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112th out of 164 books
—
96 voters
Fighting for Dontae
by
Mike Castan
Gang-member Javier's life is going nowhere fast. Resenting being assigned to work with a special education class, he gradually realizes that he actually enjoys reading to Dontae, a severely disable boy his age. When everything else around him is falling apart, working with Dontae becomes the one thing worth fighting for.
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
March 1st 2012
by Holiday House
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Mike Castan’s heart is in the right place with Fighting for Dontae, which he dedicates from “one-at-risk student to another”. Unfortunately, I can’t recommend it because of its stereotypes.
First, there is Castan’s portrayal of Latin American youth. Main character Javier is poor and belongs to a gang. He is so poor that his family doesn’t have a television or cell phone, nor can they afford for him to buy new clothes for school or attend the movies. To fit in with the gang, Javier wears a white t...more
First, there is Castan’s portrayal of Latin American youth. Main character Javier is poor and belongs to a gang. He is so poor that his family doesn’t have a television or cell phone, nor can they afford for him to buy new clothes for school or attend the movies. To fit in with the gang, Javier wears a white t...more
Javier is just starting 7th grade. He is reluctantly in the local gang, his mom is a recovering tweeker, his dad is in jail more than he is home and all but 3 of his friends have disappeared. They are either lost to meth, in juvie or their parents have managed to get them out of the town Obre Nuevo. The only thing Javier has going for him is his social status. He is neither bottom of the barrel or top dog. He is happy in the middle. But he knows this is at risk when he gets assigned as a student...more
Seventh-grader Javier is nervous about starting middle school in his Hispanic neighborhood, an unwilling member of a gang, and unhappy with his family life. His three good friends and his love of reading bring him some satisfaction, but he seems to be yearning for a more connected and meaningful life. He’s dismayed to learn his work-study job is as an aide to the Special Ed. Class, but it is there that he is able to calm his mind and gain the strength to face each day. He’s always been observant...more
Seventh grader Javier is heading downhill fast. He and his friends are drawn into the fringes of the gangsta life simply because there's nothing much to do and there's no money to much of anything. School has always been boring, for the most part, and when he is assigned to work with the youngsters in a special education class, he is less than thrilled since he knows that his peers will ridicule him. But for some reason, he connects with a boy named Dontae, who loves having Javier read a book by...more
This story depicts the struggles of a young man and his friends in the inner city. Javier is in seventh grade and joins a gang because the gang says so - they jump him and after being badly beaten in the initation he is in, no choice in the matter. But he does chose to stay as out of things as possible. Students will understand his struggle to be himself, when the friends he has grown up with turn to drug use and violence. His father is in and out of jail, more in than out. When he comes home th...more
SLJ Gr 6-8-On the first day of seventh grade, Javier's English class is visiting the library when the special ed kids arrive. Not only does Javier steal a book for himself, but he also hands Lanzo, a nonverbal child, a book that he was eyeing. When student jobs are announced later that week, Javier is dismayed to learn that he will be helping with the special ed class, and he's convinced that his life, as far as his middle school social status is concerned, is effectively over. Javier's dad is i...more
This is a good book for middle school libraries. It has a positive message and one students need.
However, I'm not sure that the students who are living this life will find Javier realistic. His father is in and out of jail and his mother is on and off of drugs and he belongs to a gang and yet he still manages to get to school every day and stay out of trouble. It is possible. But...
Students working with special education students can be a very positive thing and in Javier's case, a real motivat...more
However, I'm not sure that the students who are living this life will find Javier realistic. His father is in and out of jail and his mother is on and off of drugs and he belongs to a gang and yet he still manages to get to school every day and stay out of trouble. It is possible. But...
Students working with special education students can be a very positive thing and in Javier's case, a real motivat...more
Javier’s life is already set out for him, and he’s just entering middle school. He lives with his mom, who struggles with money and drugs. Sometimes his father’s around, when he’s between jail trips. Dontae and his friends are supposed to be in a gang and are constantly being asked to prove their own toughness. Javier struggles with all of this plus the fact that he likes to read and doesn’t actually want to court trouble, let alone be in it. When his school assigns him a service project working...more
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I was engaged by this book, but ended up feeling disappointed. Too many little details are unrealistic. Maybe if it had a different title I would like it better. Javier never fights for Dontae either physically or metaphorically. The book is not about Dontae; his name shouldn't be in the title.
There were a lot of things I liked about this book. Main character of color who loved to read and is fighting difficult circumstances, who learns to champion the underdog. Great stuff. However, there was also foul language, a lot of casual drug use, and a small problem with unstable focus. Drat.
A story of remorse and redemption, and a solid choice for reluctant middle grade readers from urban environments. They will recognize the temptation from the 'easy' gang side and the hope of the college bound, or at least hopeful, kids from the lower classes. I was rooting for Dontae all the way.
Seventh-grader Javier is hanging with the Playaz, a street gang. He gets assigned to help with the special ed class at school where he meets Dontae, a severly disabled boy his own age. Could this be Javier's chance to change?
Reviewer 20
Reviewer 20
May 23, 2013
Allison
marked it as to-read
May 02, 2013
Jenny
marked it as to-read
Feb 21, 2013
Irvington Public Library Teens
marked it as to-read
Jan 01, 2013
Jamelynn Wong
marked it as to-read
Nov 30, 2012
Jordan
marked it as to-read
Nov 28, 2012
Ellen Wilson
marked it as to-read
Nov 28, 2012
Devin Lind
marked it as want-to-read
Nov 09, 2012
Booboo
marked it as to-read
view 2 comments
Oct 31, 2012
Tania
marked it as to-read
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Mike Castan is a writer who has been an actor and a middle-grade substitute teacher. He lives in California.
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