I Am Alfonso Jones — Content Guide for Parents
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Religious themes
PRESENTContains references to prayer and church attendance. A minister character plays a supporting role in two chapters.
About this book
The Hate U Give meets The Lovely Bones in this unflinching graphic novel about the afterlife of a young man killed by an off-duty police officer, co-illustrated by New York Times bestselling artist John Jennings.
Alfonso Jones can't wait to play the role of Hamlet in his school's hip-hop rendition of the classic Shakespearean play. He also wants to let his best friend, Danetta, know how he really feels about her. But as he is buying his first suit, an off-duty police officer mistakes a clothes hanger for a gun, and he shoots Alfonso.
When Alfonso wakes up in the afterlife, he's on a ghost train guided by well-known victims of police shootings, who teach him what he needs to know about this subterranean spiritual world. Meanwhile, Alfonso's family and friends struggle with their grief and seek justice for Alfonso in the streets. As they confront their new realities, both Alfonso and those he loves realize the work that lies ahead in the fight for justice.
Foreword by Bryan Stevenson, Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative and author of Just Mercy
Frequently asked questions
Is I Am Alfonso Jones appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book opens with Alfonso being shot to death and includes scenes of violence such as beatings, suicide, and arson. It addresses police brutality and the impact of violence on the community. The graphic novel includes disturbing scenes of violence such as shootings and beatings, which may be unsettling for some readers.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have violence?
The book opens with Alfonso being shot to death and includes scenes of violence such as beatings, suicide, and arson. It addresses police brutality and the impact of violence on the community.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have scary content?
The graphic novel includes disturbing scenes of violence such as shootings and beatings, which may be unsettling for some readers.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have religious themes?
No religious practices, beliefs, or ceremonies are mentioned in the narrative of the book.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have racial/cultural content?
The narrative centers around Alfonso, a Black teenager, and addresses themes of police brutality, racial profiling, and the experiences of people of color in America, particularly in relation to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have profanity?
The book contains mild profanity with instances of words like 'hell', 'damn', and 'ass'.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have climate change?
No climate themes or discussions are present in the narrative of the book.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have sexual identity?
Alfonso and Danetta start dating just before his death, indicating a romantic relationship, but no explicit sexual content is detailed in the search results.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have gender roles?
While the book touches on issues of race and social justice, there is no specific focus on traditional or modern gender roles in the narrative.
Does I Am Alfonso Jones have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the search results related to the narrative of the book.
