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4.36 AVERAGE
4.36 AVERAGE
There is deep, deep grief in this. Both stories of Jerome and Emmett are ones to be told in louder and louder voices. Until black boys aren't shot anymore; until black girls aren't dying in prison. Until black bodies are afforded the same safety.
We've got to be better.
We've got to be better.
Jerome is twelve years old when he is shot by the police and killed for playing with a toy gun in the park. Jerome was a good kid who never got in trouble. Loved by his parents and little sister, his spirit rises from his dead body and tries to find some meaning behind his death. Along the way, he encounters the ghost of Emmett Till and together they try to navigate the troubled waters of finding out if there can be any good to come out of their murders.
This was a powerful book. I chose to read it on what would have been Emmitt Till’s 78th birthday. It could be a great introduction of Emmitt Till to middle grade kids. Perhaps it is in books like this one that we can educate to gain empathy to the plight of others and the fact that racism and the unnecessary deaths of way too many black kids is a real societal problem that needs to be addressed decades after Emmitt Till.
This was a powerful book. I chose to read it on what would have been Emmitt Till’s 78th birthday. It could be a great introduction of Emmitt Till to middle grade kids. Perhaps it is in books like this one that we can educate to gain empathy to the plight of others and the fact that racism and the unnecessary deaths of way too many black kids is a real societal problem that needs to be addressed decades after Emmitt Till.
This is a powerful, beautiful, nuanced book. Summer is reading it in her seventh grade ELA class and I like to see what's happening in kids' lit these days. I'm so proud of our district for including in in the curriculum, and this is a perfect age at which to introduce the subject matter to the kids. One of the ongoing themes in the book in fact is that children need to hear about both our racist past and present in order to prevent a racist future. Beyond the importance of the message, the writing is also incredibly evocative and wistful. I read sections of it over and over to myself as the language was just so rich. An amazing book, for kids and adults alike.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Gun violence, Hate crime, Racism, Violence
Moderate: Cursing
Wow!! I loved this book and everything it entailed. While this is a book for middle school children it also has a lot to offer adults in regards to different viewpoints on the same situation. A very important situation. A situation which is greatly effecting our nation right now. One which cannot be ignored. Likewise, this book presents numerous opportunities for conversation starters. This is a book I plan on recommending to my students along with anyone else who will listen.
I'd recommend reading this one with your child. It's wonderfully written, and carries a powerful message. However, there are some scenes that might be disturbing for some of our more sensitive readers. Read it together, and enjoy the unforgettable discussions that follow.
I read this in an hour. It’s a YA novel, so it isn’t very long. But mostly I just couldn’t put it down.
This is an important novel for our world today, for children and adults alike to read. As were are in the midst of a civil rights movement, this book belongs on a list of required reading for all people, to prompt conversation and change in attitude and ways of thinking.
This is an important novel for our world today, for children and adults alike to read. As were are in the midst of a civil rights movement, this book belongs on a list of required reading for all people, to prompt conversation and change in attitude and ways of thinking.
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Hate crime, Racism
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
emotional
sad
medium-paced