dlberglund's review against another edition
5.0
Blew me away. Alternating voices (though I took a little while to really "get" Quinn) bring us through the activity, thoughts, and repercussions of one incident of non-fatal whitecopbeatsupblackteenageboy. I think this is the kind of book that could change hearts and minds, if you can get the right people to read it.
imerika1127's review against another edition
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
danniwatt's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
alysoninthelibrary's review against another edition
4.0
a powerful look at race relations in modern America through the eyes of Rashad, a young black man wrongfully beaten by the police, and Quinn, his white peer who saw the brutality, but also knows and loves the cop who did the beating.
hbeawill's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
graciesicker's review against another edition
5.0
This book deserves more than five stars. Absolutely phenomenally written. Made me tear up more times than I have over a book in awhile. Incredibly emotional and moving. Has easily moved up to one of my favorite novels.
This book shares the story of Rashad, a black high schooler who experiences police brutality while unarmed and causing no harm. It has a split narration of Rashad and also Quinn, a white boy from the same school who witnesses the brutality. The double narration brings the story of police brutality to a whole other level. Reynolds shares the emotional experience of Rashad while Keily shows Quinn working through how to be anti-racist all at the same time.
Hearing both sides try to navigate not only being an adolescent in a society who pushes them to be more adult, but also work through wanting to and needing to change society’s view on young black men was extremely emotional. It shows the difficulty of friendships, parent relationships, and societal issues such as racism and police brutality. This book is a great example of how YA novels can be enjoyed and loved by all audiences.
This book shares the story of Rashad, a black high schooler who experiences police brutality while unarmed and causing no harm. It has a split narration of Rashad and also Quinn, a white boy from the same school who witnesses the brutality. The double narration brings the story of police brutality to a whole other level. Reynolds shares the emotional experience of Rashad while Keily shows Quinn working through how to be anti-racist all at the same time.
Hearing both sides try to navigate not only being an adolescent in a society who pushes them to be more adult, but also work through wanting to and needing to change society’s view on young black men was extremely emotional. It shows the difficulty of friendships, parent relationships, and societal issues such as racism and police brutality. This book is a great example of how YA novels can be enjoyed and loved by all audiences.
leigh_reidelberger's review against another edition
4.0
I'm late to the All American Boys fan club. Another emotional punch from Jason Reynolds. This is definitely not a light read. It was a difficult read in that it's mentally/emotionally draining; I can't not think of all the Black boys at my school. Any one of them could end up like Rashad, and that hurts my very being.
This book hit hard and immediately sent me back to Michael Brown.
In a lot of ways, I identified with Quinn- it's a time of life when you begin to question what you know, what you've been taught but you're still under contract with adolescence, so yknow, under the mercy of your parents. I remember a time when I thought staying in the middle was a way to make myself feel good, like "look how wise I am to see both sides and examine their justifications " But that's not the case at all, just like Quinn began to learn after witnessing Rashad's brutal attack.
This book hit hard and immediately sent me back to Michael Brown.
In a lot of ways, I identified with Quinn- it's a time of life when you begin to question what you know, what you've been taught but you're still under contract with adolescence, so yknow, under the mercy of your parents. I remember a time when I thought staying in the middle was a way to make myself feel good, like "look how wise I am to see both sides and examine their justifications " But that's not the case at all, just like Quinn began to learn after witnessing Rashad's brutal attack.
hangrim's review against another edition
5.0
Published 5 years ago, but still JUST as poignant and relevant as ever. Within the first few pages, I was near tears and on edge.
amymck05's review against another edition
5.0
I don't know if there is a book by Jason Reynolds that I don't like. This story was so well told. It covers all of the feelings about police brutality and more importantly how to respond to those emotions.
whpltab's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.75
All American Boys is a powerful book about a black boy named Rashad who is beaten nearly to death by a police officer who suspected he was stealing, simply from the way he looked. Quinn is a classmate of Rashad’s, an “All-American boy”. He witnessed Rashad getting beaten up by the cop, who just happened to be a family friend of his, and was like an older brother to him. Unsure how to deal with this, Quinn decides to just ignore it and pretend he didn’t see anything, but he is unable to when it becomes all anyone at school can talk about.
As Rashad heals in the hospital, he’s unaware of all the students in his school rising up in defense of him and all others who suffered like him because they looked different. Quinn realizes that in this situation, there is no such thing as being neutral.<
The author of All American Boys shows how discrimination isn’t all black and white, and how it’s not always a conscious choice.
Spoiler
Rashad’s dad’s experiences as a cop are an example of what society’s biases can do to you, even if you’ve never felt like any race is more than or less than another. All American Boys is a book for all ages, and is guaranteed to teach a life lesson along the way.