As a father of a teen and a tween I sometimes worry about them making good choices when they are with their friends. When they do make the occasional misstep we discuss what if anything they learned in the process. Peer pressure is such a tough part of growing up and with ever younger access to technology kids feel pressure to conform, or to dress and act a certain way.
I have reviewed other books by Kekla Magoon on this blog before and I quite admire her focus on young men of color and their experiences. I am a firm believer in younger readers being exposed to all types of cultures through literature.
In The Season of Styx Malone we meet two boys who have a regular life in safe albeit somewhat sleepy town. Caleb, the somewhat impetuous younger brother thinks that perhaps it is a bit too safe. His older brother Bobby Gene prefers to play things safe and would much rather follow his parents' advice when confronted with difficult decisions. When the boys meet a young man called Styx, their world view shifts forever.
Styx it seems has secrets that he can't or prefers not to share with the somewhat sheltered brothers. He has been exposed to the harsh realities of life earlier than the brothers. In them, Styx sees a chance at a nuclear family structure and maybe even a chance at friendship. In him, the boys see adventure and a chance to do things they would not normally do.
Young men of color are not often seen by the world as innocent but Magoon expertly shows the naivete of the boys and the great pains that their parents have taken to ensure this. This is a Coretta Scott King Honor book and I highly recommend it for ages 10 and up. Some read alikes are Elijah of Buxton by Christopher Paul Curtis and The great Greene Heist by Varian Johnson.
