Sunday, February 22, 2009

Black and White by Paul Volponi


Marcus and Eddie are Black and White, basketball stars and friends nicknamed for their races. They are a team on and off the court. When they find themselves short of cash for the senior dues, Eddie shows Marcus his grandfather's gun and they pull off a few robberies to get the money. Once the dues are paid though the temptation is too great and they continue. One night the gun goes off and grazes a man getting the boys into more trouble than they ever anticipated.
The title not only refers to the boys' nicknames, but also racial lines and the nature of the truth. Marcus and Eddie tell their story in alternating voices. The story moves along at a quick pace. I really enjoyed it. A perfect book for boys and reluctant readers.