Rashad & Quinn go to the same school. They know some of the same people, but they're not really friends. They are both headed to the same Friday night party when everything changes. Quinn sees Rashad lying on the ground outside of a convenience store. He's been beaten severely. By a police officer. Who is a close friend of Quinn's family. He hopes that the whole event will blow over and that he'll be able to erase the horrible image of a beaten and bloody Rashad from his mind. But as the week goes on, the community starts to divide and a movement starts to build - #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday. Now Quinn has to make a big decision...which side is he on?
Why It's Worth Reading:
WOW. This book walloped me. How timely and topical and real to read this book right now. I found myself in the shoes of both Rashad and Quinn (due to some masterful writing by both authors) and felt like I could truly understand both perspectives. All-American Boys is not always an easy read, but it's an important one. It reminded me that books can have power - power to start a conversation, power to inspire change, power to foster empathy. If it's hard for you to understand all of the issues and feelings involved in these complicated, many-shades-of-grey events, reading All-American Boys is a step toward understanding.
Bonus - All-American Boys is the Global Read Aloud selection this year and we are reading and recording a section each day. Novi students - ask your English teacher for the code to join the Google classroom. The videos of our recorded readings will be posted each day along with activities and discussions that we are having with our new friends from Hudson Valley, NY.
Book Details:
ISBN: 9781481463331
Format: Hardcover
Publisher: Atheneum
Publication Date: September 29, 2015
Awards/Accolades: 5 starred reviews & Jason Reynolds won the Coretta Scott King Author award in January, shortly after this book was published.
Do We Own a Copy?: Many. Come check one out!