Hush (2002)

Father is a cop. He witnesses two white cops accidentally shoot an innocent black boy. He decides to testify against them and the family has to go into the witness protection program. Shows how each member of the family deals with the vast changes in their lives. Read only because Woodson is a speaker at the upcoming librarian's conference. Not my type of story. I'd rather read science fiction or fantasy. ( )

I couldn't stop thinking about [b:Don't Look Behind You|47756|Don't Look Behind You|Lois Duncan|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1268428922s/47756.jpg|236989], because that's the other book about the witness protection program I've read. Of course, because this is Jacqueline Woodson, the focus isn't on the thriller elements but on the social consciousness and character growth. Leaving everything you've ever known is so incredibly sad. It's going to be sad for these people forever; they are permanently changed. But you pick up and you move on as the new person you are after a tragedy -- in this case, with literally different names and histories, which is what makes the witness protection program such an appealing metaphor.

This is not an upbeat book, y'all, but it's beautiful. It's probably one of Woodson's more booktalk-able premises, but her trademark ambiguous ending will frustrate many middle schoolers. ( )

YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults 2002. RGG: Within a story about a black family entering the Witness Protection Program issues of identity, being Black in a white community, family stress are dealt with. Well-written, but uneventful and slow moving story.

YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults 2002. RGG: Within a story about a black family entering the Witness Protection Program issues of identity, being Black in a white community, family stress are dealt with. Well-written, but uneventful and slow moving story.

YALSA's Best Books for Young Adults 2002. RGG: Within a story about a black family entering the Witness Protection Program issues of identity, being Black in a white community, family stress are dealt with. Well-written, but uneventful and slow moving story.