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4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
Rashad Butler made the mistake of rummaging in his bag while shopping at a corner store. It lead the police officer guarding the store to beat him. He spent a week recovering in the hospital while his friends and the town, including the second point of view - Quinn, to question their feelings about it and come to grips with racism in their lives. On some level, I think this book did a good job of showing both sides of the issue. I think I liked this even better than The Hate U Give.
Jason Reynolds, one of my favorite middle school writers, teams up with Brendan Kiely to write about two boys, one black and one white, who struggle both personally and on a larger level about a violent incident that occurs one night. The story goes back and forth between Rashad and Quinn as the fallout from the incident starts to pull their basketball team and the school apart and people start taking sides. This book was written 3 years before #GeorgeFloyd, but what happens in this town reminds me of what is now happening throughout this country. Guy Lockard and Keith Nobbs do a great job narrating their parts as the story builds towards a hopeful conclusion. Tears were streaming down my face by the time I finished this, but I was left feeling more hopeful about the conversations that are now happening not just in this country, but around the world. I believe this book should be read by everyone, from middle school to adults, but for younger readers, parents should read the book first and decide if their children can handle it. There is some mention of underage drinking and drug use (marijuana), as well as the violent incident that occurred, so I leave it up to the discretion of parents.
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
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:
Yes
A good read, definitely a good introduction into the topic of police brutality and race for younger readers.
Incredibly powerful; extremely well written. A must read. Hope that truth and justice will prevail.
Two voices, one message. A message we, all colors of the rainbow, bring to this issue. As long as there are human beings there will be judging, or more accurately, misjudging of "the other." I don't want to say I'm biased, but truth is, I am, we all are. I have, we all have a lens, heck multiple lens, through which I/we see life and each other. We need are better lenses. Polarized to get rid of the glare. Maybe it's a friend, a text, an experience that will reveal truth to us. Whatever the lens, let's seek it out. We just might be able to get along a little bit better, and turn "the other" into brother/sister/friend.
Thank you to these courageous writers for driving us to consider, examine and expose the implicit bias and racism of our personal lenses.
Thank you to these courageous writers for driving us to consider, examine and expose the implicit bias and racism of our personal lenses.
I have loved everything Jason Reynolds, and this is no exception. A wonderful insight into all of the confusing feelings we can have regarding race. The character struggle to get to where they need to be. An important work I will be recommending to everyone I know.
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I don't know how I waited so long to read this. I liked how both the black family dynamics developed. I appreciated the white character growth into the realization of how to be an ally.
The two authors tell the story of an incident of police brutality in two voices. One of a Black teen boy and one of a white teen boy. It's a powerful story especially through the different perspectives presented. The characters are slightly simplified but are still fairly realistic. Definitely worth reading.