It's a devastating reality that a book like this is so necessary.

I appreciate the way Jewell Parker Rhodes juxtaposes Emmett Till's murder with Jerome's to highlight that the unjustified murder of black boys and teens is very much still an issue in today's society and is heavily rooted in systemic racism.

I'm also glad she included Carlos' story line and how he admitted to his shame, but was not blamed by any of the other characters in his life for an event that was outside of his control. The addition of Sarah's point of view helps bridge the gap between different perspectives of the matter and highlights how change can come about in light of horrible events like this, offering some hope for the future.

The book also contains discussion questions and additional resources, making this a valuable educational resource for children and parents or educators who read it.