Hush

Woodson, Jacqueline. Hush. G.P. Putnam's Sons, 2002. ISBN-10:0399231145

Plot Summary
Toswiah's father is a cop. He's also black, but that doesn't matter because he's a cop first. But when he witnesses two cops shoot a black teen because he looked suspicious he makes a decision that drives the family into hiding. Toswiah's father testifies and the family enters the witness protection program. So Toswiah and her sister have to start over. New names, new schools, new everything. Their parents also struggle- their mother finds religion and their father falls into depression. Nonetheless, this is a coming of age story. But how do you find yourself when you are suddenly someone else?

Critical evaluation
At first, Hush reads like any other adolescent angst story, but this book is so much more. Toswiah struggles with a new school, fighting with her older sister, making friends, leaving her old friends. She also struggles with racism, justice, and parents who are fighting their own struggles. This book puts the anguish of middle school years in larger perspective and suggests that it's worth examining who you are.

It's a short read great for middle school students. It introduces the topics of racial violence and depression without being too graphic.

Readers Annotations
Toswiah is not from Denver. Her father did not testify against cops. Her name is not Toswiah. Her name is Evie.


Information About the Author
Jacqueline Woodson is the winner of a Coretta Scott King Author award and many of her books have been ALA Best Book for Young Adults. She lives in Brooklyn.



Genre
Bildungsroman

Curriculum Ties
Racism, the justice system


Booktalking Ideas
The power of names
Religion

Reading Level/Interest Age
Grade 6+

Controversial Subject Matter and Defense of Ideas
This book deals with institutionalized racism. The cops believe that they have a right to defend themselves, but how well do cops judge real threats? In this story, some cops shoot a black teen, believing that he had a gun; however, their worries that he had a gun turn out to be based more on prejudice that visual evidence.


The discomfort that some readers may have with this subject matter only speaks to the timeliness of the story.

Defense
National Book Award Nominee, 2002
YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2003
Booklist Book Review Stars, 2002
School Library Journal, Best Books 2002


Why Book Included
Appeared on a recommended reading list published by Sacramento Public Library