What Lane?

In this engaging, timely novel, sixth grader Stephen is growing up in Brooklyn; he loves "superheroes, fantasy, sci-fi" and basketball, as well as hanging out with his best friend Dan, the same as he always has. But though his white mother calls him "mixed," since he's half black and half white, Stephen's beginning to realize the world now sees him as "what they imagine or what the media teaches them to think about Black men." In situations where Dan, who is white, is considered harmless, Stephen gets in trouble for doing the very same things--and being perceived as trouble can have dire consequences. Maldonado (Tight) paints a vivid, relatable picture of an adventurous boy learning the rewards and dangers of straying out of his lane against the backdrop of an unfair system that could see him killed or arrested for the behaviors his white peers easily engage in. The characters are warmly realistic, by turns impulsive and regretful. In relatively few words, Maldonado elucidates matters related to racial profiling, police violence against black people, and allyship, all through the eyes of a brave kid trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs. Ages 10-up. (Apr.)

Copyright 2020 Publishers Weekly, LLC Used with permission.

Gr 5-8—Taking his title from a fictional baller's mantra, Maldonado depicts his young hero's awakening to the ugly realities of contemporary American racism. Caught between his best friend Dan, and Dan's racist cousin Chad; straddling the line between his overprotective, naive white mother and his realist, all-too-aware Black father; and doing his best to integrate his middle school friend group, biracial Stephen is finding it tricky to "stay wide in all lanes." With his mother unwilling to admit the real perils her Black son faces outside their home, Stephen nonetheless discovers the Black Lives Matter movement at his school, and begins processing the insidious racism that he faces daily. Whether he's handling daily interactions with local shopkeepers, or with the passersby on the street when he is fake fighting his white best friend, or dealing with the escalating aggression of Chad's racist behavior, Stephen manages to avoid being pushed into one narrow, race-defined path. Popular with kids of all backgrounds, Stephen works to make his friends more accepting of each other, while making himself less susceptible to the sometimes irresponsible whims of his classmates. VERDICT Maldonado uses a biracial adolescent boy's perspective to draw his readers into an engaging story of identity and tough choices that will appeal to middle schoolers everywhere. An ideal choice for school book clubs and advisory.—Jane Barrer, United Nations International School, New York City

Copyright 2020 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

* "In an NYC landscape deeply shaped by race, sixth grader Stephen struggles to speak his piece. . . . Maldonado pursues a story about biracial boyhood, healthy friendships, and self-discovery while gesturing toward the influence of social movements like Black Lives Matter in reshaping what accountable friendship looks like. Voiced in the creative language of NYC youth, the novel models what it means to embrace the power of self-awareness and relationships built on mutual respect. Bridges everyday racism and accountable allyship with sincerity."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Engaging, timely novel. . . . Maldonado (Tight) paints a vivid, relatable picture of an adventurous boy learning the rewards and dangers of straying out of his lane against the backdrop of an unfair system that could see him killed or arrested for the behaviors his white peers easily engage in. The characters are warmly realistic, by turns impulsive and regretful. In relatively few words, Maldonado elucidates matters related to racial profiling, police violence against black people, and allyship, all through the eyes of a brave kid trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs."—Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "Maldonado depicts his young hero's awakening to the ugly realities of contemporary American racism. Caught between his best friend Dan, and Dan's racist cousin Chad; straddling the line between his overprotective, naive white mother and his realist, all-too-aware Black father; and doing his best to integrate his middle school friend group, biracial Stephen is finding it tricky to 'stay wide in all lanes.' . . . Maldonado uses a biracial adolescent boy's perspective to draw his readers into an engaging story of identity and tough choices that will appeal to middle schoolers everywhere. An ideal choice for school book clubs and advisory."—School Library Journal, starred review

"Sixth-graders Stephen and Dan are so close that they could be twins aside from their race difference, but that difference is beginning to matter to the outside world. . . . Presents an honest account of a Black boy who has to grow up faster than his white friends, all while wishing his friend groups could just be together regardless of race. . . . Makes the point that the frequency of racist encounters means they're daunting yet mundane, and there is an interesting dynamic between Stephen's Black father and white mother, who both want to protect their son but take different approaches. His father and friend Wes both tie in real life details about current events such as Tamir Rice's shooting and the Black Lives Matter movement, which adds to the authenticity and could make this selection a discussion starter."—The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books