In 1968, thirteen-year-old Sam’s dad is a Chicago Civil Rights activist who believes in nonviolence and has high expectations for his sons. When Sam’s brother, Stick, gets involved with the Black Panthers and their call for change “by any means necessary,” it creates incredible tension in their family. His father’s anger fills their house, and Sam is hurt by the growing distance between himself and Stick. Sam also knows Stick hates violence, so he is puzzled by his brother’s choice to join the Panthers. But he’s soon attending the Black Panther discussions, drawn in by his interest in a girl from school and also his brother’s encouragement to learn more this group that serves breakfast to kids in their community every morning. Sam discovers the Panthers, his brother, and his dad share a common dream for equality and justice, even if their methods don’t always agree. Some of the details aren’t quite true to 1968, but Kekla Magoon’s debut novel does a remarkable job presenting the conflict and commonalities between the peaceful nonviolence movement and the Black Panthers, capturing the racial tensions and other complexities of that time through the experiences of Sam and his family. (Ages 11–14)

Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award winner

In this “taut, eloquent first novel” (Booklist, starred review), a young Black boy wrestles with conflicting notions of revolution and family loyalty as he becomes involved with the Black Panthers in 1968 Chicago.

The Time: 1968
The Place: Chicago

For thirteen-year-old Sam, it’s not easy being the son of known civil rights activist Roland Childs. Especially when his older (and best friend), Stick, begins to drift away from him for no apparent reason. And then it happens: Sam finds something that changes everything forever.

Sam has always had faith in his father, but when he finds literature about the Black Panthers under Stick’s bed, he’s not sure who to believe: his father or his best friend. Suddenly, nothing feels certain anymore.

Sam wants to believe that his father is right: You can effect change without using violence. But as time goes on, Sam grows weary of standing by and watching as his friends and family suffer at the hands of racism in their own community. Sam beings to explore the Panthers with Stick, but soon he’s involved in something far more serious—and more dangerous—than he could have ever predicted. Sam is faced with a difficult decision. Will he follow his father or his brother? His mind or his heart? The rock or the river?