The Mothers, by Brit Bennett

The Mothers by Brit Bennett

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The Mothers was an enjoyable read with a disappointing ending. The lack of a complete narrative arc left me wondering what the point of the story was, and in fact I wondered whether it was written as a cautionary tale for those considering abortion. Though the message was not actively anti-abortion, the teenaged abortion in this story seems to have left an indelible mark on the prospective mother, father, grandparents, friends and an entire church for years to come. Then again, the protagonist’s mother, who was apparently depressed over her fate which was decided at a young age due to an unplanned pregnancy, committed suicide. Maybe the message is just not to risk an unplanned pregnancy because you’re damned either way. The story was well-written, but felt unfinished. ~ Ms Dimmick

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Student Review: Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools, by Monique Morris (reviewed by Susannah K.)

Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools by Monique Morris
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Not many nonfiction books start out with a playful rhyme and the story of how an eleven-year-old began to call herself a “ho.” Monique W. Morris begins her book Pushout this way and makes it work. It draws the reader in, and invests them in the story of eleven-year-old Danisha with her “baby face.” She is already a prostitute at such a young age. Morris explains to the reader what lead to this happening. She then uses this, and many other interviews to drive home her point: black girls are being criminalized all too often in schools. She has interviews from black girls in all different schools and situations who give examples of how they have been treated unfairly-sometimes even violently-just for being black and a woman. Pushout helps people to understand just how serious the problem of black girls being treated unfairly is and to sympathize with them more than they ever have before.

Although Pushout is extremely detailed and great for getting an inside look into black girls in schools, the language can be heavy and difficult to unpack. For some, it might discourage them from reading a book on such an important and relevant topic. The interviews, since they were done of children and teens, were simpler and more understandable. However, Morris’s explanations of these interviews could be hard for some to thoroughly interpret because of the complex language. This book is important for people of all ages, races, genders, etc. to read because of how it shines a light on a topic that seems to be shoved under the rug. It would be even better if the language was slightly simpler, so more people who should read it are able to.

Another major topic that was important for Morris to talk about is the school to prison pipeline. When black girls, or others in general, are criminalized in schools, that leads to them getting in trouble with the law outside of school as well. If a girl is constantly berated for dress code violations, being too loud, and other small offenses, they are not going to want to go to school. Not going to school generally leads to getting in trouble with the law, or just being in the wrong crowds of people. Pushout emphasizes the importance of stopping this with the interviews that are used throughout the entire book.

Yet another great addition to Pushout was all the resources and extra facts in the back. After completing this book, the reader might be wondering “What now?” Having a whole slew of additional questions, facts, resources, etc. allows the reader to answer this question and see what else they can do. This is a very helpful idea, and if more nonfiction books included something similar, more people might actually be active in helping others.

Overall, Pushout is an incredible book that definitely deserves more popularity than it has now. How black girls are treated in schools, specifically how they are criminalized, is something that everyone should be aware of. If people are aware of it, they can also start learning how to spot it and actively end it. Adults reading it can inspire others in their community, and teens can help out their black female peers to receive the best education they possibly can. ~ Student Review: Susannah K.

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The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book covers a lot of ground and it does it very well. Starr is a 16-year old African American girl living in a poor inner-city neighborhood while attending a private school for mostly white students about 45 minutes from her home. That alone could be a book as Starr describes the balancing act of straddling all her worlds — home, with her close-knit family (dad owns a grocery in the hood and mom is a RN, uncle is a cop); school, with her mostly white friends (who are sometimes inadvertently racist and often clueless), and in the neighborhood, where she tries to maintain relationships with her two oldest friends, Khalil and Kenya. Starr’s parents had enrolled her in private school after her best friend was gunned down in a drive-by shooting when they were ten. But that won’t be Starr’s only brush with violence. The bulk of the novel covers the aftermath of Khalil’s death, which Starr also witnesses. Angie Thomas has written a very balanced and well crafted story that should move to the top of your “To Read” pile. – Ms. Steiger

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The Underground Railroad, by Colson Whitehead

