Won't Anyone Think of the Children?: Book Review of Attack of the Black Rectangles

 

Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King

Gratitude

Thank you to Montgomery County Public Library and to my student who recommended that I read Attack of the Black Rectangles by Amy Sarig King.

Description

Mac is shocked and upset to find that his copy of The Devil’s Arithmetic by Jane Yolen has been censored. His mom and grandfather raised him to stand up for what he believes in, so Mac decides to do just that–fight against the censorship of books in the classroom. It seems that perhaps some other things that have been going on in the town are similarly related–such as the banning of junk food in local stores. It also seems that his sixth grade teacher, Ms. Sett, is the source of many of these things. And Ms. Sett uses the local newspaper to make sure her voice is heard. Mac doesn’t think she should be the only voice heard.

Ms. Sett is not Mac’s only problem in sixth grade–Mac's parents are divorced, and his father is an alien anthropologist, on earth in order to observe and report back to his home planet. There's also the bully who’s been placed in his reading group. And, of course, all of the typical sixth grade things to contend with.

Would I Teach This Book? 

Would I teach Attack of the Black Rectangles? I enjoyed Attack of the Black Rectangles and especially appreciated the first-person point-of-view of Mac. He has some interesting things to say in a clever and funny way. King does a good job of creating Mac’s voice and keeping the narration crisp. Ms. Sett, as the adversary in the book, was not as nuanced as she could have been. In an era of people lacking real empathy, I would have liked to see some empathy for Ms. Sett. There is sympathy, and she is not made to be an evil villain, but people generally believe they are doing the right thing when they make decisions for others. Does Mac really understand why Ms. Sett pushes for the things she does? Ultimately, whatever the character’s motives are, she is wrong, and she should not be making rules for the rest of the community that encroach onto individual choice. 

The book is largely about young people taking a stand, and it champions their right to do so. This is a very important message, and something that the intended audience needs to hear. It’s also true that if you know what the opposition is thinking, you can be more convincing to them. Although Mac would probably have been unable to convince Ms. Sett, perhaps she may have heard him, too, something she seemed unable to do.

Being unable to reach mutual understanding aside, I wonder if the book offers enough challenges to a middle school reader. In choosing books to teach, I always look for what the books can teach students. Attack of the Black Rectangles offers a conversation about raising your voice, but I am not sure that is enough. It’s a good book, and a good book for middle schoolers to read. It would be good for a classroom library, though I am not sure that with the limited number of books that can be fit into the year if I would include Attack of the Black Rectangles.

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Here We Go Apprenticing: Book Review of The Blackthorn Key

 

The Blackthorn Key by Kevin Sands

Gratitude

Thank you to my student who recommended that I read Kevin Sands' The Blackthorn Key and lent me their copy. 

Description

In The Blackthorn Key, by Kevin Sands, Christopher counts himself as lucky–he is apprenticed to an apothecary who treats him kindly and even patiently when his antics cause a mess. His best friend, Tom, is not only as loyal as anyone could dream of, but he is also the baker’s son. Not that Tom’s father willingly gives away freebies, but still. Christopher also likes learning the work, and his master trains him in other fields, including codes.

As an orphan, the shop is the only home he has ever known and his master the only family. Christopher’s world is threatened, however, by a mysterious cult of apothecaries has been killing off other apothecaries. He is terrified when his master comes home badly injured. He fears that the cult will take away the safety and stability he has known for such a short time.

Would I Teach This Book?

Would I teach The Blackthorn Key? The Blackthorn Key is both mystery and historical fiction. Set in the political turmoil of 1665 and full of riddles and codes to be broken, Christopher is clever and resourceful. He knows that without the protection of his master how dangerous the world can be for a boy like him. And yet he still has a sense of playfulness, mischief, and kindness. Tom is a good companion for Christopher, and the two of them are clever and funny. The book has some splashes of death, but it is not particularly scary or dark.

While I am not racing to find the sequel, I would be interested in reading it if it became available to me. I would consider offering it as a choice for a unit and would certainly stock it in my classroom library.

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