The book focuses on the romance and development of Walter and Naomi. Walter the son of a racist police officer falls in love with Naomi a black girl and sister of one of his friends Jason. The story develops around their new romance and the difficulties that they face due to their relationships. Their relationship and feelings are tender and real. Walter is faced with the fact that his father is caught up in a case that is calling out his racist tendencies. All the while, Walter is trying to protect Naomi and himself from the backlash surrounding it while also trying to process the emotions of his first relationship, as well as his relationships with his own family. You really feel for Walter and Naomi and want them to persevere despite all of the constant challenges their relationship is faced with. Their romance is new, innocent, and real and it is faced with the raw challenges of an inter-racial relationship.
I really enjoyed the story even though at times I felt it was very predictable. Often I wanted to yell at Walter to figure things out about himself, his relationships, and his friendships sooner! Even with that being said, I enjoyed reading and supporting Walter and Naomi through everything they experienced and the growth they went through. Something I also loved about the book is the relevance. The book was published in 2015 but it could take place right now in our current environment. The book really addresses the underlying racism that is within many white families and the difficulties that black Americans face in our country right now. I also feel that it is very relatable for young people due to the exposure and details of the feelings of each of the characters and the world they are experiencing.
It was a great read and I would recommend it to middle and high school teachers and students.
