Published: 2023, Charlesbridge
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Sports, Verse Novel, Poetry, Social Justice, Contemporary, Native American
Audience: Middle Grade, Young Adult
Trigger Warnings: discriminatory language/plot, child as caregiver, child immigrant
Summary: What if a school’s mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone? In this compelling middle-grade novel in verse, two best-selling BIPOC authors tackle this hot-button issue. In Rye, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC, people work hard, kids go to school, and football is big on Friday nights. An eighth-grade English teacher creates an assignment for her class to debate whether Rye’s mascot should stay or change. Now six middle schoolers–-all with different backgrounds and beliefs–-get involved in the contentious issue that already has the suburb turned upside down with everyone choosing sides and arguments getting ugly. Told from several perspectives, readers see how each student comes to new understandings about identity, tradition, and what it means to stand up for real change.
Review: This story is incredibly relevant and necessary for readers of all ages. The authors chose characters representing many walks of life, with varying races, socioeconomic statuses, religions, sexualities, and opinions about this pressing issue – whether or not schools and teams should be able to use mascots that disrespect Native identity. Given the multitude of perspectives, most readers will be able to find pieces of themselves in a character, which made following each one more feasible. I appreciated the authors including the uncomfortable narratives that exist within these difficult conversations, as well as the realistic plot points. The pacing of the story was wonderful, and I know many readers enjoy the novel in verse style.
