THE STORY OF MY ANGER by Jasminne Mendez is a very timely book. With today's political climate many people are angry and looking for ways to best express their anger and frustration. Mendez's novel written in verse/play shares the story of one teen, her friends, and in one case, her enemy. It highlights book banning and racism and reactions to both.
Yuli is a Black/Latino. She tries to earn good grades, follow the rules, and always make her mother proud. She is involved in her school's drama club and aspires to one day act professionally. Yuli is excited about the upcoming production of OUR TOWN. After her audition, she is certain she will be awarded the lead role. That would mean she is the first ever Black girl to have a lead in a play at her high school. Unfortunately, she is on the cast list as the understudy for the lead. Her frustration increases when she notices there are no students of color in the cast.
Yuli's anger blossoms when her favorite teacher is forced to remove all the books in his classroom library because they are deemed inappropriate for students. Many students feel that this teacher has always provided books that have spoken to them and in some cases changed their lives.
With the encouragement of her activist brother, Yuli begins a campaign to educate people about the dangers of banning books. Forming a group called A.C.T. Now, Yuli and her friends hope to convince the administration to return the books to the classroom shelf. Being an activist gives Yuli a platform for her anger, but she also discovers that it isn't easy to make her voice heard.
This book needs to be in every classroom library and public library. Jasminne Mendez has an important message for teens and adults alike.
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