All American Boys by Jason ReynoldsMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
You cannot be an American citizen today and not be aware of the issue of the disproportionate shootings of unarmed Black men. If you listen to the news, it seems like it's pandemic and while that may be an overstatement, it certainly is a concern.
Reynolds and Kiely write a story ripped from the headlines. Rashad is in a convenience store looking for a bag of chips. But when a White woman trips over him, the clerk mistakes the incident and thinks he's trying to shoplift and the policeman in the store thinks he's trying to hurt the woman. The police officer over reacts and beats Rashad so badly that he ends up in the hospital with a broken nose, broken ribs, and some internal bleeding.
Quinn witnesses the attack and knows the officer involved. His loyalty is put to the test as Quinn begins to question his take on race relations and his own view on race relations. Tensions are high between classmates and citizens of the town as the story hits the news.
This is an extremely well-written and engaging story. The alternate point of views work very well, giving more than one side of the story. Though we never really learn what the officer was thinking. Readers are left questioning, why did he react so strongly? Even if he mistook Rashad as a criminal, why did he beat him so severely?
To be honest, I felt like I was just getting into the story, like something was going to happen when the book ended and the abrupt, unresolved ending sort of ruined it for me. Still, this is a worthwhile book that will certainly have readers talking all about it.
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