Hearts Unbroken
“Blending teen romance with complex questions of identity, equality, and censorship, this is an excellent choice for most collections.” - School Library Journal (starred review)When Louise Wolfe's first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off and dumps him over e-mail. It's her senior year, anyway, and she'd rather spend her time with her family and friends and working on the school newspaper. The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper's staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director's inclusive approach to casting The Wizard of Oz has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town. From the newly formed Parents Against Revisionist Theater to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students - especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou's little brother. As tensions mount at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey - but as she's learned, “dating while Native” can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey's?
# of Pages: 304
Book Binding: Paperback
Year of Publication: 2020
Publisher: Candlewick Press
Language: en
ISBN: 9781536213133
Cynthia Leitich Smith is an award-winning author and advocate for diversity and representation in children's literature. She has written numerous books for children and young adults, including the highly acclaimed "Hearts Unbroken," which tackles issues of race, identity, and love in a small town. Smith is a member of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation and draws on her Native American heritage in her writing. She is also a founding member of the We Need Diverse Books organization and has been recognized for her work in promoting diverse voices in literature. Smith currently resides in Austin, Texas with her husband and their flock of rescued pets.