Amazon.com: Customer reviews: All American Boys

Captured the attention of an oblivious, non-reading thirteen year old boy

Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019

I haven’t read this but, my thirteen year old son had to read a few chapters of this for school and he asked me to buy it for him so he could finish it. He is not a reader by any stretch of the imagination (in spite of full access to all of the books his older brothers have read - and they are avid readers), so I must give top marks to any book that can capture his interest. This book took him from “Diary of A Wimpy Kid” to big people books. Thanks for that!

62 people found this helpful

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ctr12

Too many swear F-bombs

Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2020

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I must say this review is not about the content of the book but rather a warning about its language. I clearly should have read the reviews that said that this book is for OLDER teenagers. It said it was awarded a “Children’s Literature” award, so I figured I could get it for my mature 11 year old who reads advanced books. Well....no...even if I were comfortable with discussing the subject of the book with him, I couldn’t believe the amount of bad language. I don’t need to hear about “they hear it at school anyway”, I have two older high schoolers as well, but there is absolutely no need to include so many cuss words in a book for youth.

86 people found this helpful

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Anonymous

Students LOVED this book and asked for more like it. Amazing work of literature. Highly current.

Reviewed in the United States on January 2, 2019

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I loved teaching this book to English 12. My students were riveted by the style, the alternating narrators, and the plot that deals with social justice themes, and important topics that impact their lives. There are amazing videos by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Reily in which they together talk about why and how they wrote this book, and also give meaningful prompts to students regarding how they will work for more good in the world.

35 people found this helpful

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Emily

10/10 would read again (and i did)

Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017

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“All American Boys” tells the story of Rashad Butler (black) and Quinn Collins (white) who don’t really socialize but go to the same school. When Rashad is involved in an incident on his way to a party, he starts getting a ton of attention. Throughout the book, we see how Rashad recovers from this incident and how people he would have never suspected support him. This book has points that will have you almost in tears of joy and points that leave you in shock.
I noticed a change in the book's theme as it book goes along. It starts off almost hateful but then it has a theme of generosity or support near the end. Without spoiling too much, the events of the first chapter are never forgotten about. With every page, you see the effects of what happened. A quote from the book, “Nobody says the words anymore, but somehow the violence still remains. If I didn’t want the violence to remain, I had to do a hell of a lot more than just say the right things and not say the wrong things.” , perfectly reflects how I felt reading this book.
The two authors Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely try to maintain a balance between Rashad and Quinn. The middle of the book is very focused on Quinn and him dealing with betrayal and his friends, while Rashad is focused on more in the beginning and end of the book. I guess this makes sense because Rashad was just in the hospital, but I feel that there was more he could have done at certain points. The support given to Rashad by his friends, English, Carlos, and Shannon, is the opposite of how Quinn’s friendships are falling apart.
I am disappointed that some parts of this book were not as challenging for me, and also that there was no real struggle for me in deciding which side I was on, but I think it was a very good book. Although there were things they could improve on, the message is good and the book as a whole is definitely a 5/5. The book is the perfect amount of pages to last you a good week or two, and it is immersing. There were parts of this book where I would not put it down until my kindle died.
I have read this book twice and I am reading it a third time. I would recommend this to every reading teacher out there. This is a must read and can replace books like “Old Yeller” and “To Kill a Mockingbird” in required reading. It gives a good stance on current political issues and gives different views on those issues. Every library, bookstore, and online bookstore needs to have this book. This book will brighten the minds of the latest generation while giving them a good time. This book is one of the best books I have ever read, and that really says something about this book. I look forward to reading the author's other books.

52 people found this helpful

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ZachZettabyte

Feelings from reading this novel

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020

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It's an ok book but I don't like how my school made us read it to kiss up to the "movements" and current situations of 2020. Every person is trend follower these days rather than a leader. Nobody is allowed to think for themselves.

52 people found this helpful

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John M.

