From the Bookshelf of La Crescent Public Library…

[close] For our summer Teen Book Club, we read the book Punching the Air by National Book Award Finalist Ibi Zoboi, and Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five.

When he was fifteen years old, Yusef Salaam was one of five Black and Latino teens who were arrested and charged for a crime they did not commit. Salaam's story is reflected in that of Amal's, who, through a collection of short poem chapters, tells his experience of being arrested and charged with a crime he did not commit. The poems reflect Amal's experience of being sent to jail, his class options, and his connection to Imani, the poetry teacher.

I especially loved how the kids were trying to express themselves through their art and music, but became increasingly frustrated with the guards and staff who smothered their artistic expressions, by putting him in solitary after they find out how he decorated his cell, and by painting over the mural they worked so hard on and were so proud of.

In our discussion, it was brought up that the Authors' Note, which is at the end of the book, should actually be read before the rest of the story, because it provides background information that would be helpful in understanding the book. We also looked at some of the art pieces that are referenced, including Picasso's "Guernica", Dali's "The Persistence of Memory" (more familiarly recognized as the melting clocks painting), and Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa". We talked about Amal's relationships with those around him -- with the guards & prison staff, his family & friends, his teachers (both inside and outside the prison), and his lawyer.

I highly recommend this book for teens and adults. It's a very powerful book, very well written, and the fact that it's based on a true story makes it even more significant and meaningful.