Reading Metrics
Description
Teenagers Dub Teed, his sister Susan, and a neighbor Doug Hammer befriend Ricky Dubois, the daughter of a mixed marriage, when someone puts a burning cross on her parents' front lawn.
Quick Summary
If you're looking for a book that doesn't shy away from tough stuff but still feels real and hopeful, this one's worth checking out. When Ricky, a girl from a mixed-race family, faces hatred in her own neighborhood, three teens Dub Teed, his sister Susan, and their friend Doug have to decide what kind of people they want to be. It's a story about loyalty, standing up for what's right, and figuring out what friendship really means when things get hard. At over 100,000 words, it's a substantial read, but the characters feel genuine and the situations they navigate will pull you in. This would appeal to teens who like stories with real stakes and emotional depth, and readers who enjoyed books like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian or Monster will find similar ground here. Parents should know it deals directly with racism and prejudice, including some tense and uncomfortable moments, though the overall tone is ultimately about courage and doing the right thing rather than dwelling in darkness.