5 stars
An absolutely fantastic read! I finished this a few weeks ago now and have been trying to figure out how to put into words how I feel about this book. It’s fantastic. Everything about it is fantastic.
When I first saw that Sorell and Waters were teaming up for this, I was expecting it to be good. I honestly was not prepared for how good it was. Expertly told, this novel-in-verse is definitely one of my top reads this year.
Football is a big deal in Rye, Virginia. At the start of a new school year, the eighth-grade Honors English students get a unique assignment. They have to debate the school’s use of a stereotypical Indigenous mascot. And they don’t get to choose their stances.
Through a diverse cast of characters, Waters and Sorell present a variety of perspectives on the mascot issue. From Callie, a proud Black Cherokee Nation girl who initiates the discussion; to Franklin who loves football with all his heart and doesn’t understand why his parents insist he learn about his Black heritage; to Sean who doesn’t see how he can have white privilege when his family is struggling to get by and thinks there are bigger issues in the world than this whole mascot thing. Along the way, intense discussions are had, new friends are made, some things change, and some things stay the say.
One aspect that I especially loved is that Sorell and Waters don’t villainize the characters. They show how their privileges and experiences shape their opinions both in terms of their arguments for keeping the mascot and allies’ attempts to “help” those who oppose it. Throughout, they focus on the impact the characters’ beliefs, opinions, and actions have, not just their intent. A beautiful balance that comes off so naturally and doesn’t feel preachy.
This is a great resource for kids to help figure out issues surrounding Indigenous mascots. Many different points are made such as “honoring” Indigenous nations, tradition, the cost of changing the mascot, and the impact it has on Indigenous students and their mental health. Seamlessly works in various issues including privilege, intersectionality, classism, allyship, and impact versus intent.
A wonderful, entertaining read that provides a variety of experiences and perspective with a great cast of characters trying to figure out each other and themselves.