Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game

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Author(s)

Co-Authors / Illustrators

Orlando Caicedo

Publisher

Graphix

Genre(s)

Age Range

12+

Release Date

March 07, 2023

ISBN

978-1338789652

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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.

Editor review

1 review

Football and Social Activism

October 05, 2023

Overall rating

4.0

Writing Style

4.0

Illustrations/Photos (if applicable)

4.0

Learning Value

4.0

Born in 1987 and raised in California, young Colin was more interested in football than in baseball, although he was an multi-sport athlete and his parents were more invested in his baseball career. He struggled with fitting in at school, but had some good friends. The struggles often revolved around issues of personal identity. As a biracial teen being raised by white parents, he often felt that the Black portion of identity was something he should hide. Inspired by a friend's hair, he goes to a lot of trouble to get cornrows braided, even though his hair wasn't long enough and the rubber bands used hurt so much that he had to take the style out. His parents thought that look wasn't "professional" enough. There are many microaggressions from all sides, and he wasn't sure how to deal with these. He finds a girl in whome he is interested, only to be encouraged to date a different girl. This is a fascinating look into how past experiences can cement the idea of activism in a young person's mind, and highlights why Kaepernick was so adamant about standing his groung when he took a knee during a professional football game, even though it eventually meant the loss of his pro ball career. Additional information, complete with color photos, explains what the former athlete is going now, including his Know Your Rights camps for athletes of color.

Good Points

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Born in 1987 and raised in California, young Colin was more interested in football than in baseball, although he was an multi-sport athlete and his parents were more invested in his baseball career. He struggled with fitting in at school, but had some good friends. The struggles often revolved around issues of personal identity. As a biracial teen being raised by white parents, he often felt that the Black portion of identity was something he should hide. Inspired by a friend's hair, he goes to a lot of trouble to get cornrows braided, even though his hair wasn't long enough and the rubber bands used hurt so much that he had to take the style out. His parents thought that look wasn't "professional" enough. There are many microaggressions from all sides, and he wasn't sure how to deal with these. He finds a girl in whome he is interested, only to be encouraged to date a different girl. This is a fascinating look into how past experiences can cement the idea of activism in a young person's mind, and highlights why Kaepernick was so adamant about standing his groung when he took a knee during a professional football game, even though it eventually meant the loss of his pro ball career. Additional information, complete with color photos, explains what the former athlete is going now, including his Know Your Rights camps for athletes of color.

Caicedo's graphic novel style is more young adult than cartoonish, with long, lean characters, subtle coloring, and expressive, realistic faces. He does a great job of capturing movement on the page, and in conveying emotions. This is a slim volume, but really packs a punch.

Since I was not really very familiar with Kaepernick, other than his frequent appearances in the news in 2016, I could have used more information about his family life. The role of his parents was critical in the book, and I was not aware that he was adopted as an infant. Since today's readers would have been very young when he made headlines because of his social activism, a little more explanation would have been helpful.

Readers who love all things sports related and who have enjoyed graphic novels like Smith's Victory. Stand!, Wilson's Play Like a Girl and Tavares' Hoops will love seeing Kaepernick's games related in full color, and those who like biographies, like Wetzel's Epic Athletes series including Steph Curry and LeBron James, will find the details of Kaepernick's high school career inspiring.