The author of this book was clearly trying to address a serious issue in a way that a child could understand it. I thought that showing a hate crime to a child might be hard for them to deal with, but for all I know, something similar could have happened to anyone. I think the author did a good job of showing an adult issue to children, by making it relatable to them. It also did a good job of discussing family relationships; between the brother and sister and the grandmother and her grandchildren. Although this is a tough topic to discuss, it might be a good way to show children the serious problems with racism around the world.
As a teacher I think that using this book would depend very much on the circumstances. If I was teaching in a school where gang violence might be a problem, then I would definitely bring this book into the classroom. It shows how family bonds can help keep you strong, and how friends will still be there for them if something like this happens to them. It also shows how gang violence is unnecessary and can be overcome. It might also be helpful to read this book as a lesson on bullying, to show that it isn’t okay for students or anyone else to treat their peers like the boys in this book treated the little girl.
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