It was a wonderful tale of overcoming racism and police brutality

Reviewed in the United States on May 29, 2016

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I was given this book as a present from my grandfather, John M, and reported on it to my seventh grade class. It was a wonderful tale of overcoming racism and police brutality. The main characters were Quinn, who was white, and who witnessed his school friend Rashad, who was black, being beaten by a white police officer. The white police officer had raised Quinn after his father died. This is a story about a conflict that Quinn had whether he could believe that his substitute father would do something so wrong. I thought it was very well written, how Rashad talked about artists because Rashad lover to draw, the suspense in the book, how Quinn would be about to do something and then the story would switch to Rashad so I had to wait to find out what would happen, the slang that they used was how people their age talk. I recommend it for anyone who is looking for a realistic book that talks about racism and how it still exists.

31 people found this helpful

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A MUST read

Reviewed in the United States on August 9, 2017

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This bold and compelling YA novel tackles a sensitive and potentially incendiary topic—police violence against people of color—in an effective and realistic manner. Told from the alternating perspectives of two adolescent male narrators, the story demonstrates quite vividly the vast differences that exist between the worlds that each teen inhabits despite the school and community that they share.

Rashad, an African-American ROTC student, narrates most of his story from a hospital room, where he’s recovering from the brutal violence he suffered at the hands of a white officer, who suspected him of attacking a woman and robbing a convenience store. The officer is a close family friend of Quinn, a white, well-respected son of an Iraqi War vet who was killed in action. Quinn, who is Rashad’s classmate but doesn’t know him well, witnesses the assault and spends most of the novel struggling with questions of racism, privilege, and inequality.

Reynolds and Kiely wisely keep Rashad and Quinn apart for most of the novel—and the effect is powerful. This technique highlights the disparity in their worlds and the impact that each boy’s race has on his life experience. Very much a contemporary novel, the story alludes to fairly recent and well publicized acts of police violence against Eric Garner, Michael Brown, Tamir Rice, and others.

The novel is a quick read, yet that does not detract one iota from its impact or the authenticity of its social commentary. Reynolds and Kiely have crafted a gripping, trenchant narrative featuring believable characters coping with current social problems that have real consequences. This novel belongs in the hands of every teenager and secondary English teacher in the country.

11 people found this helpful

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Debbie M

Great book!

Reviewed in the United States on May 4, 2021

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I honestly thought that this book was great for all ages; I read it for my Children's Lit College Class (when we were in the teenage section of the course). I think the author's tackle a very sensitive and real subject in a way that is honest and doesn't sugar coat things, but it is also realistic in the way that they have the different characters in the book act. It tackles the different emotions that someone, no matter their skin color, might feel with this issue. Quinn and Rashad were both great characters, and I loved every minute of being in their head's. Quinn's growth was really well paced, and I enjoyed how much he changes by the end of the story. I also liked this book because it has a kind of Outsider's vibe or maybe even something Stephen Kingish. I'm not sure what age I would recommend for reading this, but for the people who act like it's a book that is too mature for teenagers -- I just don't see it all, personally. I don't think I'd have a problem with a twelve or thirteen year old reading this book; if anything it's pretty light compared to what's out there these days with the internet.

--Brad M.

One person found this helpful

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Madlaine I.

this novel is so good and exciting

Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2018

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My college English professor required us to read this novel in order to write an essay afterward. However, this novel is so good and exciting. Good for teenagers as well, because its not that hard to read and its written pretty well that you cannot leave it unless you finish it! In addition it gives the reader a new point of view for things around that he/she might not think about or realize before. Highly recommend!!

11 people found this helpful

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TDWolsey

YA novel but everyone should read it

Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2022

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Every time I open the newspaper and find a story that police have brutalized another African American male, killing many, my stomach turns. Every time I hear or read the lie that all any one of any color skin has to do is "obey the law," I'm angry. I finished reading this book just as we Americans learned that yet one more school shooting has left American children and their teachers dead, and the police stood outside doing nothing. It is time for Americans to rethink policing and what is or is not acceptable from those who supposedly protect and serve.

I'm grateful to Jason and Brendan for writing this brave book. Every American ought to read it.
*crossposted a version of this review from Goodreads

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4 star		12%
3 star		4%
2 star		1%
1 star		2%

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