{"id":38850,"date":"2021-02-25T22:54:44","date_gmt":"2021-02-26T02:54:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38850"},"modified":"2021-02-25T22:58:01","modified_gmt":"2021-02-26T02:58:01","slug":"review-of-black-brother-black-brother-by-jewell-parker-rhodes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=38850","title":{"rendered":"Review of Black Brother, Black Brother, by Jewell Parker Rhodes"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Black Brother, Black Brother<\/em><\/p>\n

by Jewell Parker Rhodes<\/p>\n

Little, Brown and Company, 2020. 239 pages.
\nReview written January 19, 2021, from a library book
\nStarred Review<\/p>\n

Donte and Trey are brothers in a biracial family. Trey has white skin and looks like their dad. Donte has black skin and looks like their lawyer mom. They both attend a Middlefield Prep, with Trey a couple years ahead of Donte, who\u2019s in middle school. Trey is far more popular than Donte.<\/p>\n

As the book opens, Donte is sitting in the principal\u2019s office, waiting to be punished for something he didn\u2019t actually do. When they won\u2019t even listen to his side and he gets angry, the police are called and Donte is arrested and taken from the school in handcuffs.<\/p>\n

Donte\u2019s mother is a lawyer. She\u2019s going to go farther with his case. But Donte is especially angry at Alan, the kid who threw the pencil, a kid who\u2019s blatantly racist. That kid is also the star of the fencing team.<\/p>\n

Then Donte learns that a black Olympic fencer lives nearby and works at a Boys and Girls Club in Boston. Donte decides to learn to fence, in hopes of beating Alan at his own game.<\/p>\n

The book is good at explaining the art of fencing to the reader \u2013 the mind game aspects as well as the physical aspects. We\u2019re rooting for Donte as he learns to look beyond personal vengeance and think about how to work for justice.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s not a long story, but it grips the reader, and points out some contemporary issues. In a note at the back, the author mentions some awful stories of black children being arrested at school for minor offenses. I hope the book itself will help open eyes and open hearts.<\/p>\n

lbyr.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Childrens_Fiction\/black_brother_black_brother.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but the views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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