All American Boys

By: Jason Reynolds Original Publication: 2015 Awards: Walter Dean Myers Award Grade: 8+

I had to read this young adult novel, and the cover of it was both alluring and taboo to my senses. My initial reluctance to read this book intrigued me. Why was I so detached from the image of a young man with his hands up, turned away in a cast of red and blue police lights? I was eager to know the story of the young man whose palms faced the sky.

All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely is a coming-of-age story of two different boys who were raised in two different households in America. The difference is their race. The protagonist, Rashad, is a Black teenager with a strict, army-raised father and a concerned, Southern-raised mother. He is a well-rounded student who is highly active in the school's JROTC program. Rashad is stopped at a local grocery store and wrongfully accused of stealing, which results in the neighborhood police detaining him. However, the routine detainment becomes brutal, leaving Rashad hospitalized. The rest of the book unfolds with a series of events that question readers about “what is right” and “what is easy.”

Reading this title reminded me of my own interactions with law enforcement and challenged me to confront the misunderstandings that led to critical events in my own life. This book would be a valuable addition to my library because it gives students the chance to come to terms with the feelings they may have when they see law enforcement become bullies and abuse their power. It encourages them to stand up for what is right. Young students must face the reality of the state of our nation, and reading a selection like this teaches them that sometimes the easy thing to do is not the right thing to do. Reacting to a situation, no matter how large the implications, requires thoughtful action and control of one's emotions. This empowering message is what I received from All American Boys.

References:

Reynolds, J., & Kiely, B. (2015). All American Boys. Simon & Schuster.