During the summer, every high school student at HS223 was given a book to read in our first-ever “Community Read”. Ms. Haines, the school’s English coach, said that her reason for making this happen was because she noticed private schools had done this in the past. She states “It’s more challenging for public schools because of funding for books and getting the author.” This led to her contacting an organization called “Meet the Writers” where we then got our community read book! 

 We were given the book True True by Don P. Hooper. True True is about a seventeen year old boy named Gil who had just got a scholarship to a brand new private school called Augustine Prep! While terrified for his first day, things get worse when he gets in a fight with the school’s golden boy causing him to get suspended. Now with new friends and allies he wants to change the way the school system is when it comes to kids of color as well as make his voice known in this brand new school. For our first ever community read, Unfortunately it could have gone better. The book has its good parts and there were moments while I was reading that I felt myself enjoying the book yet other times I was left not having a good time. Why is this? What happened? Why did this book fall flat? 

Well let’s start with the good. This book handles racism pretty well. It’s quite realistic and there are many kids who relate and can most likely side with our main protagonist Gil and the challenges he’s going through. Growing up in the South Bronx, we can understand facing racism and having that challenge that comes when no authority figure steps up to help! So many kids can side and understand Gil. There is also a romance which isn’t huge and I think could have been bigger! I think Tammy and Gil were cute and they complimented each other really well. Their storyline was one of my favorites and I think that the author did a great job in writing a realistic high school romance. 

The book overall does a great job with the story. Each subplot is realistic and someone anywhere can relate to it, either your dad not being home, high school drama, bullying or even a sick grandma. The book has great storylines. 

My issue is how the author goes through with following each of them. I enjoy books that have a straightforward storyline and while yes it’s good to branch out to other characters and dramas it’s good to also make sure the reader knows exactly what the main story is. About half way into reading I forgot what the main storyline was. Which isn’t good! I felt confused!

The main story follows Gil getting suspended and wanting to get payback for what he went through as well as making his own mark on the school! This is great! But adding on a romance, sick grandma, the black Augustin account, his friends outside of school, his father. It’s all too much.

 The story has the potential to be great! It has the potential to add all these things in a good order, but it doesn’t. The book by the last few pages was still at that peak of the conflict and was rushed completely by the last thirty pages. The book had its potential and I did enjoy each subplot separately but all of them together made everything ten times more confusing. 

As far as community reading goes, I have to admit that I did enjoy being able to sit down during my summer and read a book knowing the rest of my grade and my school will also read it. It was nice to talk with my friends while reading and joke about the good and the bad.

 So while I did not necessarily enjoy this book, I loved the experience and I believe that we should do it again! It was fun and got me to explore a new genre I’ve never picked up! And I’m very excited to meet the author and get his insight on how he wrote this book and his own inspirations because I’m sure it’ll bring a whole new light. 

True True: 3 out of 5 stars