Tag: racial identity formation

BONUS REVIEW: Snapped by Alexa Martin

BONUS REVIEW: Snapped by Alexa Martin

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Berkley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Elliot “Elle” Reed is living her dream. She is the strategic communications manager for the Denver Mustangs. And she could only have been happier if her father had lived to see it. She loves football, and loves the Mustangs. And she’s thrilled to be part of the PR staff, helping the team and players with messaging and image.

Quinton Howard Jr is the Mustang’s star quarterback. The Denver team put him on their roster after he led another team to the championship  in his first year off the bench. And Quinton has decided to use his notoriety and his platform to speak up for issues in the league and in the world. So he takes a knee during the National Anthem. And Elliot is sent to manage the story – and Quinton.

After a few rocky conversations, Elle and Quinton eventually find a tenuous working relationship. But he’s brittle and abrasive. And she’s still trying to hold back her personal grief. Yet when a drunken kiss upends the fragile peace between them, it also just might be what they need to get them to open up to one another. But forces are at work that want to silence Quinton and put Elle in her place. Will they stand together or be torn apart?

Review

This is book four in the Playbook series after Intercepted (♥♥♥♥), Fumbled, and Blitzed. While I haven’t yet read book 3, right now this is my favorite book in the series.

The “Lady Mustangs” and Elle’s friends shine in this book. I adored the community Elle builds with her school friends and her new Mustangs-adjacent friends. They made for almost all of my favorite moments in the book. (Donny was in several of the others. What a hoot!) As always, the writing here is sharp and smart, and I loved it. Sections begged to be read aloud, and I laughed often in the first two-thirds of the book before things got more serious.

The piece that set this story apart for me was the focus on race, racial identity for Ella as a bi-racial woman, and racism both in some of the characters and also in the football league as an institution. The book raises excellent questions. And the author takes readers along as voices are raised and issues are spelled out. No miracle solutions are offered, but readers will enjoy excellent storytelling with a realistic bite. I loved the author’s note up front about the impetus for this story.

Series fans should not miss this one! And I think newcomers will be able to start here without any issues. This is a fantastic story that will stand on its own. The football pieces to this are not heavy handed, so if you aren’t a fan or don’t understand the game, it won’t be an issue. But once you meet the Lady Mustangs, you are going to want to pick up the rest of the series! (Language, sex)

Rating: ♥♥♥♥½*

*♥♥♥♥½= Loved it! Would re-read.

REVIEW: Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? by Beverly Daniel Tatum

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

A fascinating look at racial identity development. Looks at a multitude of races – Black, White, Asian, Native American, Hispanic and Biracial identity.  There’s also discussion of the racial identity of Black children adopted by White parents. Examines the need for same race peer groups and mentors as well as looking at race at each age and developmental stage. This is a thorough examination of racial identity formation.

 

Review

The title of this book first caught my attention several years ago. As an elementary school teacher, I noticed this phenomenon with our older students but not usually the younger ones, and I did wonder what that was about. I wish I had read this book at the time because it would have enlightened me and changed my attitude about my observations.

This was fascinating and challenging reading. I loved the psychological aspect of this discussion of race. I had set a goal to read a book about race this year. This one was a perfect fit for me with the psychological pieces and the educational angle.

I think this is a great resource for a lot of people – teachers, school administrators, parents, professionals who work with kids, and anyone interested in improved relationships between people of different races.

The developmental pieces – how kids process race as preschoolers versus adolescents – are fascinating. And the book challenges the idea that it’s best to not mention race to kids so they won’t notice it. They already notice it! Our silence doesn’t help them process their observations in a healthy, and accepting way.

This book challenged me. It challenged my assumptions. I read things and felt myself start to get defensive. I was reading things slowly enough, though, that I noticed it and could stop and check myself and look at what preconceived notions were being challenged. This is not a book to be read quickly if you are reading it to learn and to grow in your own racial identity and in your understanding of the racial identity development of others. It’s also a very dense book. I don’t know that you could read it quickly and get much out of it. This is a book to be studied rather that a quick cover-to-cover kind of read.

I highly recommend this. This would be a terrific resource for teachers to read and discuss together. It would also be a great summer read for teachers doing professional development. There’s an extensive resource list and notes in the back matter that offer more information and other resources to investigate.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