All American Boys

By: Jason Reynolds, Brendan Kiely

Narrated by: Guy Lockard, Keith Nobbs

Length: 6 hrs and 35 mins

Publisher's summary

In an unforgettable new novel from award-winning authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, two teens - one black, one white - grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and ultimately the country bitterly divided by racial tension.

A bag of chips. That's all 16-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad's pleadings that he's stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad's resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad's every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement?

But there were witnesses: Quinn Collins - a varsity basketball player and Rashad's classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan - and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news, and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty. But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team - half of whom are Rashad's best friends - start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.

Written in tandem by two award-winning authors, this tour de force shares the alternating perspectives of Rashad and Quinn as the complications from that single violent moment, the type taken from the headlines, unfold and reverberate to highlight an unwelcome truth.

©2015 Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely (P)2015 Simon & Schuster

Required Reading

This should be required reading for all high school students and staff in the US. Facilitated discussions which are open and honest about racism, loyalty, and humanness, among other topics, should be required of all staff and students.

Powerful

I adored this book it showed the real hardship of things that happened every day.

Necessary and Inspiring; Should Be Required Reading for the #BlackLivesMatter Generation

Necessary and Inspiring; Should Be Required Reading for the #BlackLivesMatter Generation

Really, this story is inclusive and representative enough that it could expand anyone's search for understanding at a crucial moment in this nation's history – hearing so many different different perspectives from characters reacting based on their own contextual connection to a shocking and terrible act was riveting and helped me to connect some dots with regard to aspects I hadn't fully considered . But I think that the appeal to young people in particular is strong and invites them to think about the view from outside the standard US/THEM that may be shaping their outlook depending on their own demographics and the media that informs the views that their own parents are passing on to them. The readers are both really good — convincing and appealing, they brought the narrative to life and their voicing of two really well-written protagonists left me wishing it was twice as long because I wanted to hear more about the lives of the two boys and their families – the supporting characters were fascinating as well. This book should definitely be in school libraries and I'd recommend it without reservation.

Real

Excellent narrators and writers! Loved the book! Moved me to Creating more opportunities for dialogues on race!

Made a difference

This made a difference. To be strong. To not be afraid and we must take to action. We must change the world. But that’s all for tomorrow. Tomorrow is our day to say I am alive. I am black in reality so glad I am head to write this.

Amazing Narration!

I loved this book from beginning to end. It truly captured American society for students today. The performance of both narrators really captured the raw emotions of both boys.

Reynolds & Kiely are Chosen Ones of storytelling

What did you like best about this story?

The entire book spans only a few days. Written like a slo-mo narrative of a train wreck from which you can't pull away, All American Boys shows you how quickly minds, groups, and organizations unravel into predictable patterns void of empathy and critical thinking, but also highlights the strength of the few strong minded ones that vote and act with their consciousness. Plenty of twists are brought into the mix as characters' pasts influence their present actions, and we witness a perfect sociology storm of racial relations, heavy on real, captivating dialogue. This book is a perfect what if?, a case study we should dissect first and foremost with ourselves, and then those around us.

What does Guy Lockard and Keith Nobbs bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He captures the mind and emotion of each character very well and does an excellent job with reading their lines

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Absolutely made me cry, but also brought on plenty of hopeful deep breaths.

This is a must read!!!!Do not wait!

This book is amazing!The story is one from today’s headlines and so powerful! The narrators bring this story to life and made me feel like I was living life with these characters. I laughed and cried because the emotions of the characters were so real and raw. Loved this book sooo much!

Great read for any age!

This was a great read! I am going to re-read this with my teenage son.

Realist Characters

The aspect I really enjoyed the most was the way the characters were written. Everything Rashad said felt like it could be heard from the mouth of a teenage boy. And if the characters were voiced by only one actor I feel I still would've been able to tell the characters apart. apart from their circumstances Rashad and Quinn handled the situation differently, whether it be because of the people in their lives or their ability to walk away from the situation.

The book felt like it was well researched when it came to statistics and how people use media to try and make a positive change.

I admired both characters' journeys into realising the importance of their actions following the event and how it could effect others.