Common Sense Media Review
By Carrie Kingsley
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Superb, fun, nuanced story of family, friends, Black hair.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 6+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In J.D. AND THE GREAT BARBER BATTLE, young J.D. discovers a talent for cutting hair after his mom gives him a disastrous home haircut the night before his first day of third grade. When he can't take any more teasing from kids at school (and his own sister), he grabs his mom's clippers and works some magic on his own head. His skills become the talk of Meridian, Mississippi, and kids everywhere start coming to his porch for their own J.D. haircuts. But when his work starts a rivalry with the local barbershop, J.D. suggests the best solution he can think of: a battle of the barbers. Can this young entrepreneur take on a second-generation barber?
Is It Any Good?
With fun, engaging dialogue and fantastic descriptions, this book celebrates Black boy joy and makes kids' complex understanding of the world a delight to read. J.D. and the Great Barber Battle is about more than just a rivalry between the established town barber shop and the young whiz kid with the clippers. J.D.'s awareness of his family's financial situation permeates the story but doesn't overwhelm it; he knows he doesn't have money and that his friends do, but readers discover that his friends' more comfortable situation doesn't remove their own worries. The illustrations jump off the page with personality, bringing J.D. and his family, friends, and clippers to life.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the way the kids tease each other in J.D. and the Great Barber Battle. Have you been around this kind of teasing? How did it make you feel?
Have you ever had an idea for a business you'd like to start, either now or in the future?
J.D. doesn't tell his family about some of the things that have been going on. Do you think he made the right decision? What would you have done in his situation?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Akeem S. Roberts
- Genre : For Beginning Readers
- Topics : Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Kokila
- Publication date : February 23, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 6 - 8
- Number of pages : 128
- Available on : Paperback, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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