Light It Up by Kekla Magoon
Published by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR) on October 22nd 2019
ISBN: 1250128897
Pages: 368
Goodreads

After police shoot and kill an unarmed 13-year-old girl, Shae Tatum, a whole community reels.  This excellent novel is told from a variety of perspectives, including the daughter of the officer who shot Shae, Shae’s best friend, community organizers, social media accounts, and others who grapple with injustice and unrest.  The novel leads readers through the days following Shae’s death, including a protest where an attempt to respond peacefully turns violent.

This book belongs on shelves in libraries and classrooms where readers are ready to grapple with upsetting scenes where justice comes into question.  Light It Up would appeal to readers who loved The Hate U Give, On The Come Up, All American Boys,  Long Way Down, and other recent novels that perfectly execute discussion of race and justice.

Reviewed by Noelle Gallant, Saco Middle School