The Day Tajon Got Shot (Shout Mouse Press Young Adult Books) - Softcover

Writers, Beacon House

Softcover

ISBN 10: 099692745X ISBN 13: 9780996927451

Publisher: Shout Mouse Press, Inc., 2017

Synopsis

Meet Tajon.

Tajon is sixteen and black. He's tall and skinny, and he has dreadlocks. Tajon works hard and tries his best to be good. He does O.K. in school. He has plans. He's determined.

Tajon is the kind of son who cares about his family. He's the kind of brother who stands up for his sister. He's the kind of kid who dreams big dreams to get himself and those he loves up and out of the hood.

Tajon is the one who gets shot.

Meet the Authors

In March 2015, ten teen girls from Beacon House in Washington, DC started writing a novel during the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. They began with one central question: What really happens in a community when a black youth is the victim of violence by police? How are those lives affected? Each writer takes on the perspective of a central character – the victim, the police officer, the witness, the parent, the friend, the officer's kids – and examines how it feels to be a human being on all sides of this event. Their stories thoughtfully explore issues of race, violence, loyalty, and justice in a community torn apart but seeking connection.

About this title

About the Author

Ten teenage girls from Beacon House (beaconhousedc.org) in Washington, DC authored this book: J'yona, T'Asia, Makiya, Najae, Rose, Temil, Jonae, Jeanet, Serenity, and Reiyanna. They wrote and revised their work over the course of two years during workshops with Shout Mouse Press (shoutmousepress.org). All artwork is original by the authors. Some photography taken by the authors and produced in collaboration with Shootback (shootbackproject.org). Photography of protests and riots in Baltimore 2015 taken by DC teen Amir Price in conjunction with Critical Exposure (criticalexposure.org/news-and-events/press.) Learn more about the project, including author interviews, at ShoutMousePress.org.

From School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up—Tajon Williams, a black teen, sells weed as a means of getting his mother and sister away from his abusive and alcoholic father He is threatened at gunpoint by the neighborhood drug dealer into handing over his weed supply without receiving money from him. Their transaction is interrupted by a white police officer, and Tajon is shot twice while running from the officer. The shooting is witnessed by Razia, a longtime school friend of Tajon. She knows Tajon did not have a gun, contrary to the police officer's claims. Her sister, Angel, is best friends with Ashley, a white female member of the basketball team who figures out the police officer is none other than her own father, Pete. Her brother, Zach, lashes out at Pete for shooting his friend. When the school finds out Pete is their father, it is Ashley who unwittingly earns the wrath from Angel and the basketball team. The 10 teen writers of Beacon House have brilliantly crafted a YA book in which they take on the perspectives of 10 central characters. Each is given multiple layers. However, Pete's nameless wife and Ashley and Zach's mother are not as nuanced. Readers will appreciate the usage of multimedia, such as newspaper headlines, social media, and protest signs and posters. The book gives off an element of anticipation, which will cause readers to wonder the outcome of the comotose Tajon's condition. Readers will also be alarmed at the list of unarmed people of color killed by police in the United States, from March 2015 to the writing of this book. VERDICT This smart and courageous YA novel will open up a dialogue started by young voices who deserve to be heard. A strong purchase.—Donald Peebles, Brooklyn Public Library

About this edition

• Publisher: Shout Mouse Press, Inc.
• Publication date: 2017
• ISBN 10: 099692745X
• ISBN 13: 9780996927451
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 230
• Editor: Press Shout Mouse
• Illustrator: Gatti Zoe