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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
I sorta enjoyed this one. I’m not sure. I feel like it tried too hard to bring light to Colin Kapernick’s story without it being its own story. I know the entire process of Kap kneeling brought a great deal of controversy, so I appreciate that there’s a YA novel about the thought behind it, but it felt like it was just simply too much about bringing Kap’s story to light, but not really a story about Russ’ experience. I’m not sure if this even makes sense, but that’s kind of where I’m at with this one.
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Main Topic: Violence against blacks by police
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Gut Instinct Rating: 7.5
Characters: 10
Believability: 8.5
Uniqueness: 8
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 10
Artwork Relevance: 8
Audiobook: 7
Overall: 4.56
Percentage Score: 89%
•
Main Topic: Violence against blacks by police
•
Gut Instinct Rating: 7.5
Characters: 10
Believability: 8.5
Uniqueness: 8
Writing Style: 10
Excitement Factor: 10
Story Line: 10
Title Relevance: 10
Artwork Relevance: 8
Audiobook: 7
Overall: 4.56
Percentage Score: 89%
"I didn't understand why Coach was so oblivious to the enduring trauma of police brutality - he was a Black man. Maybe he was so broken down by the system that he'd lost the will to fight for what was right. ... If this was justice, then maybe I didn't understand the meaning of 'liberty and justice for all.'"
This book randomly showed up on my doorstep this summer and while the synopsis of the book sounded great, I was a little hesitant to read another book about kneeling after I had just finished [b:Why We Fly|45184410|Why We Fly|Kimberly Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616142248l/45184410._SY75_.jpg|66816646] and that book left me anything but satisfied. I didn't need to worry though, because this book was much better than I was expecting. I think it helped to have only one character telling the story and the fact that the characters in this story were far more likable. Russell is a character that tells it like it is and he's so easy to relate to. I immediately felt connected with Russell and I wanted to know what his story was. There was so much story leading up to the actual kneeling event which helped me develop a deep interest in the characters.
Russell is one of the best football players on his high school team. Between him and his friend Marion, the quarterback, they are a duo ready to make waves on the football field. When Marion gets charged with all sorts of charges after a fight breaks out between two teams, Rus is left dealing with the fallout of Marion's absence. Angry at a system that continually kills Black men for carrying bags of Skittles or M&M's, Rus decides to take action. He kneels during the national anthem. He finds himself facing consequences far beyond what he expected from his family, friends, football team, and larger community. Rus' family isn't exactly thrilled at what Rus decided to do and Rus feels like maybe he made a wrong choice.
Where this book went right (compared to Why We Fly) is it focused on the aftermath of the kneeling. We see the reaction of people both close to Rus and people who don't know who he is. We see what effect that one action has on community activism and how Rus gets involved with social justice beyond taking a knee one night during the national anthem. I really appreciated how this book tackled a variety of activism methods including posters, demonstrations, and peaceful protests. I had a sick feeling in my stomach every time the police showed up, and for good reason. For Rus to not only get involved with social justice but to also get his teammates thinking about things beyond football was the kind of reaction I wanted. This book was very well done and will lead to some incredible conversations with young readers. I did think the ending was a bit rushed, especially with the epilogue, but I can understand why the book ended the way it did.
I would definitely recommend this book for readers who want to read a book that facilitates good quality discussion.
TW: violence, police brutality, unfair criminalization of a Black teenager, racism
**Thank you to Inkyard Press for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
This book randomly showed up on my doorstep this summer and while the synopsis of the book sounded great, I was a little hesitant to read another book about kneeling after I had just finished [b:Why We Fly|45184410|Why We Fly|Kimberly Jones|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1616142248l/45184410._SY75_.jpg|66816646] and that book left me anything but satisfied. I didn't need to worry though, because this book was much better than I was expecting. I think it helped to have only one character telling the story and the fact that the characters in this story were far more likable. Russell is a character that tells it like it is and he's so easy to relate to. I immediately felt connected with Russell and I wanted to know what his story was. There was so much story leading up to the actual kneeling event which helped me develop a deep interest in the characters.
Russell is one of the best football players on his high school team. Between him and his friend Marion, the quarterback, they are a duo ready to make waves on the football field. When Marion gets charged with all sorts of charges after a fight breaks out between two teams, Rus is left dealing with the fallout of Marion's absence. Angry at a system that continually kills Black men for carrying bags of Skittles or M&M's, Rus decides to take action. He kneels during the national anthem. He finds himself facing consequences far beyond what he expected from his family, friends, football team, and larger community. Rus' family isn't exactly thrilled at what Rus decided to do and Rus feels like maybe he made a wrong choice.
Where this book went right (compared to Why We Fly) is it focused on the aftermath of the kneeling. We see the reaction of people both close to Rus and people who don't know who he is. We see what effect that one action has on community activism and how Rus gets involved with social justice beyond taking a knee one night during the national anthem. I really appreciated how this book tackled a variety of activism methods including posters, demonstrations, and peaceful protests. I had a sick feeling in my stomach every time the police showed up, and for good reason. For Rus to not only get involved with social justice but to also get his teammates thinking about things beyond football was the kind of reaction I wanted. This book was very well done and will lead to some incredible conversations with young readers. I did think the ending was a bit rushed, especially with the epilogue, but I can understand why the book ended the way it did.
I would definitely recommend this book for readers who want to read a book that facilitates good quality discussion.
