Reviews by Nikkya Hargrove
Owner of Obodo Serendipity Books
Off the Shelf
Reviews by Nikkya Hargrove
Owner of Obodo Serendipity Books
I SAID NO! by Kimberly King (children’s book)
In a few short weeks, the month of April will be here. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Over the past few weeks, I’ve spent time with the words written in local author Kimberly King’s book, I SAID NO! Her book is about children’s bodies, privacy, boundaries, open and honest communication between children and adults around safety of one’s body, and so much more! The book, though a heavy topic, provided me with reminders to check in with my own children. The scenario in the book centered around a sleepover, in which the main character, Zak (Kimberly’s real life son), used his “safety code word” when he called home to ask his mom to pick him up from the sleepover, in which his body boundaries were crossed.
The book, while a roadmap for navigating body safety conversations with children, is excellent for adults too. It really comes down to our understanding that we all have power, even children, especially children, to say no. No is a complete sentence, a word that reminds us that we have power over our own bodies. The book ends with tools to open or continue the conversation about situations and/or people who make children feel uncomfortable, or that they cannot trust. I’ve not done so yet, but it is an activity I will do with my own children. Please join us on April 6th at 2pm for Kimberly King’s book launch of I SAID NO! TO HUGS. You can register to attend, click this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScJvcpoPHpgEVN0OERQmYjp7hHls4F1t0PJ8xNAr_NSONAiIQ/viewform.
Which book are you taking off the shelf next?
Kid’s Book Report
Review by Jaylin Armstrong, 5th grader at Wilcoxson School
Book: WONDER by RJ Palacio
I think the book Wonder is about how you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover. The message is to be kind because you never know what a person is going through. In Wonder, Auggie has a deformity on his face. Because of this, some kids don’t know how to act, some are mean, and some are even scared of him. Luckily, a kid in his class named Jack Will is kind to Auggie and stands up to the bullies. During the book you will hear perspectives of different characters in the book such as Auggie, Via (his sister), and Jack Will. My overall opinion is that this book is great to read for ages 8 and up. Anyone can read it. Just remember to always be kind.
Nikkya is a freelance writer, and published her first book Mama: A Queer, Black Woman’s Story of a Family Lost and Found (Algonquin Books) in late 2025. Nikkya has written for the New York Times, The Guardian, Shondaland, and was a staff member at Scary Mommy. Nikkya owns Obodo Serendipity Books, the local bookstore on the green at 3588 Main Street.
