Sunday, December 31, 2017

Jumped In by William Kowalski - OPTIONAL

Kowalski, William Jumped In, 104 pgs. Raven Books (Orca Book), 2017. Language – PG (21 swears, 0 “f”), Mature Content – G; Violence – PG; 

Life is dependent on lots of factors out of anyone’s control—for example, being born in the territory of the E Street Locals gang, having a chronically depressed mother, or having black skin. Rasheed is smarter than his skin makes him look, and he yearns for a life like the ones in the old TV shows he watches. Unfortunately, the white cops and black gang members don’t care about what Rasheed wants; they do what they want and make everyone else bend to their wills.

Jumped In is a quick read, and Rasheed is a likable character. However, Rasheed’s story does not develop very much in the hundred pages, and two conflicts are barely created before they have to start being resolved. Furthermore, I feel like the conflict with the gang members and cops was presented as the central conflict, but that was confusing when the main conflict was internal as Rasheed tried to figure out what he wanted to do with his life. 

MS, HS – OPTIONAL. Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

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