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We Could Be Brothers
With piercing insight and humor, Derrick Barnes delivers a fresh, thoughtful look at two very different teen boys thrown together in after-school detention.
Robeson Battlefield and Pacino Clapton meet in detention, where they discover they both had scuffles with the same person, Tariq. Although the boys have different mannerisms (Robeson is more respectful of the girl shar...more
Robeson Battlefield and Pacino Clapton meet in detention, where they discover they both had scuffles with the same person, Tariq. Although the boys have different mannerisms (Robeson is more respectful of the girl shar...more
Hardcover, 176 pages
Published
November 1st 2010
by Scholastic Press
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Robeson ends up in after school suspension because someone has tried to cheat off of his test; Pacino is there because he instigated a food fight. The boy behind both of their problems? Tariq. Even though the boys come from very different backgrounds, they strike up a friendship. Robeson’s father is a professor and very invested in the African-American community, even living in a nicer section of a troubled neighborhood. He holds Robeson to high standards. Pacino’s mother also holds her son to h...more
I feel like the jacket copy describes a totally different book. This book isn't about the increasing tension between Robeson, Pacino and Tariq - it's far more about Robeson and Pacino learning to respect someone from the other side of the tracks. Tariq's involvement mainly introduces the two boys, and provides a climactic confrontation between the three.
That being said, I found the writing to be awkward and overly didactic. Robeson's and Pacino's conversations don't sound natural - not only is t...more
That being said, I found the writing to be awkward and overly didactic. Robeson's and Pacino's conversations don't sound natural - not only is t...more
Two 8th grade African-American boys from very different sides of the track (Robeson and Pacino) become unlikely friends when they bond during after-school suspension because of a common enemy. I was looking forward to this urban school story after hearing it promoted at a conference as short, readable, engaging and having great dialogue. Unfortunately, I was disappointed. The underlying messages about getting along with others, appreciating differences and striving for excellence are all great,...more
What happens when you refuse to give up on a virtue, especially when that virtue is to "Make It Happen?" Three young men’s life cross when they are assigned post school detention. None of them think that they have anything in common, but when Robeson Battlefield, nicknamed "crease" for his well kept cloths and Pacino Clapton a self proclaimed bad boy start to hang with each other, they find out that you should not read a book by its cover. As each of them discovers more about each other, they be...more
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Robeson and Pacino are 8th graders spending time in PSS – Post-School Suspension for their misbehavior. Normally they wouldn’t even talk to one another – the prep from the suburbs and the tough guy from the “hood”. United by their need to stay away from and fear of Tariq, the pair become fast friends and find out they have much more in common than the thought.
This is a pretty simple story with some pretty obvious messages, but important ones -- try hard in school, show respect for yourself and...more
This is a pretty simple story with some pretty obvious messages, but important ones -- try hard in school, show respect for yourself and...more
I found this book at the school book fair and it looked like it would fit in with my presentation on African American literature for TCTELA in January. It looked like a short read and the cover seemed to generate interest among reluctant readers who think they're "hood."
I liked the changing point of view. It really was a matter of two young men living in two different worlds yet brought together by chance at school. One boy is all set for success while the other plans to succeed no matter what.
A...more
I liked the changing point of view. It really was a matter of two young men living in two different worlds yet brought together by chance at school. One boy is all set for success while the other plans to succeed no matter what.
A...more
Diversity within an African American community is the highlights.Racial identifications are often problematic to identifying "us" between two different African American characters, Pacino and Crease here. Not only socio-economic environment but also social normality that having both parents who are responsible and wearing nice outfits and having previlge to learn martial arts are all "othering" causing resistance to embrace two boys as us. Crease is accused to be "white" like because of his norm...more
If only this could happen in real life. Two middle school students meet in after school detention. They go to each other's homes and learn more about each other. One is from a gang infested neighborhood and the other is from a very affluent gated community. My question is how they ended up at the school they are in. Then the dialogue doesn't seem to be something the affluent student would say. Both students are in conflict with a third student and agree to "have each other's backs" and in the en...more
I was hoping for a more complex story and sharper look into young masculinity today, and We Could Be Brothers just wasn't that. It's definitely targeted for a middle school audience (or a little younger), and as a result, it's a bit too "safe" and doesn't tackle big issues (or doesn't examine them far enough).