The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I am struggling to write this review in the same way I struggled to read the book. I am torn between tremendous admiration for the author’s creativity and thorough research and my grudging admission that the novel failed to truly transport me the way a five-star novel should. Whitehead’s unflinching portrayal of the savage inhumanity of American slavery is an important if not entertaining read. He manages to pack it all in, from slave ships, to depraved plantation owners, to medical experimentation and sterilization, to sadistic slave catchers. His overlay of magical realism by employing an actual, physical underground railroad to transport slaves from the deep south to the free north is brilliant. The writing is well-crafted and the pace is swift. Despite all of this, I had to push my way through this book, and my hesitation wasn’t solely attributable to the harsh and violent realities it portrayed. I agree with other reviewers who felt they were kept at a remove from characters, either because they were underdeveloped or because the story was told in the third person. I felt the nonfiction objective of this book overpowered the fictional structure it was built upon. It was as though Whitehead wanted construct a complete litany of the abuses associated with this nation’s heritage of slavery more than he wanted to tell a compelling story. The story was a vehicle for the litany. A well crafted vehicle, for sure, but not really a five-star novel. ~ Ms Dimmick

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Let the Great World Spin, by Colum McCann

Let the Great World Spin by Colum McCann

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I found this at once a challenging and affecting book. Set predominantly in the violent, gritty New York City of the 1970s, this story brilliantly weaves together a slew of disparate lives: an Irish monk and his beloved brother, a mother-daughter pair of prostitutes, a hippy artist, two grieving mothers; one an aristocrat and the other a black woman living in public housing; and the tight rope walker who stunned the world with his audacious walk between the twin towers. The setting and tone are dark and depressing, but the characters’ feelings and motivations are so vividly drawn that I developed a deep empathy for them all. McCann does a masterful job of thrusting the reader deep into psyche of each of his highly distinct characters. Others have described this as a social novel, an apt but perhaps oversimplified description. Read this for a glimpse at pre 9/11 New York City, and a window onto a world vastly different from your own. ~ Ms Dimmick

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Americanah, by Chimandanda Ngozi Adichie

Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a very well written story, and thought provoking, but in the end I almost resented the time investment required to get through it. I appreciated the insight into race in America as observed through the lens of a young, accomplished African immigrant woman, and I especially enjoyed the contrast with Nigerian culture, but I never really warmed to the protagonist. Ifem struck me as judgmental and superior without adequate empathy for the people who loved her. I found myself wondering why she inspired such deep devotion from at least three wonderful men, each of whom she needlessly and thoughtlessly wounded. They deserved better. Then again, perhaps that was what I was supposed to feel. Perhaps the author was also conflicted about Ifem? A worthy read for those exploring race in America, but prepare yourself for a significant commitment. ~Ms Dimmick

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Student Review: The Freedom Writers Diary, by Erin Gruwell (reviewed by Jayden B.)

The Freedom Writers Diary: How a Teacher and 150 Teens Used Writing to Change Themselves and the World Around Them by Erin Gruwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Gun violence, sexual abuse, rape, and drug addiction are just a few topics that are a part of the Freedom Writer’s everyday lives. The Freedom Writers Diary, an inspiring and heartwarming book, revolves around 150 minority students and one teacher and how they changed their lives and the world around them. Throughout the book, these students share their experiences regarding various hardships. These students owe most of their success to the one person who motivated and encouraged them to fight on, Erin Gruwell. These students were deemed “unteachable and at-risk” at the beginning of their freshman year, but are now changing the way people perceive them and how they see themselves.

With the honest and blunt entries, the reader is able to gain knowledge of their tragedies and the demons that haunt them. The stories that revolve around intense and serious subjects often make a reader think, “Wow, this could be in a movie.” These stories not only grab the reader from the beginning, but they also make the reader want to continue. As the book progresses and the closer the Freedom Writers get to graduation, the reader can clearly notice the change in writing style and fluency. This resembles the Freedom Writer’s progression, not only as writers, but also as people. However, the word use and fluency raises doubt about who actually wrote these diaries. It is not fully believable that a group of “at-risk” students could write these outstanding entries. For many of the Freedom Writers English is their second language, and it is hard to believe that their diary entries are 100% their own words.

This book not only targets students, but it also targets adults, teachers, administrators, and officials to understand how much of an impact a single teacher can have on hundreds of kids. It teaches important life lessons for students as well as teachers. For example, Ms. Gruwell transformed a “remedial” class into an engaging and thriving class. In Ms. Gruwell’s second diary entry, she explains how unfair the system is when these kids are never given a chance, she says, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if you tell kids they’re stupid–directly or indirectly–sooner or later they start to believe it.” Many of these kids have been told they would never amount to anything by teachers, parents, and peers. When a brand new teacher comes in and begins teaching a completely different way, it changes their lives. Erin Gruwell’s freshman class did not know how lucky they were to have her as a teacher, but they soon would. Many teachers would consider Ms. Gruwell’s teaching style to be unconventional, but her crazy antics helped these students thrive. By working extra jobs and fundraising, Erin Gruwell was able to give her students a chance to make connections in life. She was able to take her kids on many field trips to museums, concerts, movies, and even to Washington D.C. to relate her classroom assignments with the global world. Without her guidance and optimism, these students would either have dropped out of school, or turned to the streets. This is exactly how all classrooms should be structured.

