Anger is a Gift - Tak's Reading Room

Hardcover, 463 pages

Published Nov. 19, 2018 by A Tom Doherty Associates Book.

ISBN:: 978-1-250-16702-6

(1 review)

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. It feels sometimes that the students are treated more like criminals.

Something needs 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. …

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. It feels sometimes that the students are treated more like criminals.

Something needs 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.

This description comes from the publisher.

4 editions

Robert Kingett reviewed Anger Is a Gift by Mark Oshiro

Pointing at the system, elequently

4 stars

Unfortunately, no matter how many times I put down social media to actually read something, something else happens that causes me to read books extremely slowly.

This has been the more fascinating part of my reading life because I read in big chunks. I guess I am just a gulper when it comes to reading, but anyway,

this book isn't one you can pick up after being some days away from it, which is unfortunate because the story is very well told. It's easy writing so it is easy to start again after stopping but when you've been away for a while, the story seems disconnected.

When you dive into it, though, you'll find a very smart critique of the police system. I like the message that even if you win a battle or small victory the system will still be there.

As for the characters, okay, all of them …

Unfortunately, no matter how many times I put down social media to actually read something, something else happens that causes me to read books extremely slowly.

This has been the more fascinating part of my reading life because I read in big chunks. I guess I am just a gulper when it comes to reading, but anyway,

this book isn't one you can pick up after being some days away from it, which is unfortunate because the story is very well told. It's easy writing so it is easy to start again after stopping but when you've been away for a while, the story seems disconnected.

When you dive into it, though, you'll find a very smart critique of the police system. I like the message that even if you win a battle or small victory the system will still be there.

As for the characters, okay, all of them were adorable, but I kept getting their names mixed up.

Unfortunately, Mark is not the best audiobook narrator. At certain times, you can hear them making mouth noises that should have been edited out.

One major scene kept me from giving this book 5 stars was the metal detector scene. Reg has metal pins in his knee. The school installs detectors for reasons I can't spoil, but, in short, treatment of Reg causes a chain reaction of advocacy.

When Reg goes through the detector, his pins get damaged. I feel like this is an unnecessary plot device to, once again, use a Disabled character to advance someone's story.

Even so, this book is still worth checking out. I am looking forward to Mark's middle grade book, personally.