Reading Metrics
Description
Jay, a white football player, and Haroon, a family-oriented Muslim student, confront tensions that rise along racial lines at a high school after a boy is arrested for suspected terrorist affiliations. The coauthor is Eric Walters.
Quick Summary
Bifocal by Ellis and Walters follows Jay, a white football player, and Haroon, a family-oriented Muslim student, as they navigate rising racial tensions at their high school after another student is arrested for suspected terrorist connections. The book explores prejudice, friendship across cultural lines, media bias, and how fear and stereotypes impact a school community in the post-9/11 era. If your kid likes All American Boys by Jason Reynolds, which also tackles racial profiling and difficult conversations about race, they'll find this dual-perspective story equally powerful and eye-opening. With an AR Level of 4.5 and 8.0 points, it's ideal for middle schoolers in 6th through 8th grade who can handle mature themes about Islamophobia and want to understand different perspectives.