Scan barcode
A review by bianca89279
New Boy by Tracy Chevalier
3.0
This was a very readable interpretation of Shakespeare's Othello.
Set in a 70s Washington DC primary school, this is the story of a new boy, Osei Kokote, who's the only black boy in an all-white suburban school. Dee is the girl who's assigned to show the new boy around. She quickly befriends him.
The racism is prevalent, even the teachers are patronising while having good intentions.
The school playground politics are at the core of this story. The usual suspects are present: the bully, the good kids, the followers, the mean girls, the underestimated etc.
Many aspects rang true unless they didn't.
This short novel would have worked much better had it been set in a high school environment and over a longer period than just one day. There is no way eleven-year-olds have the maturity, ability to do all sort of machinations like the characters in this book did not to mention the extremely short time frame. Tongue kissing and crotches rubbing on the playground were unbelievable.
So I can't give this more than 3 stars.
I've received this ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Hogarths for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Set in a 70s Washington DC primary school, this is the story of a new boy, Osei Kokote, who's the only black boy in an all-white suburban school. Dee is the girl who's assigned to show the new boy around. She quickly befriends him.
The racism is prevalent, even the teachers are patronising while having good intentions.
The school playground politics are at the core of this story. The usual suspects are present: the bully, the good kids, the followers, the mean girls, the underestimated etc.
Many aspects rang true unless they didn't.
This short novel would have worked much better had it been set in a high school environment and over a longer period than just one day. There is no way eleven-year-olds have the maturity, ability to do all sort of machinations like the characters in this book did not to mention the extremely short time frame. Tongue kissing and crotches rubbing on the playground were unbelievable.
So I can't give this more than 3 stars.
I've received this ARC via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. Many thanks to Hogarths for the opportunity to read and review this book.