Kaepernick, Colin. Et al. Change the Game. Illustrated by Orlando Caicedo. 2023. 144p. Graphix, $15.89 (9781338789652) Recommended grade level(s) 8-12
Rating: 4 – Buy it!
Identities: Black, Domestic Adoptee
For fans of Colin Kaepernick, the athlete, activist, and adoptee, this graphic novel memoir outlines the greater story shared in his Netflix series, Colin in Black and White.
Before he became a football star, Colin was slated to be a baseball star. Detailing his life growing up Black in a white family, Colin navigates his young adulthood from the pitch to the field. His father is a strong influence in his life, and the reader witnesses Colin uncover parts of his identity through racist experiences that distinguish him from his family and a sense of belonging. Ultimately, Colin is trying to figure out who he is and what he wants in a world that dictates what he can and can’t be. Mirroring the societal structures that shape us all, Colin charts a path forward to chase his dream. Written in collaboration with Colin and Eve L. Ewing, this book narrates his experience well and is presented in a format that readers and fans of Colin will pick up and providing a window into the adoptee experience.
Perspectives: Centering a Black, domestic-adoptee experience written by adoptee celebrity Colin Kaepernick. Colin’s adoptee experience is intersectional and intertwined with his racial justice advocacy.
Practice: A book to share with adoptees and non-adoptees alike. Colin’s story pulls back the curtain for non-adoptees on a larger scale to better understand a Black transracial adoptee in this country. Perfect for independent reading and analyzing graphic novel texts. However, keep in mind this is written for teen and young adult readers. There are themes of racial discrimination and violence that adults should be ready to support readers in processing. When students are studying civil rights or activism in social studies, this book should be on display in the classroom.
The Adoptee Bookshelf 