Book: All American Boys, drawing controversy, as author set to speak in La Crosse

Local police upset Logan students reading book.

It’s called All American Boys. 

A book that’s being read by by Logan middle and high school students, but is getting some pushback from local police.

The book focuses on police brutality. The plot features a black teen beaten by a police officer after being accused of shoplifting and assault. And a white student witnesses the beating.

One of the authors of the book, Jason Reynolds, will be in La Crosse March 16-17 to give presentations at a few different schools and the La Crosse Public Library.

“It’s well recieved, critically acclaimed,” Logan director of curriculum Michael Lihucki said. “Students are getting exposure to the text so that they can have a great discussion when the author comes to town.”

Like everything in the curriculum, Lihucki and staff did review the book before making it an assignment.

“When we reviewed the book, we definitely took a look at that to see if police burtality or the issues were the primary direction of the book,” Lihucki said. “And, it was just a tool to have a greater conversation and more of an exlporation of these two young boys and their relationship with the situation.”

Students are, apparently, enjoying reading the book out loud during class.

“What we hear is that it gives them a voice to some of the things that they’re intersted in knowing more about and having conversations with,” Lihucki said. “And this book provides a nice tool to have that conversation.”

The book has won numerous awards, including from the Wisconsin State Reading Association’s Reading List.

ALA Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book

Amazing Audiobooks for YA

Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award (NCTE/ALAN)

Bank Street Best Books of the Year – with Outstanding Merit

CBC/NCSS Notable Social Studies Trade Book

CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children’s Book Council)

Capitol Choices List (DC)

Eliot Rosewater High School Master List

Florida Teens Read Master List

Grand Canyon Reader Award Nominee (AZ)

Green Mountain Book Award Master List (VT)

In the Margins Book Award List

Kansas State Reading Circle List Starred High School Title

Kentucky Bluegrass Award Master List

Keystone to Reading Book Award Master List (PA)

Louisiana Teen Readers’ Choice Title Master List

MSTA Reading Circle List

Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice Award Nominee

Rhode Island Teen Book Award Nominee

Sequoyah Young Adult Master List (OK)

Texas Tayshas Reading List

Thumbs Up! Award Winner

Volunteer State Book Award Master List (TN)

Walter Dean Myers Award

Westchester Fiction Award

Wisconsin State Reading Association’s Reading List