The unique
way this story is told makes this an interesting read, but even more than that,
it made me reflect on issues of race, discrimination and racial profiling.
Description from the publisher:
Nora Tucker
is looking forward to summer vacation in Wolf Creek--two months of swimming,
popsicles, and brushing up on her journalism skills for the school paper. But
when two inmates break out of the town's maximum security prison, everything
changes. Doors are locked, helicopters fly over the woods, and police patrol
the school grounds. Worst of all, everyone is on edge, and fear brings out the
worst in some people Nora has known her whole life. Even if the inmates are
caught, she worries that home might never feel the same.
Told in
letters, poems, text messages, news stories, and comics--a series of documents
Nora collects for the Wolf Creek Community Time Capsule Project--Breakout is a
thrilling story that will leave readers thinking about who's really welcome in
the places we call home.
Breakout, written by Kate Messner, was
published by Bloomsbury Children’s Books in 2018.
Why you want to read this book…
This story
hooks you with the mystery and tension of two escaped prisoners. As you read
along, it becomes so much more than a prison break story because we get to know
the characters in this small town and become invested in their friendships and
conflicts. I loved the ingenious way the kids helped to bring in the criminals.
One thing to keep in mind – this book took me longer to read than many other
middle grade novels. But I’d definitely recommend it, and perhaps will even read
it again to get a fuller appreciation of the different perspectives that are
struggling against each other in this story.
Opening:
Dear Library Board,
Enclosed is my contribution to the
Wolf Creek Community Time Capsule Project. This folder includes my letters as
well as public documents and things I’ve collected from friends and family
members, shared with permission.
If you’re a writer…
This middle
grade is unique in the way the story is completely told through notes, letters,
news articles, text message transcripts, transcripts of recorded conversations,
school announcements, drawings, and poems. There are probably more! I can’t
even imagine all the work this took to create a coherent story. Besides that, this story includes characters
who are learning about their white privilege, struggling with it and trying to
become more sensitive.
Those inmates broke out, and it feels
like everybody’s acting different now.
If you’re a teacher…
There is so
much to discuss and talk about in this novel! A great book to read to start
kids debating issues of fairness, prejudice, being an outsider, race, and reflecting
on other people’s perspectives. This book also contains many different poetry
styles that could be models for student writing.
We talk all the time about being a
friendly, welcoming community, but Elidee doesn’t see us that way at all. And
if people don’t feel welcome, then maybe we’re not as welcoming as we think.
Check out
the trailer for this book!
