[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
Summary
It was just a Friday night football game. Lena was there with her best friend to watch the dance team perform. Then she was going to catch up with her boyfriend, Black, before her curfew. Her grandpa would not be a fan of her relationship with the 20-year-old rapper, so it was best to keep it quiet.
Campbell’s only been in town for a few months. Her mom has left the country for work, leaving Campbell with her dad. For the game, she’s working the concessions stand. She let one of her teachers guilt her into helping. Her two “co-workers” have been completely useless. And she’s stuck going out with the dance team – a group of strangers – after the game so her teacher can give her a ride home. How pathetic does that sound?
Not only are the two schools in the game rivals, but there’s also been racial tension between them recently. Maybe tensions are running too high. All it takes is one racist guy mouthing off in the concessions line. Then fists start flying. Then the sound of gun fire. This is NOT how Lena or Campbell saw this night going.
Review
This is a fast-moving story about a riot and two girls caught in the middle – one White, one Black. Their differences are seen from the beginning with their expectations when the police first show up at the fight at the game. Campbell is relieved when they show up, thinking they will stop the fight and everyone will be safe. Lena expects their arrival will lead to escalation. And she’s right.
The girls have assumptions about each other that get explored a little. And I guess that is how I feel about the whole story. Lots of things get touched on a little. There’s not as much depth here as I wanted. The action pushes the reader forward; I didn’t want to put this down. But I was left wanting more – more depth to the two girls, more depth to the race conversation, more depth to the rationale for why they ended up in two riots (weren’t there other routes through town?). And then the ending. What happens next for these two characters and for their community?
If this is your first foray into YA that explores racial tensions, or if you are looking for an action-packed, fast-paced story, don’t miss this one. If you feel like you want something that digs deeper, try The Hate U Give or Dear Martin instead. (Language, violence)