Today’s Featured Book of Color, Pick of the Day is Riot by Walter Dean Meyers.
Sine 1863, New York City has been the setting of some of the worst race riots in American history, partly due to Abraham Lincoln’s draft allowing anyone who can pay a fee of $300 to avoid fighting in the war. In Riot, New York becomes the scene of one such violent uprising in which many African-Americans are beaten and murdered. Despite the return of soldiers to enforce some peace, it seems as if there is no hope left in the world. And, right in the middle, is teenage Claire.
As the daughter of an Irish mother and black father, Claire cannot pick sides and is torn between her two identities. Claire needs to find the courage inside of her to figure out who she is while also trying to fit back into her war torn community.