Hush
Poignant story of race, identity, and doing the right thing.
Parents say
Based on 3 reviews
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this book.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that award-wining author Jacqueline Woodson's Hush deals with the aftermath of two white police officers' shooting of an unarmed black teen, and the fate of the African-American officer who witnesses the incident and his family. Seen through the eyes of the officer's 12-year-old daughter, Toswiah, the story involves the witness-protection program, suicide and depression, and the Jehovah's Witness religion. For the most part, Hush isn't graphic in its description of a few violent moments.
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Origin film doesn't have much originality; some language, violence
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Origin film doesn't have much originality; some language, violence
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What's the Story?
What happens when everything you knew to be true no longer exists? What happens when the happy family you cherished, the friends and family you held close, and your very identity disappears in the dead of night? Toswiah, 12, faces fear, loneliness, and an identity struggle when her family is forced into a witness-protection program after her father witnesses a terrible act committed by fellow policemen. Will anything ever feel "normal" again?
Is It Any Good?
HUSH is a moving, disheartening, and somewhat melancholy look into the life of a police family forced into the witness-protection program. Leaving everything behind has a profound effect on the entire family, and author Jacqueline Woodson does a fantastic job making readers a part of the family. She takes you from easily identifying with an all-American, happy family to feeling just as discombobulated as Toswiah does as she struggles to navigate a strange new existence. Woodson takes readers on a journey that isn't easy with such deep sadness, loss, and frustration; at times it's difficult to continue reading. The journey doesn't end happily, but it does end hopefully.
Originally published in 2002, Hush remains timely amid issues of police violence against young black men in America. It gives a unique perspective on what it's like inside the blue line. There are no easy answers, and Woodson doesn't attempt to solve the issue. Instead, she simply and painfully presents one family's perspective.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how this book, written in 2010, is still relevant today. What familiar themes or situations do you see in the media right now that relate to the book?
How are people of different races portrayed in the news media? Do you think these portrayals affect people's perception?
If you had to leave everyone you knew behind and start over in a new city with a new name, what do you think would be the hardest part of leaving?
Book Details
- Author: Jacqueline Woodson
- Genre: Coming of Age
- Topics: Brothers and Sisters, Great Girl Role Models
- Book type: Fiction
- Publisher: Putnam Juvenile
- Publication date: January 7, 2002
- Publisher's recommended age(s): 10 - 17
- Number of pages: 208
- Available on: Paperback, Nook, Hardback, iBooks, Kindle
- Award: Newbery Medal and Honors
- Last updated: February 15, 2019
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