J.D. and the Great Barber Battle

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle (2021) by J. Dillard is the first book in the J.D. the Kid Barber series and serves as a semi-biographical account of the events that led Dillard to become a Master Barber. The story follows young Black protagonist J.D. through the poor outcome of his first haircut, after which he overcomes challenge after challenge to find his confidence, gain pride in his abilities, and become the best barber in his hometown. 

J. Dillard is a self-titled “Barberpreneur” and a Master Barber who is world-renowned for his hairstyles and motivational stance on taking pride in one’s appearance. He cut his own hair for the first time at age 10 and opened his first barbershop in 1999 while attending Tuskegee University, and these early forays led to a 22-year-long career as a barber. Today, Dillard travels the world with his clients and uses his writing to inspire children to follow their dreams. In 2021, J.D. and the Great Barber Battle was named a Best Books selection by School Library Journal, the Chicago Public Library, and the New York Public Library, and it was listed for several awards, including the Texas Bluebonnet Award and the NCTE Charlotte Huck Award. 

This guide refers to the 2021 Kokila paperback edition.

Plot Summary

On the night before his first day of third grade, J.D. gets his first haircut—a family tradition. Because his family struggles financially, they can’t afford to go to Hart and Son (the only barbershop in town), so J.D.’s mom cuts his hair. However, when she botches a basic fade hairstyle, J.D. is mortified. At school, his friends tease him, and J.D. vows to do whatever it takes to fix his hair.

After some trial and error, J.D. decides that cutting hair is like art. Since he is good at art, he cuts his own hair, which comes out better than he hoped. Instead of teasing him, his friends compliment his new look, and this gives J.D. the confidence to cut his friend Jordan’s hair after Jordan badly botches the job. From there, J.D. starts offering services to other kids in town at a fraction of Hart and Son’s prices. J.D. is amazed at how many kids show up and is surprised to realize how much money he can make.

When business starts to dwindle at Hart and Son, the owner, Henry Jr., threatens to get J.D.’s business shut down if J.D. doesn’t stop cutting hair. J.D. refuses and challenges Henry Jr. to a barber battle. If J.D. wins, he can keep cutting hair. If Henry Jr. wins, J.D. will stop. Henry Jr. agrees.

With the battle coming up fast, J.D. invites everyone he knows to come watch, and his confidence grows with all the support he receives. By the day of the battle, J.D. knows that he will win because his friends all like his hairstyles. The battle has three rounds; whoever wins at least two rounds will win the challenge. Henry wins the first round, and J.D. wins the second. After some struggles, J.D. wins the third round, and he is excited until he notices how sad Henry Jr.’s family looks.

Following the battle, J.D. finds that he is too busy cutting hair to enjoy the money he makes. In addition, Henry Jr. offers J.D. a chair at Hart and Son, where J.D. will have the supplies he needs and be able to charge more. Though J.D. is still upset at Henry Jr. for threatening him, he realizes the benefits of working with Henry Jr. and puts aside his feelings to accept the offer. After his first day, J.D. is exhausted, but he cannot deny how rewarding it feels to give kids the haircuts they want. When he gets home, J.D. finds that his sister has gone into business doing hair and nails, and J.D. realizes that even though things worked out with Henry Jr., his struggles are far from over.