All American Boys Review “My brain exploded into a million thoughts and only one thought at the same time - please don’t kill me.” (Reynolds & Kiely 23). All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, tells the story of a case of police brutality, with two points of view. Not only does it tell of Rashad, the victim, but also Quinn, who witnessed the attack. It also tells how this affects both boys’ relationships and lives. This thought-provoking book pulls you in with the intriguing and honest plot, captivating characters, the author's’ unique style, and dialogue. All American Boys tells a story of two boys, Rashad and Quinn. Rashad, a black teenager, finds himself being accused of stealing and gets beat unnecessarily by a white cop. Quinn, a white teenager, …show more content…
It is obvious that their tone is negative. They don’t feel positive about the topic and use their writing to show it. They also use informal language to add more depth to the teenage characters. This is something that makes this book more enjoyable and relatable. Imagery is also used. “As I listened, I looked up into what should have been the dark autumnal evening sky, but instead the haze of flashing police lights, streetlamps, giant spotlights, the headlights of cars, the kaleidoscopic reflection off the cold concrete and the glass of Police Plaza 1, all obscured the sky.” (295). This kind of language builds comprehension and visualization of the scene. Kiely and Reynold’s also use lots of dialogue to develop the main ideas. It also helps to understand characters better. “Dude. at this point, I don’t care. It ain’t like people ain’t thinkin’ ’bout it anyway. It’s on everybody’s mind.”... “Plus, ‘Rashad Is Absent Again Today’ caught on like wildfire,” Shannon said” (280). Through the dialogue, we can see what the other characters think. It also helps to recognize the relationships between characters and their feelings towards each