WHO WILL TELL MY BROTHER?

Evan is a typical high-school student who chooses an a-typical, unpopular position: to ask the PTA to withdraw his school’s Indian mascot. Evan is half Mohawk, and he describes the shame he feels at a school pep rally as cheerleaders whoop with paper feathers on bands around their heads: “I suck in slowly, / breathing in and out, in and out, / with teeth and hands clenched in response, / as my brain teems with confusion / and my eyes search for answers, looking for those who also see the shame / and seeing no one.” The narrative—in free verse—conveys the tension and unease that consumes Evan once his petition becomes public. No one will stand behind him, not even when the anonymous hate crimes begin. Finally, just as he is giving up, the friends who have been silent take courage and take a stand. This is well written, though the somber mood never lifts; even the small triumph at the end is subdued. It is a realistically heartening story for teenagers who have a battle to fight, and might also be useful for sparking class discussion. (Fiction. 12-17)