The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.
by Lina Elmajdoubi
Staff Writer
All American Boys by Jason Reynolds takes place in the lives of two boys. Rashad, who was beaten by a police officer. Because he thought he was stealing just for the color of his skin. Quinn is expected to be an image of his late father who was a hero that died protecting his country and he must care for his brother.
It really gives the reader a nice look into the story when they go back and forth between their lives, showing how they have different problems, while also having so much in common. I love books that make me feel like I can relate to the characters even though I am not them. Throughout our life we come to a point where we wonder who we are, who we are supposed to be, why we are the way we are, or simply why others expect us to be a certain way. It’s part of the process of finding your inner self, being easier for some people and harder for others. While on that journey you might question yourself, your beliefs, and the people around you. Conan Chan (9), says “ I thought All American Boys was really good because the way it flips perspectives throughout the book is a really good way to look at situations in life.” This book is very different from what I have read so far since I really like to read, and it’s become a big part of my life. However, I don’t think I would have read it if I didn’t have the idea to write this story but I am really glad that I did read the novel.
Mrs. Markley, the media center specialist says, “ yes, I like the book. I was honored to meet the authors in real life.” Many sophomores read it last year as part of the curriculum. Paige Knupp (10) says, “I thought it was pretty good since it represents the police brutality many African American people face and how much it can impact society.” As a society humans still judge those of color and there have been many things that have changed since the past but I hope that it will get even better. Mrs. Palmer, a freshman English teacher shares, “I think it does a good job of showing two perspectives of a really difficult situation.” Sometimes when we see one of our friends experiencing something but we shouldn’t have been in that situation to begin with, we struggle with the decision of telling someone or just forgetting about it. Grace Hurley (10) says, “I did like all American Boys because I feel like it was a good representative of discrimination and different communities and how the police don’t really respect all of them.” Everyone wishes the world to be fair and the people to be equal but unfortunately that’s just not how it is.
This book is a really good read if you want to dive into a really big conflict about how society sometimes views people of color. I would definitely recommend it because we should all support this topic and be aware that it still exists today even though it has gotten a lot better. It’s one of Jason Reynolds' best books. Make sure to check it out if you need a book to read!
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