Amal Shahid is a teenage boy in New York with a gift for poetry and an artistic talent. He knows the world is unjust and unfair for people of color, especially teenaged boys. Convinced by a friend to play basketball in a newly gentrified, now white neighborhood, Amal goes, against his better judgement. With taunting and racial epithets, a fight breaks out. Amal admits to throwing the first punch, but not the blow that puts a white boy into a coma. A criminal justice system that treats privileged white boys differently, Amal is found guilty of assault, his Black friends take a plea deal, and none of the white boys are charged. He enters the juvenile detention system, innocent of crime, innocent in character. In detention he learns to deal with a heartless system that works to diminish Amal's humanity. Fortunately there are a few who care, who are willing to give Amal the opportunity to expand and express himself through books, words, and art.
Based upon the experiences of Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five, Ibi Zoboi's free verse is precise, biting, and truthful. The structure of the words in each sentence and on each page adds impact to the meaning. While enough to stand alone, the words are supported by the artwork of Omar Pasha.
While the message is dire, and revealing of the injustice for Black Americans, especially boys, in our justice system, Amal's (and Yusef's) story contains a small glimmer of hope.
Mark's Book Picks Score: 4.5
Reading Level: 6.0 • Interest Level: 7-12 • AR Points: NA • Lexile Level: NA • Publisher: Harper Collins • Pages: 386 • Copyright: 2020 • ISBN: 978-0-06-299648-0 • Available in Perma-Bound Binding
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