TW: violence, police brutality, unfair criminalization of a Black teenager, racism
**Thank you to Inkyard Press for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
A black town separated between a white town. DUring a rival football game a white player calls the black player a nigga. A fight ensures and the black kid is arrested even though the white boy instigated the fight. I got really invested in this
Buford’s chapter book Kneel gives readers a first-person view of moving from awareness of racism to acting against it from the perspective of a Black high-school football player.
Russell Boudreaux and his friends, attending high school in a small mostly-Black Louisiana town adjacent to a whiter, wealthier town, provide case-studies of teenagers weighing their possibilities of action & inaction, with concrete risks to their future dreams no matter which way they move.
There is a palpable feeling, from the first chapter to the last, that young Black men are in danger - from racist cops, from petty bullies, from a bureaucratic system whose seemingly-ordinary functions wreak havoc on the most basic daily tasks in their lives.
The teen characters in this story illustrate how young Black men in America can't make one single misstep without life-altering repercussions & ripples of consequences that affect everyone they know.
The heavy topics are balanced by glimpses of teenage feelings, thoughts, & behavior that shine through with hope & love & camaraderie.
The cover illustration showing Russ “taking a knee” also has the phrase “Justice is a team sport” - which Buford illustrates as the football team, Russ’s best friends Marion & Gabby, his family, teachers, & members of the community slowly come together by combining & coordinating their unique tactics.
This stays solidly in the 14- to 16-year-old age range.
Russell Boudreaux and his friends, attending high school in a small mostly-Black Louisiana town adjacent to a whiter, wealthier town, provide case-studies of teenagers weighing their possibilities of action & inaction, with concrete risks to their future dreams no matter which way they move.
There is a palpable feeling, from the first chapter to the last, that young Black men are in danger - from racist cops, from petty bullies, from a bureaucratic system whose seemingly-ordinary functions wreak havoc on the most basic daily tasks in their lives.
The teen characters in this story illustrate how young Black men in America can't make one single misstep without life-altering repercussions & ripples of consequences that affect everyone they know.
The heavy topics are balanced by glimpses of teenage feelings, thoughts, & behavior that shine through with hope & love & camaraderie.
The cover illustration showing Russ “taking a knee” also has the phrase “Justice is a team sport” - which Buford illustrates as the football team, Russ’s best friends Marion & Gabby, his family, teachers, & members of the community slowly come together by combining & coordinating their unique tactics.
This stays solidly in the 14- to 16-year-old age range.
I don't even have the words for how phenomenal this book was.....beautifully written!!!
I'm actually speechless at how wonderful of a book it was. It has made it into my Top 10 in my lifetime!!! ....again PHENOMENAL!!!
I'm actually speechless at how wonderful of a book it was. It has made it into my Top 10 in my lifetime!!! ....again PHENOMENAL!!!
emotional
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Wow. This book was powerful. I feel like it would make great required reading to teach empathy but unfortunately I feel like it’s more likely to wind up on some ridiculous banned book list.
I’m going to start by saying that kneeling during the national anthem was a small part of this story.
This book is about Russell and Marion, they are two Black teenagers growing up in a town they are just trying to get out of. There’s a cop in the next town over who shot an innocent Black teenager and the cop was reassigned and now turns up directly in Russell and Marion’s path.
Russell’s parents have taught him to stay out of trouble.
Marion’s parents pushed him away and he’s mainly being raised by Russell’s parents.
The guys are as close as brothers.
Then one day Marion gets unfairly arrested. He’s released on bail but loses his place on the football team and football is his only way out of town after he graduates so this is devastating.
This leads Russell to pursue various types of peaceful protest. He feels powerless to help his friend.
Russell also still needs to stay out of trouble himself if he wants to find his way out of town after graduation.
I loved these characters. Russell and Marion were sweethearts. I also loved Russell’s parents and his love interest Gabby.
This is a story about trying to find hope in a world that feels determined to hold you down.
The end was so beautiful I was teary.
I’m going to start by saying that kneeling during the national anthem was a small part of this story.
This book is about Russell and Marion, they are two Black teenagers growing up in a town they are just trying to get out of. There’s a cop in the next town over who shot an innocent Black teenager and the cop was reassigned and now turns up directly in Russell and Marion’s path.
Russell’s parents have taught him to stay out of trouble.
Marion’s parents pushed him away and he’s mainly being raised by Russell’s parents.
The guys are as close as brothers.
Then one day Marion gets unfairly arrested. He’s released on bail but loses his place on the football team and football is his only way out of town after he graduates so this is devastating.
This leads Russell to pursue various types of peaceful protest. He feels powerless to help his friend.
Russell also still needs to stay out of trouble himself if he wants to find his way out of town after graduation.
I loved these characters. Russell and Marion were sweethearts. I also loved Russell’s parents and his love interest Gabby.
This is a story about trying to find hope in a world that feels determined to hold you down.
The end was so beautiful I was teary.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Police brutality
Minor: Physical abuse
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I was given an ARC of this book that releases in September and it is definitely one I will be ordering to put in my classroom. Buford tells the same story of racism in a small town, white privilege, and black boys dying on the street just because they are black. Rus and his friend Marion are a tight-end, QB combo that are expected to slay their senior year and go on to D1 schools. Then Marion is unfairly arrested and charged (while the white boy who started it goes free) and suspended from the team. Rus tried to fight for his friend as well as fight for justice. I hate this story, this story that I have read so many times. I wish authors like Buford did not have to keep writing this story, but as a theme in this book says “silence is violence.” I really enjoyed Buford’s writing and the book over all.
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes