Status
Available
Call number
Genres
Publication
Nancy Paulsen Books (2021), 144 pages
Description
Biracial sixth-grader Stephen questions the limitations society puts on him after he notices the way strangers treat him when he hangs out with his white friends and learns about the Black Lives Matter movement.
User reviews
LibraryThing member acargile
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado helps show how to handle life when others step into your lane or expect you to travel in their lane.
Stephen and Dan have been friends forever. Now that Stephen is older, people see him differently. Instead of seeing a cute kids, they see a black kid. Never mind that
Stephen wears a bracelet that becomes the metaphor for the novel: What Lane? He begins to see that people suggest or bully others into doing things they wouldn't do themselves; in other words, playing in someone else's lane instead of staying in your own. The bully/racist is Dan's cousin who has recently moved to town. Chad treats Stephen with disdain, claiming he's just kidding. He's always challenging people to do things that they shouldn't do. He can't always do these challenges himself, and he runs when confronted with someone like himself who treats him badly. It takes Dan a while to see the true Chad, but Stephen and his black friends see the true Chad immediately.
The characters represent, what I would hope, is a typical group of friends from a school. Stephen successfully navigates friends from all races and nationalities because they see each other as friends where it's who the person is as a person that counts. Stephen understands that when he's with his black friends, they understand that you have to act differently. He also enjoys his other friends because they are friends.
Eventually, there is a discussion of the injustices that have been done to young black men by white cops. The reason I like the book is that this isn't a book about anger or retaliation. It's a book about truth. They discuss facts and present them to people in his class who can't see it because they don't live it. Whether these kids believe or don't believe also means that you don't blame them or get angry with them. Maybe in time, they will see the truth. Also, it discusses how to deal with people like Chad whose racism is hidden behind "kidding." The end shows that changing lanes doesn't solve the problem. Letting people see the truth is one of the steps in maybe helping all people stay peaceful and accepting of all people.
Stephen and Dan have been friends forever. Now that Stephen is older, people see him differently. Instead of seeing a cute kids, they see a black kid. Never mind that
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he's "mixed" as his mother says, implying that fact makes him less inclined to be subjected to racism. Stephen's neighborhood is generally white and he's never really thoughts about being treated differently. He begins to notice that people look at him with distrust. Dan can also get away with more behaviors than Stephen can because he's white. Stephen uses these instances to demonstrate to Dan that people are not all treated the same.Stephen wears a bracelet that becomes the metaphor for the novel: What Lane? He begins to see that people suggest or bully others into doing things they wouldn't do themselves; in other words, playing in someone else's lane instead of staying in your own. The bully/racist is Dan's cousin who has recently moved to town. Chad treats Stephen with disdain, claiming he's just kidding. He's always challenging people to do things that they shouldn't do. He can't always do these challenges himself, and he runs when confronted with someone like himself who treats him badly. It takes Dan a while to see the true Chad, but Stephen and his black friends see the true Chad immediately.
The characters represent, what I would hope, is a typical group of friends from a school. Stephen successfully navigates friends from all races and nationalities because they see each other as friends where it's who the person is as a person that counts. Stephen understands that when he's with his black friends, they understand that you have to act differently. He also enjoys his other friends because they are friends.
Eventually, there is a discussion of the injustices that have been done to young black men by white cops. The reason I like the book is that this isn't a book about anger or retaliation. It's a book about truth. They discuss facts and present them to people in his class who can't see it because they don't live it. Whether these kids believe or don't believe also means that you don't blame them or get angry with them. Maybe in time, they will see the truth. Also, it discusses how to deal with people like Chad whose racism is hidden behind "kidding." The end shows that changing lanes doesn't solve the problem. Letting people see the truth is one of the steps in maybe helping all people stay peaceful and accepting of all people.
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LibraryThing member lflareads
What Lane is a story for every middle school library! Stephen has a black father and white mother. Mom insists he is mixed, but society looks at him as a black male. Throughout his childhood he did not notice anyone looking at him or treating him differently. Now as a 6th grader, he notices he is
Stephen feels he must stick to one lane, but that is not how he wants to live his life. His black friends and white friends should be able to hang together. Some want to remain blind to the issue, rather than work towards change.
Do we really want children to choose a lane or live, play, work, and live in harmony together? Torrey Maldonado opens your eyes to the inequalities and the divide created by the world. I agree with Stephen-we should not be stuck in one lane! Perhaps we could all “swerve into lanes” with heart!
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treated differently from his white friend, Dan. When sampling products, Stephen is called out, while Dan is left to chomp his treat. Stephen feels he must stick to one lane, but that is not how he wants to live his life. His black friends and white friends should be able to hang together. Some want to remain blind to the issue, rather than work towards change.
Do we really want children to choose a lane or live, play, work, and live in harmony together? Torrey Maldonado opens your eyes to the inequalities and the divide created by the world. I agree with Stephen-we should not be stuck in one lane! Perhaps we could all “swerve into lanes” with heart!
