Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different: True Tales of Amazing Boys Who Changed the World Without Killing Dragons
By Regan McMahon,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Inspiring stories celebrate difference and bold vision.
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What you will—and won't—find in this book.
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Based on 3 parent reviews
Born in the wrong body....
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“Woke” agenda
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What's the Story?
STORIES OF BOYS WHO DARE TO BE DIFFERENT shows there are all kinds of heroes in this world, from battle-winning kings to creative artists to sensitive writers. In 76 short profiles, kids see boys who overcame adversity or were driven by their own vision to do or create something great. The stories span many nations, religions, and centuries, from B.C. history up to our present-day media culture. Many of the men profiled will be familiar to parents and kids, but many others are ordinary people who've done extraordinary things.
Is It Any Good?
Young readers will find this lively, inspiring collection of stories appealing and accessible. It covers artists, inventors, writers, athletes, actors, explorers, politicians, and more. A celebration of difference, Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different highlights some people who broke gender or sexual identity boundaries, including Oscar Wilde, Harvey Milk, and makeup artist and international cosmetics mogul Jeffree Star. The main takeaway throughout the book is that it's OK to be different, and being different can lead to doing great things. It also shows there are all kinds of ways to be strong and successful, thereby expanding the concepts of masculinity and heroism. Illustrator Quinton Wintor's engaging portraits highlight key aspects of each person's life or career.
One quibble is that author Ben Brooks' mini-biographical sketches often leave out basic details that young readers might not miss but would be helpful for context -- details such as where the person lives or lived, or when certain events happened. A birth date or birth-death date range appears under the person's name atop each bio, but sometimes that's the bare minimum to orient the reader. For example, in the profile of Ludwig Van Beethoven, there's no mention that he was German or lived in Austria. The core tale of what happened to the person "at school" or "at home" is what comes through.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the tales in Stories for Boys Who Dare to Be Different. Which ones do you find most inspiring?
How did feeling different move the boys in these stories to make their mark? Have you ever felt different from other kids?
There are all kinds of heroes in this book. Which heroic actions stand out to you? Is there more to being a hero that being physically strong and adventurous?
Book Details
- Author: Ben Brooks
- Illustrator: undefined
- Genre: Biography
- Topics: Adventures , Arts and Dance , Great Boy Role Models , History , Science and Nature , Space and Aliens
- Book type: Non-Fiction
- Publisher: Running Press Kids
- Publication date: September 25, 2018
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 8 - 12
- Number of pages: 160
- Available on: Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated: March 5, 2019
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