Torrey Maldonado

Biracial sixth-grader Stephen questions the limitations society puts on him after he notices the way strangers treat him when he hangs out with his white friends and learns about the Black Lives Matter movement.

What Lane?

Katy B

** spoiler alert **
           I have a lot of thoughts on this book, but I'm not sure how to best put them all into words.

Things I like about this book: It takes on a lot of issues about race and what it means for people of all colors and ethnicity and how people race differently. 

Previous reviews mentioned how this book is written very low level and below the target age range, but I think that is actually a pro. Younger kids can read this and understand what is going on without it being inappropriate. At the same time, older kids with a lower reading level can also read and appreciate this story. I think a lot of time we tend to focus on books aimed directly at kids with an average or above average reading level. This entire book is relevant for kids of all ages and it's nice that kids with lower reading levels can appreciate a book that hits home for them when a lot of the time the books in their reading level are also subjects and plots that seem more kiddish.

Things I didn't like so much about this book: While I no doubt believe Stephen's white mom is a realistic version of some moms out there, her tiny role of wanting to keep her half-white and half-black son innocent as long as she can, seems off for this book. I thought maybe it would get a sugar coated ending where she sees that sadly, for her son's own good, she can't keep him innocent and she was wrong. The other possibility I thought was that there would be discussion on why that could be detrimental to Stephen, but there really wasn't. It kind of fell flat. 

I don't like that Stephen isn't honest with his parents about how he got injured. It's not even that I just don't like it, it seemed unrealistic for his other actions in the book. By this point in the book he's gotten braver and bolder and speaks up and feels VERY strongly about how all people should be treated humanly and isn't afraid to speak up about BLM. Yet, he won't speak up about it to his parents when it directly effects him. Not even to his dad who gets incredibly angry thinking about Tamir Rice. 

I also found it ridiculous how fast his parents laughed off his injury when all of his friends and even strangers on immediately come running to his aid and say he's so lucky he didn't lose an eye. But his own parents? Hahaha, silly kids. Glad you're okay! That's it?! Even from you, dad?!

What Lane?

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