Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro follows Moss, a black, gay teen living in Oakland, California, who is dealing with intense anxiety attacks stemming from his father's murder by the police. The story unfolds at West Oakland High, where Moss and his friends face escalating police presence, random locker searches, and metal detectors, leading to a tragic event during a peaceful protest. The book delves into themes of police violence, activism, social injustice, and the struggles of teens of color, portraying a realistic and unflinching account of the devastating situation in Oakland. Oshiro's writing style is described as honest, open, and brutal, with fully fleshed out characters and diverse representation that provides models for organizing and activism.

Characters:

The characters are richly diverse, particularly representing queer people of color, though some criticism exists regarding their complexity and individuality.

Writing/Prose:

The writing is characterized by its raw realism and strong dialogue that captures the emotional weight of the characters' experiences.

Plot/Storyline:

The book addresses critical social themes such as police brutality and systemic injustice through the experiences of a gay Black teen as he navigates life in an oppressive school environment.

Setting:

The setting is rooted in the reality of Oakland, California, providing a backdrop that underscores systemic issues such as police brutality and underfunded education.

Pacing:

The pacing fluctuates, with the first half being more engaging, while the latter half becomes heavier and more challenging to digest.

Moss had boarded the train in San Francisco that afternoon expecting nothing out of the ordinary, just a normal ride home with his best friend, Esperanza. The train was crowded, plenty of people eager...

Notes:

The book follows a young gay Black man named Moss as he navigates life in Oakland, California.

Moss suffers from panic attacks due to trauma from his father's police-related murder.

It explores heavy themes like police brutality, racism, and class issues faced by marginalized communities.

The portrayal of authority figures in the book is largely negative, with most depicted as either clueless or hostile.

Moss and his friends aim for peaceful protests to create change in their underfunded school.

The characters in the story are diverse, primarily queer people of color, offering a realistic representation of friendship among LGBTQ+ teens.

The intersectionality of oppression is a major theme, combining race, queerphobia, and ableism.

Multiple reviews highlight the book's graphic content and difficult themes but emphasize its importance and relevance.

The story is noted for its emotional impact, with many readers expressing how it made them feel deeply for the characters.

The author intended the book to be a commentary on real-life issues, blending dystopian elements with contemporary social justice.

Critics point out issues with character development, with some characters resembling caricatures rather than fully realized individuals.

The book serves as a guide for young activists and emphasizes the power of anger in driving social change.

Many readers found the book's difficult themes important, making it a necessary read for understanding current societal issues.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings for graphic police violence, racism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and mental health issues such as anxiety and panic attacks.

Has Romance?

There is a medium level of romance in the book, mainly centering around the relationship between the main character and his boyfriend.

From The Publisher:

*31st Annual Lammy Finalist for LGBTQ Children's/Young Adult category*

*2019 ALA Schneider Family Book Award Teen Winner*

*Buzzfeed's 24 Best YA Books of 2018*

*Vulture's 38 Best LGBTQ YA Novels*

*Book Riot's Best Books 2018*

*Hyable's Most Anticipated Queer YA Books of 2018*

*The Mary Sue's 18 Books You Should Read in 2018*

Moss Jeffries is many things-considerate student, devoted son, loyal friend and affectionate boyfriend, enthusiastic nerd.

But sometimes Moss still wishes he could be someone else-someone without panic attacks, someone whose father was still alive, someone who hadn't become a rallying point for a community because of one horrible night.

And most of all, he wishes he didn't feel so stuck.

Moss can't even escape at school-he and his friends are subject to the lack of funds and crumbling infrastructure at West Oakland High, as well as constant intimidation by the resource officer stationed in their halls. That was even before the new regulations-it seems sometimes that the students are treated more like criminals.

Something will have to change-but who will listen to a group of teens?

When tensions hit a fever pitch and tragedy strikes again, Moss must face a difficult choice: give in to fear and hate or realize that anger can actually be a gift.

Ratings (2)

Loved It (1)
It Was OK (1)

Reader Stats (11):

Read It (2)
Want To Read (7)
Not Interested (2)

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About the Author:

MARK OSHIRO is the Hugo-nominated writer of the online Mark Does Stuff universe (Mark Reads and Mark Watches), where they analyze book and TV series. They were the nonfiction editor of Queers Destroy Science Fiction! and the co-editor of Speculative Fiction 2015, and are the President of the Con or Bust Board of Directors. When not writing/recording reviews or editing, Oshiro engages in social activism online and offline. Anger Is a Gift is their acclaimed debut YA contemporary fiction novel.

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