Talent Night

by Jean Davies Okimoto

Book Overview

A funny, poignant novel from the acclaimed author of Molly profiles a Japanese-American teenager who has an unusual dream--he wants to be the first Asian rap star. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0982316798
• ISBN13: 9780982316795
• Release Date: July 2011
• Publisher: Endicott & Hugh Books
• Length: 148 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 6.0" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 9 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 4 to 7

Customer Reviews

Great Trying to Impress a Girl Book

This book is a great book. It is about when Rodney tries to impress a girl named Ivy. Rodney tries to impress her by signing up for the talent contest. Rodney is a Asian kid and everyone says Asians people can't rap. So he is going to prove to Ivy Asians kids can rap. But Ivy is dating the all-star running back named Lavell Tyler. Can Rodney impress Ivy enough to brake up with Lavell Tyler? You need to read this book and find out. I liked this book because he tries so hard to become a rapper. And this book resembles life today. This is a great book. I say 4 out of 5 stars. It was well written. It was one of my favorite books.

A must read for the aspiring APA "rapper" and artist!!!!

There is something to be said for a book that succeeds in being widely circulated (in a near guerilla tactic-like fashion) among the young APA artist community as a "must read." With the ever-increasing popularity of hip-hop and spoken word among our nation's youth, Talent Night proves to be a book which introduces a positive, albeit for aspiring APA artists- somewhat ironic, perspective on the impact poetry and rhyme can have. Talent Night's failure in providing a more connected depiction of the aspiring APA artist, APA youth and hip hop is in actuality, a reaffirming indication of the complex, often peripheral and challenging position APA youth have growing in a hip hop, pop-culture, media induced generation. Okimoto adequately succeeds in synthesizing the numerous themes of acceptance, identity, adolescent love and ethnicity into a coherent, surprisingly intricate story. It's clear that the accolades that Talent Night has garnished with adults and young readers alike are not merely derived from the, "oh so touching story of a boy in search of acceptance, love and his calling," but more importantly, a deeper recognition and challenge for the reader and author alike to redefine the boundaries of race and art for the next generation. I am still trying to understand why the cover art was changed with the second edition. The new cover art looks like it should adorn a horrendous, "100 of the world's most beautiful love poems" anthology. The old cover art of the Asian boy, the main character, on stage with microphone in hand, distinguished it from the other books when I first picked it up. For a story that demands the acceptance of the young Asian Pacific American, it is disapponting not to see the Asian protaganist on the cover.