NOT TALKING ABOUT YOU

A boy learns to stand up for himself even at the risk of ending a friendship.

Khalil Harris is a Black boy with roots in the Caribbean—his grandparents live in St. Vincent—who just started eighth grade at his new suburban school after moving from Toronto. He is a bit on the shy side, although he is a versatile athlete. One sport he is not so good at is basketball, but now, thanks to his new friends, basketball starts to take up more space in his life. Even though he’s befriended by Cameron, a highly popular White boy, it’s not an easy transition from life in the city to this largely White community. Among other microaggressions, Cameron stereotypes Khalil based on his race and makes fun of his mother’s cooking, much to Khalil’s discomfort. Cameron is also racist toward people of other racial backgrounds. Khalil mostly ignores Cameron’s slights, but he sometimes tries to correct him, to no avail. Eventually, Cameron’s behavior becomes too much to ignore, and Khalil is faced with a difficult decision. The author does a good job of interweaving important social issues into a story about a tween who is learning to advocate for himself and others even if it ruffles feathers. The straightforward language and conversational tone make it a good choice for reluctant readers.

An accessible work, ideal for starting discussions on navigating racial bias and stereotyping.