Loved the illustrations. Story was just okay, but an important take on modern racism. ( )

Walter is a white high-schooler who falls for his black friend's sister Naomi. It could just be a developing romance that is what it is but a complication arises when Walter's father, a police officer, gets in trouble for potentially racist treatment of a young black suspect. Now the specter of race, society and history loom over Walter and Naomi, and Walter isn't sure how to handle the attention. Their romance story gets more interesting once Walter's dad gets in trouble and the author has a sensitive eye towards both sides and various tensions of the race issue. At times Walter is a bit too self-aware for a teen ("You look at the statistical probabilities of failure and heartbreak, which are astronomical, but you realize sometimes it can still end like this: decent."). But as a romance with a twist or two, there's a high level of interest in seeing if Walter and Naomi can survive the turmoil. ( )

Walter is a typical senior in high school. He and his dad moved into the city after the divorce. Mom remained in the more affluent suburbs with her boyfriend. Older sister was away at college so she had the privilege of avoiding a great deal of the family drama. However, Walter has adjusted as best he can to his new lifestyle, even if it means living in an apartment in a poor section of the city and having to cope with some bullying. Walter’s life completely changes when he meets and falls in love with one of his friend’s younger sister. The complication is that Walter is white while Naomi is black, causing some real issues for both of them. This complication becomes even more pronounced when Walter’s dad, a city cop, is accused of racial profiling in one of his arrests. Walter and Naomi persevere but it is how they learn to cope that is the real story. Making this book even more special are the author’s drawings that highlight the action in each chapter. It is a very special book. ( )