Flake, Sharon. BANG! New York: Hyperion Paperbacks for Children, 2007.
Annotation: A young teen stuck in a society where kids being murdered has become a way of life.
Justification for Nomination:
When crime and murder are the most common occurrences in your neighborhood, it's hard to imagine the world as having anything good to offer. In 13-yr old Mann's neighborhood, kids and teens are forced to live in fear and watch as their family, friends and neighbors die on the mean streets surrounding them. Mann and his friends struggle to cope with their sadness and fear and turn to trouble. The viewpoint in this book is especially important to understand when it comes to understanding at-risk youth. The importance of parenting is stressed- in order for the surviving youth to make it in their crazy world, they need guidance and love. Bang! is an eye-opener for adolescents who are both strangers and veterans of street violence. It gives readers a true dose of reality on the cold-blooded crimes happening in poor urban neighborhoods. This is a must-read for all young adults as they better learn to undedrstand the unfortuante truths of the world around us.
Genre: Multi-cultural, Coming of Age, Non-fiction
