Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer

Product Information

Jeffrey Boakye is a multi-hyphenated literary activist set on disrupting our perspective on few things. The irrepressible Kofi is bubbling with ideas to make money. It’s the 1990s, everyone at school loves music, but the likes of Smash Hits magazine never have the lyrics of TLC, Mary J. Blige, Snoop Dogg et al. Using Kofi’s sales patter and his best friend Kelvin’s excellent memory, the boys create Paper Jam, a fanzine of song lyrics – and the buzz at school is unreal. For many of us, these adventures start in childhood. It’s why so many stories aimed at younger audiences are full of magic and fantasy. These are the worlds of wonder that feel like a departure from the real world; one that isn’t always bubbling with excitement and mystery. This is a book that will connect with the Kofis of the world - the irrepressible extroverts - as well as the Kelvins – the quiet ones. It’s for the readers and the talkers alike. And the cast of supporting characters are equally exciting to meet: big sister Gloria and her confident best friend Shanice, big brother Emmanuel, Mum, Dad, all the friends at school and of course, Delroy, a favourite uncle with a gleam in his eye and a playful smile. It might not be my place to say it but hey, whatever: this is a special book. I love the scenes where Kofi and his family are watching TV together in the flat. There’s one bit where Gladiators comes one and the exchange about Shadow is hilarious. Look out for that. GETTING TO KNOW YOU

Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer is the story of a boy who is trying to keep out of trouble at school and on his estate. With the help of his best friend, his family and the invention of ‘Paper Jam’, a new music magazine, his summer turns out to be unexpectedly different to what he had anticipated. And the thing is, my childhood was magical, because (get ready for the big reveal…) all childhoods are magical. It’s not the environment that creates the magic; it’s the sense of wonder and curiosity, the journey of discovery and seeing the world through new eyes. That can happen anywhere. We need stories from as wide a range of different places as possible Author of Kofi and the Rap Battle Summer Jeffrey Boakye shares how important it is for children to read books in different settings. Kofi had an idea . . . one big lightning bolt of an idea that hit him like electricity. And all it needed was Kelvin's incredible memory for words.It’s one of the biggest literary clichés: that books are a portal into other worlds, a way of escaping into new universes through nothing but words printed on paper. The book is set in the 1990’s so I didn’t understand some of the things they were talking about, especially the TV show which is mentioned regularly but I looked it up and I wish it was on now because it looked brilliant and I can see why the characters family liked it so much.

Of course, problems must ensue for the plot - and tests of friendship loyalty, local bullies, his uncle and girlfriend moving in all vie for a place in the story.

Follow us

Ond dydy’r fenter ddim yn gwneud Kofi’n boblogaidd â’r athrawon, sy’n ei ddal yn defnyddio llungopïwr yr ysgol ar gyfer Paper Jam. Ar yr un pryd, mae Kofi’n cael problemau â Leroy, ffrind newydd sy’n gas wrth Kelvin. Pwy y mae Kofi am fod yn ffyddlon iddo? Ac ydy hi’n werth colli ffrind er mwyn arian? Talk to a member of staff at the auditorium entrance if you have a disability that means you can’t queue, or you need extra time to take your seat. They can arrange priority entry for you as soon as the doors open. In this book, Jeffrey Boakye has created a world full of warmth and youthful optimism, which is occasionally shaken by the actions and prejudice of adults. But for every teacher or police officer who sees what they want to see, there is a nurturing parent who helps their child find a way through their problems. The anxieties around growing up and finding your place are perfectly captured in interactions with Kofi’s sister Gloria and her friend Shanice.

However, Kofi’s operations pose bigger problems than school and home. What about the community? What about others who might profit from it? Then again, what about Kofi’s deceptions and the places he’s anxious about walking? Is Mr Downfield right that Kofi’s energies are misspent, that he ‘ could be a real leader at this school’? I was surprised at the narrative decision to have multiple voices each taking paragraphs, sharing the story. Not something I'm used to. While it worked fine, it felt a little disjointed and the rule of 'show don't tell' of exposition was broken a few times, some things didn't need explaining to the audience who could have worked things out for themselves.

It's not long before one of the teacher's tells Kofi: 'You could be a real leader at this school, you know that?' and . . . suddenly it's turning out to be the best summer ever! About This Edition ISBN: I recommend this to anyone over the age of 8 years. I passed it on to my mum and she loved it too, especially the bits she remembered from growing up. The Psychosis of Whiteness by Kehinde Andrews. It’s a brilliantly focussed interrogation of whiteness and white supremacy.