But considering the audience, I don't begrudge the author or the book. It was a decent story and the dynamics between the teenage boys and the adult BNV group had real potential--it just m...more
But considering the audience, I don't begrudge the author or the book. It was a decent story and the dynamics between the teenage boys and the adult BNV group had real potential--it just m...more
A heavy-handedly earnest account of eighth graders from a rough neighborhood learning to respect each other and become friends. Robeson's successful family has recently moved to a new development in the bad part of town, and he's doing his best to succeed at his neighborhood middle school. A run-in with the wrong sort has him serving three days after school suspension, where he meets Pacino, who also has a beef with Tariq. Pacino offers his street-wise help, but then surprises Robeson with intel...more
First, based on the cover, I thought the book involve a variety of narrations from Pacino, Robeson and Tariq. It does not. First, Pacino acts all "hard" and then decides to be friends with Robeson. It happens completely out of the blue in my opinion. Robeson has zero personality, he preaches and preaches and preaches but he's believable because I definitely knew annoying know0it-all kids like him when I was in junior high. I'm not so sure the author intended to make him sound so insufferable tho...more
I stayed up pretty late reading this one. Enthralling, point making, realistic book sucked me into the vortex of the lives of Robeson and Pacino, two boys holding a grudge against one mean, and perhaps a bit crazy, enemy, Tariq. While their relationship builds, Tariq goes too far.
I enjoyed this very much, I loved how it was set in present day, the discussions and jokes shared between the too boys are witty and lifelike, and how the characters were so well built in such a short space.
I enjoyed this very much, I loved how it was set in present day, the discussions and jokes shared between the too boys are witty and lifelike, and how the characters were so well built in such a short space.
An amazing, coming of age tale for boys of color on the opposite sides of the tracks learning to co-exist and aid each other rather than harm. I value both Robeson and Pacino's character development. Barnes presents two very different versions of cool and young readers can model themselves after either and present a beautiful swag to the world. I love the dialogue and presentation of how valuable academics and culture are to the community of both young and old African Americans.
I don't necessarily think that this was the best book in the world, but for the right kid, it's great. It's easy to get into, has enough slang to engage, but expresses a really great moral code that will hopefully be an inspiration to those who choose to listen to it.
Great addition to my 9th grade African-American book list since it is from a guy's perspective. Two 8th graders meet from opposite sides of the track and discover similarities in their lives. Some violence that I think boys would call action.
This book is written for young adults. It had too much urban slang. The writing was of inferior quaility and I could not see any value in the book. The story line was rather crude.
This was a quick easy book, spanning events in five days. It made very good points, and it was really interesting to have a window into two parts of a world I really don't have the same access to.
I thought this book was pretty good. I had trouble understanding what as going on, but it became clear overtime. I loved how two opposites attract, in this story.
An earnest, inspiring story about middle school boys from disparate backgrounds becoming. A well-crafted novel deftly exploring the theme of "what it means to be a man."
Oct 12, 2012
Dorothy
added it
Wonderful messages for all youth, but particularly African Americans. So wholesome, yet current, realistic, and compelling. Speaks to girls and boys.
PREACHY! and unrealistic. This book has a good message, but I don't think that too many middle school students are going to buy into the way it's presented.
Jun 05, 2010
Martha
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
middle school boys
Shelves:
middle-school,
2010
8th grade boys opposite sides of the "tracks" and still the same need to do their best. Don't know how "my kids" will feel about it. Especially the ending.
Marvelous work. These boys could be any student at Cooper Middle School, and their successes and travails ring true. Part of the book (such as Robeson's home life) ring a bit idealized, but that's easily overcome by all the realism elsewhere. Highly recommended for Read180 students -- boys AND girls!
This would be a great book for any teen that wants to know that good can come out of anywhere.
I would recommend this to be in any school library.
I would recommend this to be in any school library.
Read for KCPL Mock Printz. I think more books for this target audience need to be published. Set in KC great dialog.
While I really enjoyed the story I give it four stars because it is WAY TOO DIDACTIC in its narrative to the point where it sometimes reads as a cheesy ABC Family movie! I did like how it focused on two black characters rather than how black and white kids interact because there are many books that (1) focus on all white kids (2) focus on how races/cultures/etc. interact and learn from one another. There are not many books that focus on the everyday lives of non-white/immigrant cultures so while...more
I read this cover to cover in about two hours! It is a most spectacular work! I love it!
This was a wonderfully told story that I would want my nephew to read some day.
Nov 08, 2012
Sarah
marked it as to-read
recommended by kaila
school violence
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Where I come from, no one dreams of becoming an author.
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lo...more
More about Derrick Barnes...
I didn’t know any famous African American male authors. I didn’t actually meet one until I attended college. I wanted to be a football player, the next Sean Combs, or a rapper; anything that would instantly provide me with the riches I would need to “move my mama off of the block”. I was raised in a single parent household by my mother, the lo...more
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