UPTOWN is an unusual and interesting tour of Harlem lead by a young boy who lives there. Bryan Collier’s art has
an amazing way of conveying the feeling of the place. He uses a mixture of medias: paintings, pictures, clippings, etc. to
create a collage effect that is a wonder to behold. The pictures alone communicate the sense of place needed to connect readers
with this type of story. For example, the street market scene show people in bright, varied clothing looking over all types
of goods. Storefronts are visible, as well as the Apollo, streetlights, and the skyline. A business is conveyed that is not
necessarily rushed, but somehow exciting. Kirkus Reviews states, “This complex, many-layered vibe is made almost tangible
by the kaleidoscopic illustrations.”
Collier’s text blends wonderfully with the illustrations to provide a glimpse of what this part of the city looks
and feels like to a child. One page says, “Uptown is the orange sunset over the Hudson River. That means it’s
time for the streetlights to come on and for me to go home and get changed.”. Many readers might be able to connect
with the idea that when the streetlights come on, it’s time to get home, even if they don’t live in a big city.
The words are placed on a bold purple page that mirrors the purple sky in the accompanying picture. The orange and yellow
words of the first sentence also reflect the colors of the sunset. The effect of these combined elements is subtle, beautiful,
and meaningful
Even through the limited amount of text, the reader gets a sense of who the boy is and what his life is like. Each page
starts with “Uptown is..” followed by a reflection from the young boy. In this manner the reader comes to know
what is important to this child and to his community. Many iconic symbols of Harlem and of the African American experience
there are presented such as the Harlem Boys Choir, The Apollo, and the social aspects of the barbershop and church. In the
end, when the boy proclaims that, “Uptown is home,” the reader feels the pride and love that this boy has for
his community.
2000. Review of Uptown in Kirkus Reviews. 1 June.
