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" Sam is caught between the words of his father, a civil rights leader, and the actions of his brother who has joined the Black Panthers. "
- Mk, 2/13/2014
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" Recommend for getting view of Black Panthers that is seldom heard. "
- Karen, 2/12/2014
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" This is a powerful coming-of-age story set in Chicago during the Civil Rights Movement. Sam Childs is stuck between the nonviolent approach of his crusading father and his best friend and older brother Stick, a member of the Black Panther Party. I was immediately sucked into the story and its fictional depictions of racism and conflict alongside touches of reality, including the assassination of Martin Luther King. The audiobook production is very well done. "
- Kate, 2/2/2014
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" Powerful and thought provoking! Good book to read after reading One Crazy Summer "
- Jacqueline, 1/29/2014
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" I thought this was a great young adult read. Interesting characters and an engaging story set in an important time period. I recommend it to all! "
- Pauline, 1/29/2014
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" So I was looking at my book list and it seemed that the last bunch of books that I read all said that I was expecting more...well finally I got more! This book was amazing. All of the characters were well developed and experienced change. Even characters that could have been flat had more then one dimension. That was what really made this book for me. I felt that at the end Sam came into his own and grew up but was surrounded by a cast of people that would make him grow more. This was a very satisfying book and a must read!! "
- April, 1/25/2014
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" Growing up in Chicago in 1968, Sam is the son of a prominent civil rights leader who follows Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. However, the journey to equality is taking longer than anyone expected, so Sam's older brother, Stick, joins the Black Panthers. This not only tears the family apart, but puts Sam in an awkward position of trying to belong with his parents and protect his brother. All of this comes to a boiling point at a demonstration for a wrongly imprisoned man. I did not have high hopes for this book, but I was proven wrong. I thought it would be preachy and dry, but readers will come to really care about Sam and Stick. And the writing is so fluid. It's not plot driven exactly, but it is so emotionally intense at times that it cannot be put down. At times, I really forgot that this was a children's book, it's so remarkable. What I thought would be my least favorite Caudill, has turned out to be in the running. I honestly hope this makes the top five. "
- Tiffany, 1/23/2014
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" This book does a great job of showing both the pacifist and militant sides of the civil rights movement in the sixties. And how difficult the choice betweent the two could be. "
- Katie, 1/15/2014
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" This book is awesome! Everyone should read this book, every single page is full of excitement and thrills. "
- Kadeef, 12/26/2013
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" Great book to teach about the Civil Right Movement. It really gets into the debate about MLK, Jr or the Black Panthers. "
- Chris, 12/16/2013
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" Good authors note with info about black panthers and civil rights. Starts out a little shallow but gets better as the characters have more time to develop. I didn't read the whole thing, but that's my sense. "
- Mimi, 12/12/2013
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" I really enjoyed this one, but the ending annoyed me a bit. There were a couple of very emotional places in it and the way that Magoon writes is beautiful. "
- Audra, 9/17/2013
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" This is a great book to assign to middle-schoolers for Black History Month. It gives a fictional account of a boy who was associated with the emerging Black Panther Party. "
- Gabrielle, 8/3/2013
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" This book surprised me because I don't usually read these kind of books and like them. But this book was different for me. I liked the storyline and the history mixed in with it. This book did seem kind of long and I was shocked at the end when his brother died. "
- Llamalover, 4/24/2013
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" Set in 1968, this novel catches many of the ideas and emotions of the '60's. At times violent and often intense, it is well-worth reading for anyone trying to learn about the civil rights movement or even about that era. "
- Sue, 1/16/2013
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" A perfect YA uncensored introduction to racism, civil rights and the Black Panthers through the eyes of a 12 year old boy in 1968 Chicago. I cried my mascara off and checked my white privilege with deep shame and shock. Give it to all the children. All of the children. "
- Nicole, 3/14/2012
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" Eh. Good story, not on my reading-level. Recommended for 11-12 year olds. "
- Jessie, 3/13/2012
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" This was a brilliant book. It made me so emotional. Very well written and told. "
- Kiana, 12/14/2011
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" BEST BOOK IN THE WORLD! dont judge it by its cover! "
- Monika, 8/22/2011
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" Powerful and thought provoking! Good book to read after reading One Crazy Summer
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- Jacqueline, 5/15/2011
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" As Booklist described readers feel the seething fury and desperation of this time in history.
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- Jessica, 4/26/2011
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" Good book for looking at multiple perspectives on Civil Rights. Great main character. You really see his growth! Interesting story.
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- Lucia, 4/26/2011
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" Very good historical fiction. Powerful protagonists and great coming of age in a turbulent time. Gave me some background on the Black Panthers that triggered many memories from my childhood through young adulthood.
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- Johnsol, 4/17/2011
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" This was an amazing book about the civil rights movement that put me right in the shoes of someone living through it. I was horrified by what went on and came to a new understanding of why people had to fight back.
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- Beth/Sr., 3/21/2011
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" Really nice historical fiction - Sam is a young teen caught between his father, a well-known civil rights leader and minister, and his older brother who becomes involved with the Black Panther Party. Powerful story!
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- Stacia, 3/8/2011
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" Inside look at the Black Panthers in Chicago in 1968 - the symbolism of the rock and the river matches two brothers' struggle to maintain their father's peaceful methods as violence explodes all around them.
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- Joan, 3/6/2011
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" Great book to teach about the Civil Right Movement. It really gets into the debate about MLK, Jr or the Black Panthers.
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- Chris, 3/2/2011
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