"I don't think most people think they're racist. But everytime something like this happens, you could, like you said, say, 'Not my problem.' You could say, 'It's a one-time thing.' EVERY TIME it happened."

Rashad, an ROTC kid who dreams of being an artist stops at a neighborhood store to pick up some chips before a party. He has done this so many times before in his life with no issues. But this particular day, Rashad's life is turned upside down. He ends up brutally beaten by the white police officer in the store after the store owner thinks he was stealing because he was bent down getting his phone from his bag and a white lady tripped over him by accident.

Quinn, a star basketball player on his way to the same store witnesses the beating and the events that transpire outside the store on the sidewalk. The cop in question is his best friend's brother who has been a mentor to him since his father died. Quinn knows in his heart that what he witnessed was biased, police brutality and at first doesn't tell anyone but then a video of the beating surfaces. Quinn has to do some soul searching and figure out what side of history he wants to be on, especially when the #RashadIsAbsentAgainToday graffiti outside the school sparks a movement against racism.and police brutality.

Rashad's future is in Quinn's hands and Quinn must re-evaluate his belief systems and process what he saw and take action. Rashad is trying to heal and deal with the aftermath of his attack. Who will risk it all for justice and stand up against the racist history?

I absolutely loved everything about this novel. It is told in two well developed perspectives, Quinn's and Rashad's. Racism, police brutality, white privilege, social media and justice are analyzed through the lens of each boy's perspective. Keily and Reynolds do a phenomenal job of giving each boy a unique voice and their experiences seemed relatable, genuine, realistic and heart felt. Their emotions were heartfelt and I found myself empathizing with each one's experience because they are reflective of today's youth.

The authors' writing styles meshed well and the two points of view did not feel disconnected. They did a great job of dissecting the issue of police brutality and showing it as a product of many different forces that are embedded in every day society. They took a complex topic and dissected it in a way that was informative, introspective and emotional. I couldn't help but go through the same the roller coaster of emotions that the characters did.

I thought the ending was perfect because it leaves the reader hopeful and to think about all the different outcomes. It took this small town and displayed how this could happen in any town in the US today. It challenges the reader to think and step out of comfort zones and affect change. It reminded me that silence is the same as complicity. I cannot wait to read more from these authors. This book was realistic and relatable that I cannot wait for my son to read it so I can discuss it with him.