Overall, this book is a great read for all ages and captures the true meaning of being a great teacher. Having teachers that are invested in their work can dramatically change the atmosphere of the classroom. This book is a must read for those who are interested in changing and shaping the lives of young adults. ~ Student: Jayden B.

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Student Review: All Souls, by Michael Patrick MacDonald (reviewed by Charlotte H.)

All Souls: A Family Story from Southie by Michael Patrick MacDonald

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

All Souls, by Michael Patrick MacDonald is a book describing what life was like growing up in South Boston. MacDonald starts the story from his earlier days growing up in the most low-income neighborhoods like Jamaica Plain, and eventually his apartment in South Boston, or “Southie.” MacDonald was one of 9 children, not all born from the same father. They were living with his mother on welfare and the check she brought home from playing the accordion at a local Irish pub. He describes in detail how when he first moved to the Old Colony Projects, how he and his family were considered outsiders until they had each gotten in enough physical fights and beatings to prove they could be part of the community. The community was characterized by tightly knit, low-income Irish families much like the MacDonalds, who live in their own isolated world, and take deep pride in being from Southie. Their pride is expressed throughout MacDonald’s memoir, for instance, when he described an incident where he and some friends encounter rivals from the Italian side of Boston: the Easties.

All Souls has many vivid descriptions of historical events happening in Boston during this time period. This included the anti-bussing riots in which he took place, and Whitey Bulger; whom his brother was a drug dealer for. MacDonald also portrays intense personal episodes such as his older brother slowly going mad and attempting suicide. This leads to a horrific scene of the author visiting his brother in a mental institute, describing the terrible conditions that would make anyone go crazier instead of helping them. Another of MacDonald’s brothers was murdered after being involved in an armed bank robbery. All of these incidents paint a powerful image of what South Boston was like not too long ago.

I was surprised to really enjoy this book. I am normally not a fan of nonfiction books, and picked this one because it was fairly short and about Boston’s history. MacDonald is not only a talented writer, but is also not afraid to talk about shocking topics that keep the reader turning the pages. I recommend this book to anyone who’s interested in what South Boston was like in the era of crime and racism, or just to anyone looking to read a good book. ~Student: Charlotte H.

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Student Review: The Color of Water, by James McBride (reviewed by Robin M.)

The Color of Water: A Black Man’s Tribute to His White Mother by James McBride

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

James McBride’s story of his life is very compelling. Every chapter switches between the point of view of McBride and his mother. The chapters that are from his mother’s point of view tell the story of her life after she moved to the United States. His mother’s story is about the hardships she went through in order to make sure McBride’s life, and the lives of his 11 siblings were better than her own. The chapters that are from his point of view are about his life growing up as a black child raised by a white women. Mcbride grew up in a poor neighborhood of Queens, oftentimes not able to eat three meals a day. His childhood neighborhood was primarily black, the only white person that lived within four blocks of him was his mother. This caused a lot of problems in his life. Although the switching point of views was confusing at times, it was interesting to see how each chapter flowed together. McBride pulled small details and themes from each chapter and carried them over into the next chapter. The way McBride tells his story you do not feel bad for him, you feel as though his mother’s impact on him made him strong. Unlike Mcbride, his mother grew up all over the country with her Jewish family, almost always in a fully white town. This difference made it intriguing to learn about what his mother was like when Mcbride was a child, and as he grew up. ~Student: Robin M.

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The Art of Secrets, by James Klise

The Art of Secrets by James Klise

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Saba Khan is the daughter of immigrants, and a quiet, tennis-playing, scholarship student at fancy private school in Chicago. When her apartment burns down, in what looks like an intentionally set fire, it triggers an outpouring of support from the school community (and an unexpected boost to her popularity).

Or at least it starts off that way. When a donation to a charity auction for her family turns out to be an extremely valuable work of “outsider art” questions start popping up: just who set the fire? And does Saba’s family deserve all the money the art auction will bring in?

While this book does get you thinking about race, class, charity, and teenage drama, it’s not as heavy as it would seem to be. It’s actually quite funny, with a whodunit feel to it. Klise tells the story through a mix of journal entries, texts, newspaper articles, emails, interview transcripts and narratives, an unusual approach that keeps the story moving as the point of view switches between multiple characters.  Klise doesn’t quite give you the solution to the mystery, and leaves some questions unanswered, but that does give you something to think about afterward.  — Ms. Schoen

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