Breakout

Breakout
Overall Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ :halfstar:(3.5/5) or 7.0/10

Characters - 7

Atmosphere - 7

Writing - 7

Plot - 8

Intrigue - 7

Logic - 7

Enjoyment - 6

A fun middle-grade intro to systemic racism. That sounds weird, but this is a cute book dealing with serious topics.

I love a good epistolary middle grade. [b:Regarding the Fountain 23404 Regarding the Fountain A Tale, in Letters, of Liars and Leaks Kate Klise https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1311778035l/23404.SX50.jpg 24375] was one of my favorite books growing up. Despite high hopes, I didn't have as much fun with this one.For a book about murderers on the loose, this was boring. Messner discussed corruption in the criminal justice system, but it was so heavy-handed. She'd either have Sean use buzzwords to stress out his parents, or would have someone in Wolf Creek be racist to Elidee again. The final argument was scattered and feeble. It seemed to just be, “people and places are complicated.” This is especially disappointing because I've seen a lot of middle grade do so much better (often, dare I say, better than adult fiction). [b:Front Desk 36127488 Front Desk Kelly Yang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507986199l/36127488.SX50.jpg 51903030] on race, class, and immigration. [b:Nowhere Boy 36717949 Nowhere Boy Katherine Marsh https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1528240743l/36717949.SY75.jpg 58513780] on refugees and Islamophobia. [b:Ghost 28954126 Ghost (Track, #1) Jason Reynolds https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1468787024l/28954126.SY75.jpg 49179183] on race and class. My point is that books for young readers can do heavy subjects justice.Also, I don't usually use the word contemporary for middle grade, but Breakout is very much a contemporary. It seemed like Messner watched Hamilton then read [b:Brown Girl Dreaming 20821284 Brown Girl Dreaming Jacqueline Woodson https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1424308405l/20821284.SY75.jpg 39959105], and Breakout was the result. I cannot overemphasize the amount of Hamilton in this book. It was so much Hamilton. I'm sure many love that, but I found it really obtrusive. I see why others would be impressed, but this wasn't for me.