Clayton Byrd's momma does not like music, at least it appears that way to Clayton. While Clayton adores and soaks up every word regarding music and playing the blues from his grandfather, Cool Papa Byrd, his mother wants nothing to do with Cool Papa's beats.
So when Cool Papa dies, and Clayton's mother practically gives away all of Cool Papa's things, including selling his two guitars, Clayton's heart is crushed.
His mother wants him to forget all this blues nonsense, and Clayton makes some not very good choices, rebelling against her wishes. Like rescuing his porkpie hat from the yard sale and continuing to sleep through his classes at school, because he's bored and Cool Papa already read him the book his teacher assigns the class to read.
But when she takes away his blues harp, the harmonica, that's too much. Clayton runs away, falls in with some characters who don't have his best interests at heart.
For the first time, Clayton realizes there might be something to his mother's dislike of the blues, and when he finally comes home, he learns there's more to it than he ever imagined.
This is a touching story in a slim volume that even some older than the 10- to 12-year-old kids its aimed at will appreciate.
