Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game (Graphic Novel Memoir)

by Colin Kaepernick, Eve L. Ewing, Orlando Caicedo (Illustrator)

Overview

Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game is an inspiring high school graphic novel memoir for readers 12 and up from celebrated athlete and activist Colin Kaepernick.

High school star athlete Colin Kaepernick is at a crossroads in life. Heavily scouted by colleges and MLB as a baseball pitcher, he has a bright future ahead of him as a highly touted prospect. Everyone from his parents to his teachers and coaches are in agreement on his future. Colin feels differently.

Colin isn’t excited about baseball. In the words of five-time all-star MLB player Adam Jones, “Baseball is a white man’s game.” Colin looks up to athletes like Allen Iverson: talented, hyper-competitive, unapologetically Black, and dominating their sports while staying true to themselves. College football looks a lot more fun than sleeping on hotel room floors in the minor leagues of baseball. But Colin doesn't have a single offer to play football. Yet.

This touching graphic novel explores the story of how a young change-maker learned to find himself and never compromise. How the right decision is very rarely the easy one, but taking the road less traveled can make all the difference in the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781338789652
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	03/07/2023
Pages:	144
Sales rank:	20,976
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	HL390L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Colin Kaepernick is a Super Bowl quarterback and New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who fights oppression globally. He founded the Know Your Rights Camp, which advances the liberation and well-being of Black and Brown people through education, self-empowerment, mass-mobilization, and the creation of new systems that elevate the next generation of change leaders. In 2019, he started Kaepernick Publishing to empower a new generation of writers and creators through the development and publication of meaningful works of all genres that focus on amplifying diverse views and voices. KaepernickPublishing.com

Colombian artist Orlando Caicedo grew up eating arepas and drawing. After completing his BFA with a concentration in Illustration at the Atlanta College of Art, he decided to do that full-time. He’s the winner of Stan Lee’s POW Entertainment/Webtoon comic contest as well as the Mad Cave Studios talent search. His published work includes Webtoon’s The Badguys and Pound, and Mad Cave Studios’ Dryfoot. He worked in animation before shifting to comics on hit shows such as the Emmy Award winning Archer for FX and Frisky Dingo for Adult Swim. When not drawing comics, he can be found napping with his loving wife and new baby daughter. You can visit him online at www.ocaicedo.com.
Dr. Eve L. Ewing is a sociologist of education and a writer from Chicago. She is the award-winning author of four books: the poetry collections Electric Arches and 1919, the nonfiction work Ghosts in the Schoolyard: Racism and School Closings on Chicago's South Side, and most recently a novel for young readers, Maya and the Robot. She is the co-author (with Nate Marshall) of the play No Blue Memories: The Life of Gwendolyn Brooks. She has written several projects for Marvel Comics, most notably the Ironheart series. Ewing is an assistant professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice. Her work has been published in The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and many other venues. Currently she is working on her next book, Original Sins: The (Mis)education of Black and Native Children and the Construction of American Racism, which will be published by One World.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Change the Game

“As I read my Brother Colin Kaepernick’s Graphic Novel Change the Game I quickly peeped The Theme of Belonging. The eternal questions We all share. Where do we belong? Where we all fit in? Who are we? What is our purpose on this God’s Planet? Who are our Peoples,Folks? Colin helps us understand by sharing the trials and tribulations he went through growing as an adopted Bi-Racial Teenager In Turlock, California. Colin got help telling his saga from Eve L. Ewing with the writing and Orlando Caicedo with the illustrations. Change the Game is a GAMECHANGER in helping us all navigate THIS THING CALLED LIFE.” - Spike Lee, Storyteller from Da People's Republic of Brooklyn

Caicedo’s colorful, expressive images of the lanky, brooding teenager and dramatic diamond and gridiron montages complement the text. This work, co-authored with noted scholar Ewing, moves swiftly and clearly through a critical time in Kaepernick’s development and will resonate with sports fans and those interested in social issues and mental health alike. – Kirkus

