# How the Boogeyman Became a Poet

**Author:** Tony Keith Jr.
**Grade range:** Grades 3–10
**First published:** 2024
**Page count:** 374
**Genre:** Children's
**ISBN-13:** `9780063296022`
**ISBN-10:** `0063296020`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/how-the-boogeyman-became-a-poet
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Odyssey Award for Audiobook Excellence Winner Poet, writer, and hip-hop educator Tony Keith Jr. makes his debut with a powerful YA memoir in verse, tracing his journey from being a closeted gay Black teen battling poverty, racism, and homophobia to becoming an openly gay first-generation college student who finds freedom in poetry. Perfect for fans of Elizabeth Acevedo, George M. Johnson, and Jacqueline Woodson. Tony dreams about life after high school, where his poetic voice can find freedom on the stage and page. But the Boogeyman has been following Tony since he was six years old. First, the Boogeyman was after his Blackness, but Tony has learned It knows more than that: Tony wants to be the first in his family to attend college, but there’s no path to follow. He also has feelings for b

## Where this book is assigned

### Odyssey Award (Best Audiobook)

- **recommended** · 3rd grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 6th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 7th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 8th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 9th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)
- **recommended** · 10th grade — [source: Odyssey Award (best audiobook) winners + honors, via Wikipedia — 2025 Winner (Young Adults)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Odyssey_Award)

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