Literature & Fiction
![Colin Kaepernick - [object Object] author](https://res.cloudinary.com/readsomnia/image/upload/authors/a_B099Z8Y3ZW.jpg)
Colin Kaepernick: Change the Game (Graphic Novel Memoir)
An inspiring graphic memoir of taking the road less traveled 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 sport while staying true to themself. 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 memoir 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.
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 sport while staying true to themself. 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 memoir 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.
Editorial Reviews
Praise for Change the Game
A Common Sense Media Selection for Books
"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
A Common Sense Media Selection for Books
"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
Readers Top Reviews
Katherine Plier Ro
I'm an adoptee into a white family too. We have a healthy relationship. Its also true that I experienced racism and microaggressions constantly growing up, and my family didnt acknowledge these or even educate me about race. Being honest about these struggles with adoption is important. Being "grateful" and being truthful about systemic and social problems inside the family can happen at the same time. If you weren't adopted, you could never understand. Just believe his story.
So happy to have another adoptee-centered resource for not only me, but accessible to my sons as well. Transracial adoption resources so often center adoptive (so often white) parents, resulting in a lot of the frankly horrible narratives expressed in a lot of the reviews below (children should be “grateful”/racism through color blindness, etc). Happy to have a book that is engaging in its own right, and further a much needed perspective.
AKA Perceptor
Colin is such a polarizing human being. If you admire swastikas and its Americanized version: the confederate flag, you'll most likely leave a negative review of this book based on your beliefs and not on the quality of the writing and artwork. Since I'm the type of guy who prefers freedom and equality for all, I read this book with an open mind and found it to be entertaining, inspirational and insightful.
Larry M. Fangman
I liked the way it took a high school approach to his story. It is about him in high school.
J. Bleck
Such a wonderful book. My daughter loves graphic novels, so I knew she would enjoy this- but this is such an important and valuable book for our family! My daughter, like the author, is a transracial adoptee, so this book has brought up a lot of great discussion points for our family. I hope this book and our discussions from it show her that she can always stand up for herself and she can call us out when we make mistakes. I definitely recommend this book to any adoptive family- but all children and families will benefit from learning about what it is like to grow up in a transracial adoptive family.