With engaging, multi-layered, dynamic spreads throughout, Caicedo brings Kaepernick’s story to life on the page with vibrant colors and exciting sports action. Each page offers a fresh layout, and the illustrations set the tone of each scene through color and contrast. Fans of professional football and Kaepernick will especially enjoy this work. – School Library Journal

"Change the Game offers an unforgettable lesson: how we choose to respond to adversity is the ultimate measure of our integrity and how we choose to reach unapologetically toward our dreams is the ultimate measure of self-love. This book is an inspiring reminder that no obstacle is too great to overcome when we stand in the light, care, and power of our passion and truth." - Naomi Osaka, Athlete, Entrepreneur, and Advocate

"Every young dreamer should read this book. Change the Game is equal parts captivating and emotionally riveting. It's a must-read for anyone who wants to tap into their passion and purpose to follow their dreams." - Cordae, Grammy nominated artist

"An inspiring glimpse into the intricate web of identity formation, Change the Game reveals the heart of what makes us human. If emotional resonance was a sport, Mr. Kaepernick would be winning." -Nic Stone, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Dear Martin

One of Essence Magazine’s Must-Read Books for 2023

One of The Beat’s Most Anticipated Elementary and Middle Grade Graphic Novels for Winter 2023

From the Publisher

02/24/2023

Gr 8 Up—In a town where young Colin Kaepernick is known as a starting pitcher, everyone seems to have Colin's life after graduation plotted out: Major League Baseball. The lack of understanding and empathy from his white adoptive parents, coupled with the uncertainty around how he wants to proceed after high school, leaves Colin feeling reflective. Keeping a level head, he chooses to focus on his own reaction to the things around him that he can't control. Deciding to embrace what makes him feel good and the people who build him up, he begins to try new things and to spend time with those who have his best interest in mind. In this coming-of-age graphic memoir, Kaepernick (writing in collaboration with Ewing) highlights tribulations in his life related to racism, from classmates using racial slurs in the halls to booster club parents comparing Black athletes to animals and beasts. Typical high school experiences such as first crushes, school dances, and the fear of life after graduation are presented as well. With engaging, multi-layered, dynamic spreads throughout, Caicedo brings Kaepernick's story to life on the page with vibrant colors and exciting sports action. Each page offers a fresh layout, and the illustrations set the tone of each scene through color and contrast. Fans of professional football and Kaepernick will especially enjoy this work. VERDICT This graphic memoir belongs on library shelves for teen readers who are interested in activism or sports.—Angie Jameson

School Library Journal

2023-02-01
Athlete, activist, and transracial adoptee Kaepernick looks back on a pivotal decision he faced as a high school senior.

The multisport standout, dedicated student, and future NFL star’s admiration for the way basketball icon Allen Iverson “wore his Blackness like a suit of armor” opens the narrative as Kaepernick explores his racial identity in predominantly White school and home settings where both racist comments and obliviousness to his experiences as a Black boy are the norm. He consciously gravitates toward those who believe in him and accept him unconditionally as wrenching experiences of casual, everyday racism—his White parents’ denigrating his explorations of Black culture, adults praising a White player’s “high football I.Q.” while describing Black students in animalistic terms—fuel his feelings of alienation. From being inspired by the words of Toni Morrison to being embraced by girlfriend Tiffany’s close-knit Black family, Kaepernick successfully finds much-needed support at a crucial time for his developing self-identity. The memoir ends on a high note, as he decides to pivot away from baseball and accept a college football scholarship. Caicedo’s colorful, expressive images of the lanky, brooding teenager and dramatic diamond and gridiron montages complement the text. This work, co-authored with noted scholar Ewing, moves swiftly and clearly through a critical time in Kaepernick’s development and will resonate with sports fans and those interested in social issues and mental health alike.

A sympathetic glimpse into formative memories and experiences at a liminal time. (photo credits) (Graphic memoir. 12-18)

Kirkus Reviews