That was really endearing. Perfect MG level tone, style, and content. I love how simple and earnest it feels. It is from a very white perspective, which is acknowledged and part of the story as taking the blinders off and confronting ‘colorblind’ black and white thinking.
I wouldn’t agree the Gang of Five is more oppressed than the cool black kids, and think they could use an #ownvoices book to explore what that’s like, but it does work as a starting point for white liberals to be better.
I grew up in a similar type of town & not saying the Pledge would’ve been such a big deal. I was able to get away with not saying it after moving to Phoenix in 8th grade, but I still had to stand silently. I don’t know if it’s still an ongoing struggle. I would hope not, but I’m no longer on the front lines of this war. But on the other hand, I have a hard time imagining white people letting brown or non-Christians get away with not saying the pledge. *sigh*
Love the clue in on the future at the end for the Gang of Five. Interested in checking out the rest of the author’s books now.
Quotes:
In other words: people who are misfit because they’re just who they are instead of ”fits”, who are like everybody else.
Because when you get down to it, thinking of somebody as 100% human seriously gets in the way of hating them.
The way I look at it, love does not necessarily make for a happy ending any more than winning does. What makes for a happy ending is what Addie said all along: freedom. The freedom to be who you are without anybody calling you names.
I’m toasting both. To the Gang of Five: May we all sprout wings and fly.