by Jacqueline Woodson
5 stars
A beautiful novel that tackles many difficult topics in an approachable way. When a group of students are told by their teacher that every Friday they will meet without an adult in the old art room to talk about whatever they want, they are hesitant. But as the year goes on, they open up about their lives and create a world all their own in the self-declared ARTT (“A Room to Talk”) room.
Various real-world issues come up such as immigration and deportation, racial profiling, bullying, death of a parent, incarceration, and discrimination due to skin color and language spoken. Throughout the hardships, the students find support in one another and stand up for each other. They develop truly powerful connections.
This was a stunning novel. I absolutely loved it. The characters really come alive as they open up in the ARTT room. Beautifully crafted and a great way to get young readers thinking and talking about these issues.
The audiobook itself was really fun to listen to. It includes a full cast, which helps differentiate the dialogue. Jacqueline Woodson herself voices Ms. Laverne and her daughter, Toshi voiced Holly, which was another fun little detail. At the end, there is also an interview with Woodson’s son, Jackson-Leroi. It includes Jackson talking about his thoughts on the book and Jacqueline Woodson’s inspiration and writing process. A very fun inclusion.
Such a great read. I especially enjoyed listening to the audiobook. However you experience it, this story should be read. Highly recommend.
Narrators: N’Jameh Camara, Jacqueline Woodson, Toshi Widoff-Woodson, Jose Carrera, Dean Flanagan, Angel Romero, and Mikelle Wright-Matos