You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.38 AVERAGE
4.38 AVERAGE
What a terrific young adult book. This shouldn't be banned, it should be required reading.
I purchased this book at Chapter Two Books in Williamstown, MA. I believe I came across this book because it was one of the potential books my former school was thinking about as the middle school summer reading book.
This definitely would have been a good choice for the middle school, although I'm afraid that it would be considered a little preachy, especially when it is imposed on the kids. A book that tackles racism from the perspective of both a black and a white boy, written by two men. As someone whose high school days are over a decade in the past, it's hard for me to guess whether this will ring true for the students who are the intended audience of this book.
I guess this book is also very heavy-handedly male, so I had a hard time relating with the characters in that way as well. I don't know if that would diminish middle/high school girls' enjoyment of this book, though.
This definitely would have been a good choice for the middle school, although I'm afraid that it would be considered a little preachy, especially when it is imposed on the kids. A book that tackles racism from the perspective of both a black and a white boy, written by two men. As someone whose high school days are over a decade in the past, it's hard for me to guess whether this will ring true for the students who are the intended audience of this book.
I guess this book is also very heavy-handedly male, so I had a hard time relating with the characters in that way as well. I don't know if that would diminish middle/high school girls' enjoyment of this book, though.
Borrowed the audio from the library....This is one I'll be purchasing and revisiting often.
WOW. Incredibly engaging and contemporary. A necessary and needed read. This book does an amazing job showing the ways white people get to choose whether to engage with racism, whereas people of color live it daily, and the ethical/moral choices that result for everyone. I can't wait to talk to students about this one. I listened to the audiobook which was very well done with different voice actors for Rashad and Quinn.
Timely and well-written by authors Jason Reynolds & Brandon Kiely who write this together in alternating chapters. Reynolds writes the story from Rashad's point-of-view while Kiely pens Quinn's story. Rashad is a black teenager who is trying to buy a bag of chips at the local corner store and is accused of shoplifting by a fist-happy cop (Rashad is completely innocent). The cop beats Rashad badly and he ends up in the hospital with several token ribs among other injuries. Quinn is a white teenager who witnesses the officer beating Rashad. Quinn is conflicted. The beating looks wrong to him but he KNOWS the police officer. He happens to be the older brother of Quinn's best friend. He also has been a mentor to Quinn ever since his father, an Afghan war hero, died. Tempers flare and people choose sides. Will Quinn stand up for right or take the easy route? Highly recommend for middle & high school students.
There is much to like about this book, especially for younger people, but my brain kept wanting to fill in the gaps of what would have been more realistic phases and outcomes.
Should not be a BANNED book, but it is. Really got the perspective of being a young black man and also not.
Powerful and fantastically written. 2 unique voices in one books made this great story even better. This is an important and moving book.
Very good intro-to-police-aggression and #blacklivesmatter stuff. It seems to cover all of the social angles in a form that is interesting (and enjoyable?) for young adults and probably most adults, too.
This book is well written. It alternates points of view between a young black boy who falls victim to a police officer's excessive force and a young white boy who witnesses the incident. This encounter challenges both boys to confront their fears. While one must overcome his fears in order to speak out against what has happened to him, the other must risk his comfort and support systems as he tries to confront his personal privilege and the privleges of his friends and family. It is heartwrenching and challenging and honest. There are some unexpected elements to the book that help it treat differing world views with grace and understanding without justifying or accepting harmful perspectives.
I also just think it is an important book for people to read, especially in America today.
I also just think it is an important book for people to read, especially in America today.