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Wild Boys

by Kelly WINTERS
9781642614756. WINTERS, Kelly. Jacob and the Bee Man. 58p. Feb. 2015. ISBN 9781973365334.ea vol: (Relevant Reads). Story Shares. pap. $9.95.
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Gr 7 Up—This new series comes from Story Shares, a nonprofit organization that allows aspiring authors to write and share content for struggling young adult readers. Through a series of journal entries, Wild Boys explores the experiences of Max, a 14-year-old sent to military boot camp. Each entry traces his journey as he learns to overcome his anger, confront his mistakes, and embrace his Latinx heritage. In Jacob and the Bee Man, Jacob begins working for his neighbor after destroying his beehive in a fit of rage. Through hard work and his newfound friendship, Jacob begins to cope with the recent death of his father. A band is searching for a new drummer when they meet Yusuf, a new-to-town Syrian refugee with a talent for drumming in The Syrian Drummer and the Cactus Crimson Paint. The bandmates must clear Yusuf's name after an anti-immigrant bully frames him for a crime.
VERDICT While the stories occasionally feel unpolished, possibly owing to the unconventional publication process, these books, written between a first and third grade reading level, examine authentic issues as teens learn to relate to those different from themselves.
Reviewed by Kathryn Justus , Feb 01, 2019

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