About This Boy: Growing up, making mistakes and becoming me cover

About This Boy: Growing up, making mistakes and becoming me

Author: Rolle, Leon

Reading Metrics

Grade Level Middle Grades Plus (MG+ 6 and up)
Book Level 4.9
Points 3.0
Fiction/Nonfiction Nonfiction
Word Count 19370
Points per Word 0.000155

Description

Leon "Locksmith" Rolle, from the band Rudimental, shares his story of growing up - while explaining how successes, mistakes, and failures are all just a part of life. Contains references to violence. Co-author is Derek Owusu.

Quick Summary

If you've ever wondered what it's like to grow up chasing a dream while dealing with the messy realities of school, friendships, and family, Leon Rolle's story feels like a late-night conversation with an older sibling who's been there. The author better known as Locksmith from the band Rudimental writes about his childhood in a way that mixes laugh-out-loud moments (like the time he tried to turn his bedroom into a recording studio with a cardboard box) with honest reflections on tougher stuff, including a few references to street violence that are handled with enough context to teach without traumatizing. It's perfect for kids who love music, anyone who's ever messed up and wanted a reminder that failure is just a stepping stone, or reluctant readers who'll be pulled in by the short chapters and chatty tone. Because the book is only about 20,000 words, it moves fast, but every chapter leaves a little nugget of advice that parents can discuss, making it a great choice for a family read-aloud or a classroom book talk. If you liked "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" for its frank, funny take on growing up, you'll feel right at home here.