Show Less
LibraryThing member Booklover217
"We can't do everything our white friends can. You have to think twice before you act once."
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado is a coming of age middle grade story about being Black, brown or mixed and the ways that Black and brown boys have to navigate the world through the perceptions of their
I really related to Stephen's inner struggles, the struggle to be seen as human not just a color, the struggle to maintain his innocence in a world that doesn't see Black and brown kids as children, the struggle to use his voice and the struggle to not be enough of either identity. A lot of my life even today has been spent navigating multiple worlds and trying to find my place in it. Learning how to use your voice as a Black or brown person is always a challenge because of the fear that you will be met with violence or even lose your life. The story helps you see how Black and brown kids are forced to grow up way before they need to as a survival skill. He also shows how parenting styles recreate oppressive systems. Torrey also shows us that it shouldn't be our sole responsibility to dismantle the racism we didn't create.
Torrey really does a good job of presenting some heavy themes in a lighthearted and relatable way. I loved that this story was oozing with NYC flavor, especially Brooklyn slang. The conversations Stephen had with his dad were so similar to conversations I've had to have with my own children. I really loved this story and what it had to say about the importance of kids being given the tools and information they need in order to make their own decisions and find their voices. I also loved that it showed the importance of having a solid support network at home and in school. This book would be great for educators and any adult wanting to explore conversations about racism and identity with youth.
What Lane? by Torrey Maldonado is a coming of age middle grade story about being Black, brown or mixed and the ways that Black and brown boys have to navigate the world through the perceptions of their
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identities. Stephen uses the concept of "lanes" as a metaphor to explain how he navigates the world between two identities, how he swerves through life trying to avoid the racism spewed his way and to avoid the trappings of being put in the box that the world assigns to Black and Brown people. I really related to Stephen's inner struggles, the struggle to be seen as human not just a color, the struggle to maintain his innocence in a world that doesn't see Black and brown kids as children, the struggle to use his voice and the struggle to not be enough of either identity. A lot of my life even today has been spent navigating multiple worlds and trying to find my place in it. Learning how to use your voice as a Black or brown person is always a challenge because of the fear that you will be met with violence or even lose your life. The story helps you see how Black and brown kids are forced to grow up way before they need to as a survival skill. He also shows how parenting styles recreate oppressive systems. Torrey also shows us that it shouldn't be our sole responsibility to dismantle the racism we didn't create.
Torrey really does a good job of presenting some heavy themes in a lighthearted and relatable way. I loved that this story was oozing with NYC flavor, especially Brooklyn slang. The conversations Stephen had with his dad were so similar to conversations I've had to have with my own children. I really loved this story and what it had to say about the importance of kids being given the tools and information they need in order to make their own decisions and find their voices. I also loved that it showed the importance of having a solid support network at home and in school. This book would be great for educators and any adult wanting to explore conversations about racism and identity with youth.
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LibraryThing member jennybeast
If you are looing for a relatively gentle book to explore the topic of racism with your child or your students or a book group or something like that -- this book is great. It's representational and models ways to be a great ally, in addition to delving deeply into Stephen's experiences. I love
If you are looking for a book with a strong plotline, that focuses on story or setting, that really isn't the point of this book. This is a book about identity, and about racism, and about thinking deeply on those topics. I found it very internal, kind of like George (Alex Gino), is on the topic of trans identity.
Note: WAY BETTER as a print book rather than as an audiobook. The audio book came across as extremely didactic. That effect was very much lessened by print, and the story came through more.
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that Maldonado doesn't hesitate to point out everyday racism, and gives a variety of situations that his characters navigate. Huge strengths, and it's a topical and engaging book. If you are looking for a book with a strong plotline, that focuses on story or setting, that really isn't the point of this book. This is a book about identity, and about racism, and about thinking deeply on those topics. I found it very internal, kind of like George (Alex Gino), is on the topic of trans identity.
Note: WAY BETTER as a print book rather than as an audiobook. The audio book came across as extremely didactic. That effect was very much lessened by print, and the story came through more.
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LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: A tiny bit didatic, but the issue of a bi-racial sixth grader navigating how society might see him, how his white and Black peers might see him, and the example of a good white ally friend plus the portrayal of male friendships, the use of vernacular and the low page count make for a good
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read, and a hi/lo read. Show Less
LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: A tiny bit didatic, but the issue of a bi-racial sixth grader navigating how society might see him, how his white and Black peers might see him, and the example of a good white ally friend plus the portrayal of male friendships, the use of vernacular and the low page count make for a good
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read, and a hi/lo read. Show Less
Awards
Iowa Teen Award (Nominee — 2022)
YouPer Award (Top Ten — 2021)
Maine Student Book Award (Reading List — 2022)
CCBC Choices (2021)
Nerdy Book Award (Middle Grade Fiction — 2020)
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids (Fiction — 2020)
Language
Original language
English
Physical description
144 p.; 7.81 inches
ISBN
0525518452 / 9780525518457