Jayson Goes for It!
on Goodreads (22)
What’s inside...
From fourteen-year-old author Brayden Harrington comes a fictional middle grade contemporary story about Jayson, a boy with a stutter who faces challenges and obstacles as he campaigns for student-body president. Despite the difficulties he encounters, including his best friend Gloria being kicked off the debate team due to her stutter, Jayson decides to run for president to make their school more inclusive. As he battles against the popular captain of the basketball team, Jayson must confront his fear of public speaking and fight for what's right. A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION! From fourteen-year-old author Brayden Harrington, the young boy who electrified the nation when he spoke at the Democratic National Convention in 2020, comes a fictional middle grade contemporary story about a boy named Jayson who stutters and the challenges he faces and the obstacles he must overcome as he campaigns for student-body president. Eighth grader Jayson Linden has had a stutter his whole life. Though his fellow classmates can sometimes be mean, Jayson tries not to let it get to him; he enjoys playing basketball and spending time with his friends. Then Jayson’s best friend, Gloria, is kicked off the debate team because of her stutter and Jayson starts to notice other injustices happening at their school. In order to make their middle school a more inclusive place and to stand up for his friends, Jayson decides to run against Mack, the most popular boy at school and captain of the basketball team, for student-body president. But as the campaign heats up, will Jayson be able to face his fears of public speaking and win the election? This poignant middle grade debut reminds us all that nothing can hold us back when we’re standing up for what’s right.
Series reading
Non-Sequential
Age
8-12
Length
224 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
How did Jayson feel when he was trying something new, and have you ever felt the same way?
What do you think helped Jayson to keep going even when things were tough?
Can you think of a time when you tried something new and succeeded? How did it make you feel?
Why is it important to keep trying even if something is difficult at first?
Tip: Role play these questions
Encourage your child to relate their own experiences to Jayson’s adventures and feelings. This helps personalize the story, making it more impactful.
Discuss the importance of perseverance and how it can lead to success, just as it did for Jayson.
Ask your child open-ended questions to promote critical thinking about the challenges and rewards of trying new activities.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Perseverance
Explanation: Through Jayson's continuous efforts in tackling challenges, children see the value of persisting even when tasks seem difficult.
Real-World Application: Children learn to keep trying in their own lives, whether it's learning a new skill or solving a tough puzzle.
Example Lesson: Creativity
Explanation: Jayson uses imaginative solutions to navigate his adventures, illustrating the benefits of thinking outside the box.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to apply creative thinking to overcome obstacles in school projects or daily tasks.
Example Lesson: Teamwork
Explanation: Throughout the story, Jayson collaborates with friends to reach common goals, highlighting the importance of working together.
Real-World Application: Kids are taught to value cooperation during group activities at school or in sports teams.
Example Lesson: Responsibility
Explanation: Jayson takes responsibility for his actions throughout his journey, which teaches children about accountability.
Real-World Application: This helps children understand the importance of being responsible for their chores, homework, and behavior.
Example Lesson: Resilience
Explanation: Despite facing setbacks, Jayson remains optimistic and resilient, showing children that it's possible to recover from failures.
Real-World Application: Children learn to maintain a positive attitude and resilience in the face of their own challenges, such as dealing with a bad grade or a lost game.