Punching the Air — Content Guide for Parents
Themes present
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Content themes
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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
New York Times and USA Today bestseller * Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor * Walter Award Winner * Goodreads Finalist for Best Teen Book of the Year * Time Magazine Best Book of the Year * Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year * Shelf Awareness Best Book of the Year * School Library Journal Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * New York Public Library Best Book of the Year
From award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five comes a powerful YA novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. A must-read for fans of Jason Reynolds, Walter Dean Myers, and Elizabeth Acevedo.
The story that I thought
was my life
didn't start on the day
I was born
Amal Shahid has always been an artist and a poet. But even in a diverse art school, because of a biased system he's seen as disruptive and unmotivated. Then, one fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into tragedy. "Boys just being boys" turns out to be true only when those boys are white.
The story that I think
will be my life
starts today
Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal is convicted of a crime he didn't commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?
With spellbinding lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and deeply profound story about how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth in a system designed to strip him of both.
Frequently asked questions
Is Punching the Air appropriate for a 7-year-old?
The book addresses systemic violence and racial injustice, with a plot involving a Black teen who is wrongfully convicted and faces violence related to his incarceration. The narrative discusses the impact of these experiences on the protagonist. No scary content is mentioned in the search results related to 'Punching the Air.'
Does Punching the Air have violence?
The book addresses systemic violence and racial injustice, with a plot involving a Black teen who is wrongfully convicted and faces violence related to his incarceration. The narrative discusses the impact of these experiences on the protagonist.
Does Punching the Air have scary content?
No scary content is mentioned in the search results related to 'Punching the Air.'
Does Punching the Air have religious themes?
The narrative includes references to Muslim faith as part of the character's identity, specifically highlighting the protagonist Amal Shahid as a Black, Muslim teenager. The framing does not critique or promote religion but acknowledges it as part of the character's experience.
Does Punching the Air have racial/cultural content?
The book centers on themes of racial injustice, exploring the experiences of a Black teenager wrongfully incarcerated. It critiques systemic racism and highlights the struggles faced by individuals of color within the justice system.
Does Punching the Air have profanity?
The search results indicate the presence of strong language in the narrative, with quotes suggesting the use of profanity in the context of expressing frustration and injustice.
Does Punching the Air have climate change?
No climate themes are mentioned in the search results related to 'Punching the Air.'
Does Punching the Air have sexual identity?
No sexual content is mentioned in the search results related to 'Punching the Air.'
Does Punching the Air have gender roles?
No specific gender roles or themes related to gender expectations are mentioned in the search results for 'Punching the Air.'
Does Punching the Air have lgbtq+ themes?
No LGBTQ+ themes or characters are mentioned in the search results related to 'Punching the Air.'
