaotic sides--those that support his decisions, and those that don't--when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can't see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain those who may not even see him as human, or if he's destined for a different kind of greatness.

Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes's groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America's obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional novel shows how much has changed over centuries . . . and, at the same time, how little.

Review Quotes

A CORETTA SCOTT KING AUTHOR HONOR BOOK
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Week Junior, Audible, Chicago Public Library
KIRKUS PRIZE FINALIST
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST SELECTION
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD HONOREE
SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE FINALIST

★ "Barnes has masterfully crafted a story that's grounded in history and has fantastical elements woven into it. Henson is an irresistible lead surrounded by a strong supporting cast, and his story sheds light on the reality of racial dynamics. Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed." --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "This powerful tale of race and American culture and history seamlessly weaves a popular middle grade topic, football, with crucial lessons about justice and humanity for tween and younger teens. This is Barnes at his best." --School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Barnes weaves together stories of spirituality, injustice, unrealistic expectations, and police brutality into a powerful tale." --Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "For readers prepared to look critically at American sports culture and its intersections with legacy white supremacy, this contemporary novel, both in its messaging and prose, is presented with a timeless rhythm, a modern folktale that leaves a damning indictment." --BCCB, starred review

"After the book is closed, it leaves behind a glimmer of enchantment . . . A memorable read." --The New York Times

"A unique, powerful tale." --Booklist

"Barnes creates something bigger than a traditional sports novel with an effective combination of well-realized characters, a contemporary setting rooted in history, and mythic elements that lend a transcendent feel... A memorable story (with a powerful opening author's note) that takes a strong stand for true history." --Horn Book

"You've never read a book like this. Derrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him­--allegory, folktales, and classics--to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human. You won't be the same after reading it."
--Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal

"With humor, honesty and a touch of magic, Derrick Barnes gives a powerfully told tale of self discovery and community, a delightful ode to boyhood, manhood, sonhood, fatherhood and the blues."
--Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award-winning author of All My Rage

"Derrick Barnes has been one of greatest writers in the nation for a while, but this book cements him as one of the most genius storytellers the world has ever witnessed. The skill, mystery, and propelling prose here are absolutely once in a generation."
--Kiese Laymon, Carnegie Medal-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir

"A gut-wrenching and heart-expanding novel that celebrates an incredibly human hero."
--Ibi Zoboi, author of the National Book Award finalist American Street

"A breathtaking story--one that moved me to tears, laughter, and reflection. With vibrant prose, unflinching honesty, and love that sings on every page, Derrick Barnes has given us a gift that is equal parts powerful, necessary, and hopeful. Through the eyes of Henson--a character you will cheer for, cry for, and want to hold tenderly--we explore what it means to grow up Black in America: the joy, the pain, the dreams, and the weight of simply existing. This novel is another powerful offering from a writer whose heart beats fiercely for a better world, and whose voice we desperately need in the ongoing conversation about who we are, where we've been, and where we must go next."
--Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author of This Thing of Ours

"Henson Blaze might end up being the most unforgettable character of 2025."
--Colby Sharp, co-founder of Nerdy Book Club

"This book will carve out its own legacy . . . It's brilliant, necessary, and exceptional."
--Pernille Ripp, creator of the Global Read Aloud

About the Author

Derrick Barnes is a National Book Award Finalist for his graphic novel Victory. Stand!-Raising My Fist For Justice, which also won the YALSA Excellence in Young Adult Nonfiction Award, and a Coretta Scott King Award Author Honor. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning picture book Crown: An Ode to the Fresh Cut which received a Newbery Honor, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor, the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Award, and the Kirkus Prize for Young Readers. In 2020, he became the only author to win the Kirkus Prize twice for the New York Times bestseller, I Am Every Good Thing, which also won a Charlotte Huck Award and a Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honor. Derrick is also the creator of the New York Times bestselling companion picture books, The King of Kindergarten and The Queen of Kindergarten. He is a native of Kansas City, MO, but currently lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with his enchanting wife, Dr. Tinka Barnes, and their four sons, the Mighty Barnes Brothers.