RacismThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.PrejudiceThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.Hate crimesThe available evidence does not establish the book's treatment of this theme. See Confidence & Basis for the evidence gap.
Consider
Violence and harmDiscrimination or prejudiceGrief and loss
Personalised Fit
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racismprejudicehate crimesthe CrusadesGulf WarWestern and Arab viewspersonal growthcouragestanding up for oneself
FictionNovel
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Themes in Context
Prejudice and hate crimes
Racism and prejudice are major themes; the story includes hate crimes at the mall and racial epithets.Provisional readingProvisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.Provisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.
Talk about: How does the story show prejudice affecting people and their choices?
Competing accounts of conflict
Roberta and Sam discuss Western and Arab views of the Crusades and the Gulf War.Provisional readingProvisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.Provisional: the reviewed evidence does not establish how the book treats this theme. The evidence gap is listed under Confidence & Basis.
Talk about: What differences between the views do Roberta and Sam discuss, if any?
Roberta’s growing self-assertion
Roberta begins to stand up to her school, a local politician and her father while investigating her mother’s death.FavourableFavourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.Favourable: the book presents this theme approvingly or positively.
How the book presents it: Her developing self-assertion is presented as a positive change.
Talk about: What helps Roberta move from passivity towards speaking up?
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Why It May Be Worth Reading
Roberta’s gradual move from passivity towards self-assertion gives the mystery a personal thread, while the story also opens discussion of how prejudice and competing accounts of conflict take shape.
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What Deserves Attention
The book includes a stabbing murder, a graphically described suicide, hate crimes, racial epithets, teens using drugs, an adult’s drunkenness and an unwanted breast grab. These may merit a check-in.
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A Conversation Worth Having
What does Roberta learn about how prejudice operates, and do the differing accounts of the Crusades and Gulf War change how you understand the story’s conflicts?
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Reading Approach
Consider reading alongside your teen or checking in after the murder and suicide material. Leave room to discuss racial language, prejudice and the viewpoints presented without assuming the book settles them.
Confidence & Basis
Theme indicators describe how the book presents a topic; they are not a verdict on the whole book or your family's values. Confidence reflects how much book-specific material was checked. Only part of the book information was available, so some details remain unconfirmed.
What remains unconfirmed
Prejudice and hate crimes: The available details do not establish how each incident or viewpoint is evaluated in the novel.
Competing accounts of conflict: The precise arguments and how the novel weighs them are not established.
Roberta’s growing self-assertion: The available details do not establish how every conflict is resolved.
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