AN IMPRINT OF ASTRA BOOKS FOR YOUNG READERS New York
NIKKI GRIMES Illustrated by THEODORE TAYLOR III Garvey’s Choice
The Graphic Novel
Garvey’sChoice:TheGraphicNovel is based upon the novel Garvey’sChoice
Text copyright © 2023 by Nikki Grimes
Illustrations copyright © 2023 by Theodore Taylor III
All rights reserved. Copying or digitizing this book for storage, display, or distribution in any other medium is strictly prohibited.
For information about permission to reproduce selections from this book, please contact permissions@astrapublishinghouse.com.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Wordsong
An imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, a division of Astra Publishing House astrapublishinghouse.com
Printed in the United States of America
ISNB: 978-1-6626-6002-3 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-6626-6008-5 (pb)
ISBN: 978-1-6626-6009-2 (eBook)
First edition, 2023
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Grimes, Nikki, author. | Taylor, Theodore, III, illustrator. | Grimes, Nikki, Garvey’s choice.
Title: Garvey’s choice : the graphic novel / Nikki Grimes ; illustrated by Theodore Taylor III.
Description: New York Wordsong, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, 2023. Audience: Ages 9-12. | Audience: Grades 4-6. | Summary: “Award-winning author Nikki Grimes’s beloved novel in verse Garvey’s Choice is now a graphic novel, imaginatively and dramatically illustrated by Little Shaq artist Theodore Taylor III”-- Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022042526 (print) | LCCN 2022042527 (ebook) | ISBN 9781662660023 (hardcover) | ISBN 9781662660085 (paperback) | ISBN 9781662660092 (epub)
Subjects: LCSH: Graphic novels. CYAC: Graphic novels. Fathers and sons--Fiction. | Hobbies--Fiction. | Singing--Fiction. | LCGFT: Graphic novels.
Classification: LCC PZ7.7.G778 Gar 2023 (print) | LCC PZ7.7.G778 (ebook) | DDC 741.5/973--dc23/eng/20221014
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022042526
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022042527
For Deborah Taylor and all librarians who labor on behalf of our children —NG
Dedicated to my father, Theodore Taylor Jr., who will always inspire me to be me —TT III
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
The
Contents ORIGAMI ................................................................ 8 IT FIGURES ........................................................... 10 ANGIE ................................................................... 12 SUMMER LOST AND FOUND ................................ 14 STARS ................................................................... 15 SCI-FI NOVEL ........................................................ 18 MOM SPEAKS ...................................................... 20 ANTIDOTE ............................................................ 22 RHYMES WITH HARVEY ...................................... 24 PERFECT .............................................................. 25 PORTRAIT ............................................................ 25 UNIQUE ................................................................ 26 JOE ...................................................................... 27 BEST FRIEND ....................................................... 28 KNOCK-KNOCK .................................................... 30 ME AND JOE ........................................................ 32 ALIEN ................................................................... 34 TUESDAY ............................................................ 35 PHONE CALL ........................................................ 36 DANCE WITH MY FATHER .................................... 38 SATURDAY PLAY .................................................. 40 IN THE NEXT ROOM .............................................. 41 SUNDAY DINNER ................................................. 42 SEPTEMBER ........................................................ 44 CHECKMATE ........................................................ 45 DRESSING FOR SCHOOL ..................................... 46 DAY ONE .............................................................. 47 TOO-SKINNY-FOR-WORDS .................................. 48 DAY TWO.............................................................. 49 FOILED ................................................................. 50 SECOND PERIOD .................................................. 51 SHORT WEEK ....................................................... 52 DINNER ................................................................ 54
Design by Barbara Grzeslo, Theodore Taylor III, and Symon Chow The
text is set in Anime Ace 3BB.
illustrations are digital.
