Other Side of the Tracks
Book by Charity Alyse
DETAILS
Publisher : Denene Millner Books/Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (November 22, 2022) Language : English Hardcover : 448 pages ISBN-10 : 1534497714 ISBN-13 : 978-1534497719 Reading age : 12 years and up Grade level : 7 - 9 Item Weight : 1.25 pounds , This lilting and riveting young adult debut novel about three teens entangled by secret love, open hatred, and the invisible societal constraints wrapped around people both Black and white is perfect for readers of All American Boys and The Hate U Give . There is an unspoken agreement between the racially divided towns of Bayside and Hamilton: no one steps over the train tracks that divide them. Or else. Not until Zach Whitman anyway, a white boy who moves in from Philly and who dreams of music. When he follows his dream across the tracks to meet his idol, the famous jazz musician who owns The Sunlight Record Shop in Hamilton, he’s flung into Capri Collins’s path. Capri has big plans: she wants to follow her late mother’s famous footsteps, dancing her way onto Broadway, and leaving this town for good, just like her older brother, Justin, is planning to do when he goes off to college next year. As sparks fly, Zach and Capri realize that they can help each other turn hope into a reality, even if it means crossing the tracks to do it. But one tragic night changes everything. When Justin’s friend, the star of Hamilton’s football team, is murdered by a white Bayside police officer, the long-standing feud between Bayside and Hamilton becomes an all-out war And Capri, Justin, and Zach are right in the middle of it. Read more
REVIEW
The town of Bayside plagued with racism and the town of Hamilton held in bondage out of fear. Train tracks separate them from each other but being stuck in their ways is what keeps them apart. Capri Collins once afraid to chase her dreams out of fear of what her grandmother would think. Justin Collins her brother with his hopes high on leaving Hamilton behind allows a careless act to cost him his future. Zach Whitman new to Bayside set out to find something that felt more like home back in Philly. Finds himself stuck in a time wrap and a full-blown war between Hamilton and Bayside. I enjoyed reading this novel while it was a slow build it ended so powerfully. The ending took a turn I wasn’t expecting. Justice being served isn’t something seen to often in these type of situations. But the author touched on multiple themes from self-discovery, teen pregnancy, racism, segregation, family dynamics, and following your dreams. We see firsthand what it’s like when a person’s fears or beliefs are placed upon their children. It creates an endless cycle of the same behavior, beliefs, and fears. Neither town attempted to conform with one another because of past history fueled by hatred, pain, and race. Leaving those wishing for more caught in the midst. Favorite Quote: “We desire control over what we can’t see.” Side note: The way everyone kept referring to the train tracks reminded me of the movie Life. When they were told if they crossed the gun line they would be killed. To me the town of Hamilton symbolized the tracks the same way. If ever crossed it would result in a death sentence. Overall, the novel was emotional, passionate, and impactful so I definitely recommend!!!!
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