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megmro's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Fantastic.
A, 11-year-old black boy named "Scoob" and his white grandmother run away on an RV roadtrip, ditching their phones and retracing the route the grandparents (an interracial couple) attempted in the sixties. They follow the guidance of The Greenbook, which outlined the [FEW] safe travel options for black people. Along the way, they pay their respects to many important civil rights sites, and "Scoob" learns more and more about his grandmother, his late and estranged grandfather, his father, and himself.
This was wonderful. Scoob and his grandma have a wonderful, loving, silly relationship. I felt safe in this book. Detailed content (maybe spoilers) below:
Some of the sites they visit, and topics discussed:
--Medgar Evars' home, where he was assassinated. They discuss how the all-white jury didn't convict the murderer.
--Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which was bombed by the KKK. Four little girls were killed.
--Ruby Bridges, and how Scoob's grandma went to an all-white school.
--A terrifying police encounter Grandma had, where she knew the police would hurt her black fiancee (Scoob's grandpa) if they found him in the car.
All along the way, they encounter racism directed toward them because of their racial difference. But, they also have wonderful, funny, conversations, and they go to six flags together. The grandma is funny, spunky, sassy, and sly.
Scoob starts to realize his grandma is not well. The past starts getting mixed up with the present, and Scoob has to decide what to do to help her. She won't let him call his father. It's a little stressful/unnerving. You get the sense for a while that something really isn't right. The truth comes out in the end.
Overall this was a fantastic read. I can't remember any language, although after a rude encounter in a small town, the grandma shrugs it off and says that places like this are just "bass-ackwards." She also says, "That's enough P.U.-S. History for today," but it didn't feel like it was tearing down America or whatever. It was telling history -- even the parts that we're ashamed of -- in a way that a kid could understand. This actually happened, and we should learn about it.
I loved it. Highly recommend.
I would probably say grade 6+.
A, 11-year-old black boy named "Scoob" and his white grandmother run away on an RV roadtrip, ditching their phones and retracing the route the grandparents (an interracial couple) attempted in the sixties. They follow the guidance of The Greenbook, which outlined the [FEW] safe travel options for black people. Along the way, they pay their respects to many important civil rights sites, and "Scoob" learns more and more about his grandmother, his late and estranged grandfather, his father, and himself.
This was wonderful. Scoob and his grandma have a wonderful, loving, silly relationship. I felt safe in this book. Detailed content (maybe spoilers) below:
Some of the sites they visit, and topics discussed:
--Medgar Evars' home, where he was assassinated. They discuss how the all-white jury didn't convict the murderer.
--Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, which was bombed by the KKK. Four little girls were killed.
--Ruby Bridges, and how Scoob's grandma went to an all-white school.
--A terrifying police encounter Grandma had, where she knew the police would hurt her black fiancee (Scoob's grandpa) if they found him in the car.
All along the way, they encounter racism directed toward them because of their racial difference. But, they also have wonderful, funny, conversations, and they go to six flags together. The grandma is funny, spunky, sassy, and sly.
Scoob starts to realize his grandma is not well. The past starts getting mixed up with the present, and Scoob has to decide what to do to help her. She won't let him call his father. It's a little stressful/unnerving. You get the sense for a while that something really isn't right. The truth comes out in the end.
Overall this was a fantastic read. I can't remember any language, although after a rude encounter in a small town, the grandma shrugs it off and says that places like this are just "bass-ackwards." She also says, "That's enough P.U.-S. History for today," but it didn't feel like it was tearing down America or whatever. It was telling history -- even the parts that we're ashamed of -- in a way that a kid could understand. This actually happened, and we should learn about it.
I loved it. Highly recommend.
I would probably say grade 6+.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Hate crime, Police brutality, and Racism
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