DROP IN ............................................................... 55 SHOULDER-PAD SEASON .................................... 56 LATE-NIGHT SNACK ............................................ 58 SHADOW .............................................................. 59 DIET ..................................................................... 60 STEALTHY DRESSER ............................................ 61 SECRET................................................................ 62 FUN RUN ............................................................. 63 LIMITS ................................................................. 64 A SLICE OF TRUTH............................................... 66 PHOTO ALBUM .................................................... 68 LUTHER’S SAD SONG, AGAIN .............................. 70 MORNING CLASSES ............................................. 72 WHO SAYS? .......................................................... 73 SECOND THOUGHTS ............................................ 74 FEAR ..................................................................... 75 TURTLE .................................................................76 BUSTED ................................................................76 SHIFT .................................................................... 77 GETTING IN THE GROOVE .....................................78 GARVEY’S CHOICE ................................................79 LIGHTER THAN AIR .............................................. 80 PACT ..................................................................... 81 FIRST WARM-UPS ............................................... 83 CHORUS CALAMITY............................................. 84 EMMANUEL ......................................................... 85 SATURDAY CATCH-UP ..........................................87 IT’S MANNY, NOW................................................ 90 NO WORDS NEEDED ............................................ 92 CAREFUL, NOW ................................................... 93 ELIANA ................................................................. 94 WHERE’D THAT COME FROM? ............................ 96 ADVICE ................................................................ 98 HIS WORDS ......................................................... 99 COME TO THINK OF IT ........................................ 100 NAME GAME ........................................................ 101 PERKS................................................................. 102 WEEKEND WONDER: MANNY’S SPICY PORTOBELLO BURGER SUPREME .............. 102 REHEARSAL ........................................................ 103 THREE BEARS ..................................................... 104 NATASHA BEDINGFIELD SINGS MY SONG .............. 105 WHEN I SING ...................................................... 106 A SPOONFUL OF SONG ....................................... 108 HIGH SCHOOL HALF DAY .................................... 109 ANNOUNCEMENT ................................................ 110 MANNY’S TURN TO BE BRAVE ............................. 112 PRACTICE ............................................................ 113 WORD WEB .......................................................... 114 PREPARATION ..................................................... 115 SCALES ................................................................ 116 THE CHANGE BELL .............................................. 118 INSULT ................................................................ 119 GOOD COMPANY................................................. 120 FACING THE MIRROR.......................................... 122 ASSEMBLY ...........................................................124 LET DOWN .......................................................... 126 THANKS FOR THE PUSH ..................................... 126 AFTERMATH ........................................................127 NEW FAN .............................................................127 COMPLIMENTS ................................................... 128 LESS THAN PERFECT ......................................... 129 INTRODUCTIONS ................................................ 130 TOO SOON GOOD-BYE ......................................... 131 ON THE MOVE ..................................................... 133 SPRING THAW .................................................... 133 COLORS .............................................................. 134 TURN AROUND ................................................... 135 NOW IT’S MY TURN ............................................ 136 FIRST CONTACT.................................................. 136 THE TALK .............................................................137 SUMMER DUET .................................................. 138 TANKA.................................................................. 141
ORIGAMI
Mom’s got a talent for origami, but she can’t fold me into the jock Dad wants me to be.
At least, she knows not to try.
8 9
IT FIGURES
When I was seven and crazy for CAPTAIN ROCK,
bought one blaring the logo of some football team I’d never even heard of.
a space tours lunch box was all I craved. Instead, Dad
I shoved that thing in the coal black of my closet, then celebrated with cake.
10 11
ANGIE
Angie’s the athlete. Why should I compete with her?
Yeah, Dad, I thought. Talk to me.
But will he? I wish I knew.
Why can’t Garvey be like his sister?
I heard Dad ask when I was eight. Mom said,
That’s the wrong question. Ask Garvey what interests him. Talk to him, honey.
12 13
SUMMER LOST AND FOUND STARS
Stories are breadcrumbs. Just follow the trail of books and you will find me lost among the galaxies of scorched stars and ships to Mars.
Stars on my ceiling wink at me when the full moon comes for a visit. I might return the favor someday, at least in my dreams.
14 15
For now, I strap on chapter four of Mars Rescue, study the console, for a smooth flight through star fields.
then ease back on the throttle
17
16
and feel a sweet chill ripple through me, till Dad says,
On page 59, I meet two red Martian Trills
Where did he come from?
The sudden slap of words sends my Trills scattering.
I snarl and pound my pillow.
Football would do you better.
It’s too late to slam the door.
18 19 SCI-FI NOVEL
MOM SPEAKS
Why can’t he put those books down, play football or basketball? Why don’t you let Garvey be?
When I was his age, my pop and I always played. We roughhoused like, well normal.
I hear Dad snort. Twice.
Garvey likes to read. When was that not a good thing?
Thanks, Mom.
I go downstairs, grab a Coke, wash down Dad’s disappointment.
You’re right, But reading doesn’t build muscles, does it?
20 21
ANTIDOTE
Dinner-table talk is magically washed away on a sea of song the minute I clamp on my trusty earphones and push PLAY.
23 22
Capturing the shock and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic through the eyes of her beloved character Garvey, Nikki Grimes’s newest novel in verse shows readers how to find hope in difficult times.
“This sequel is as much a triumph as Garvey’s Choice—a stunning example of how much can be accomplished with few words in the hands of a masterful poet.”
—Padma Venkatraman, Walter Award-winning author of The Bridge Home
“A must-read for young people who lived through the early days of the outbreak as well as those who will be curious about it in years to come.”
—Kate Messner, New York Times bestselling author
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