ALA Booklist (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

Many library patrons will know of the moment on the 2020 presidential campaign trail when Joe Biden met 13-year-old Brayden Harrington, who, like Biden, stutters. In this lively but sometimes saccharine picture book, told in the third person, Harrington tells the story of life with "bumpy speech." "Brayden Harrington loved to talk," he explains, and his friends and family enjoy him doing just that, but at other times, speaking can be scary for the boy. Even before meeting Biden, Harrington made strides, such as when he th a few difficult moments cited the Gettysburg Address at school and was chosen to visit the Connecticut State House. His struggles are helped mightily by attention from Biden though, and his new friendship makes Harrington view his stutter as a gift. Colorful, computer-generated images depict Harrington with family and friends, while speaking to Biden, and at the Democratic National Convention. The appended notes that offer advice to stutterers, their parents, and their teachers is a plus. A solid purchase for children with bumpy speech and for patrons completing homework on our current president.

Horn Book (Sun Aug 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Brayden Harrington has techniques that help with his "bumpy speech," but public speaking still causes stress and embarrassment sometimes. When he meets Joe Biden at a presidential campaign event, Brayden is astonished when Biden tells him: "'When I was your age, I had bumpy speech, too.'" The encounter inspires both Brayden and the soon-to-be president, who invites the thirteen-year-old to (virtually) address the 2020 Democratic National Convention. Like Harrington's viral speech, his autobiographical account is sympathetic and moving, with cheery digital illustrations that emphasize feelings of hope. Appended with tips and other information on stuttering.

Kirkus Reviews

A young teen with a stutter connects with another member of the same club: then–presidential candidate Joe Biden.With nearly unwavering positivity Harrington presents in third person his experiences as a 13-year-old who loved to talk even though words sometimes "got caught in his mouth." At a campaign meet and greet, he is thrilled by the candidate's frank admission that as a teenager he too had "bumpy speech." Feeling "truly understood for the first time," the author overcomes his nerves to address (via video) the 2020 Democratic National Convention and to speak at the subsequent inauguration. Having realized that his stutter is "one of his greatest strengths," he closes on a personal note: "So don't be scared to speak up, speak out, and use your voice. You are amazing just the way you are!" With rare exceptions, Tang depicts him as a wide-eyed, confident-looking lad, whether exchanging smiles with Biden, surrounded by his supportive family (all, like Harrington, White), or chatting with racially diverse groups of friends and classmates. Though packing nowhere near the emotional punch of Jordan Scott and Sydney Smith's I Talk Like a River (2020), the reassuring tone and message may promote improved self-esteem in readers struggling with speech (or other) difficulties of their own. An afterword offers said readers and their caregivers simple insights and suggestions. (This book was reviewed digitally.)A sunny, affirmative testimonial to the power of positive thinking. (Informational picture book. 6-8)

School Library Journal (Wed Sep 01 00:00:00 CDT 2021)

Gr 1-3 Sometimes 13-year-old Braydon's speech is "bumpy" and he stutters on certain words or phrases. It bothers him, but he works hard to speak fluently. When presidential candidate Joe Biden comes to their town, Brayden and his father speak with him; to Brayden's surprise, Mr. Biden reveals that they are members of the same "club." He too has "bumpy" speech. He shares that he never lets it stop him from doing the things he wants to do. Brayden is invited to give a speech to the nation and he proudly proclaims his membership in the "bumpy speech club." Readers will cheer for Brayden as he writes, practices, and successfully gives his speech to millions of listeners. Readers who stutter will find an important message: they are not alone, and they are not defined by their speech. The tips for parents and educators are excellent, and a note from Brayden to readers who stutter encourages them to remember that they are amazing just the way they are. Tang's delightful illustrations show a diverse community of friends and supporters. VERDICT Purchase and promote to all readers. Especially useful for classroom instruction when discussing diversity, disability, and social-emotional topics, and excellent for school speech pathologists and counselors to use with students. Connie Williams, Petaluma, CA