Why and How I Teach All American Boys

My favorite thing about All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kieley is that while narrating this story about racism, brutality, and injustice, these two authors, one BLACK, and one WHITE, provide two perspectives: one BLACK and one WHITE. They present both BLACK AND WHITE stereotypes, and both BLACK AND WHITE injustice experiences. In this novel, there can be no argument that someone is not represented.

There’s no argument that TRUTH IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE.

A New York Times book reviewer Kekla Magoon remarked,

“All American Boys represents one voice — even better, two voices — in a national conversation that must continue beyond its pages. Rashad and Quinn tell their stories but never meet. In a brief final chapter set at a community protest, we hear their voices side by side, as dialogue, reminding us that perhaps, in these fraught days, that is what has been missing all along.”

Times, N. Y. (2019, November 8). Revisiting Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely’s ‘All American Boys.’ The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/08/books/review/revisiting-jason-reynolds-and-brendan-kielys-all-american-boys.html

In this post, I will share with you a bit of inspiration, some strategies and tips, and my no-prep resources. This novel study would fit perfectly into your existing Young Adult Literature, Black Literature, or American Literature units.

I include a striking packet cover (shown above) with my novel handouts and worksheets to entice students and give them a visual of the characters. This page can also be posted in your classroom or media center.

Begin your lesson with an introduction activity which presents the authors, their motivation, and their two-narrator novel format.

As an anticipatory activity I ask students four questions about social issues and protests:

What other social problems could be clarified and better understood if two authors of different backgrounds co-wrote a book and represented each of their group’s perspective?
Brainstorm. What do you know about the origins of the Black Lives Matter Movement? How do you see the continued effects of the movement in your world today?
Historically, there have been many movements and protests fighting for equality and justice for Blacks in America. Can you name any?
Do you think your race and personal experiences affect how much you know and understand about Blacks’ fight for rights, equality, and justice in America?

Next, I have students complete a pre-reading activity which has them explore what the term “All American” means. Given a choice of 29 photos of “All American” people, students choose three, provide adjectives to describe the people, then formulate a definition for “All American” that they can refer to and adjust while reading the novel.

Following the defining an “All American,” we have a look at themes in the novel. Students receive information about the topics of three themes in the novel: Racism/Prejudice, American Culture/Being All American, and Coming-of-Age. Students receive a chart on which they take notes during reading and discussion listing elements of the text that contribute to each theme.

After the theme activity introduction, I introduce Character Collages. This activity prompts kids to analyze the characters throughout the novel. Characters are listed in shapes where students add doodles, text, or quotes to illustrate the character’s persona throughout the novel.

I am an old-fashioned English teacher who still believes in the amazing benefits of students’ completion of Reading and Discussion Comprehension/Analysis Questions. In my packet there is a total of 342 (!) questions about plot, character, theme, symbols, figurative language, diction, with quote analysis and requirements to provide quotes to support their responses. You can use these questions as reading checks, formative assessments, or discussion or study guide. The comprehensiveness of these questions and the detail of the answer keys make these questions perfect for an independent study if you choose to go that way.

Because this book is about an important social issue that is surrounded by many opinions and lots of controversy, I ask my students Reflection Questions. There are 67 reflection questions throughout the Comprehension/Analysis section. These questions require synthesis. These are great to use as reading checks, journal prompts, or small or large group discussions starters.

Finally, as a summative assessment, I offer Culminating Activities

There are ten different prompts categorized as Research, Creative Writing, and Art
You can choose and assign activities or have students select their favorite.
Research prompts include exploring the historical figures mentioned in the novel (Aaron Douglas, Booker T. Washington, Desmond Tutu, and Ralph Ellison) and their contributions to Blacks. The second prompt requires research of Civil Rights marches and protests. The third prompt provides a link to the “SAY THEIR NAME” list of Blacks killed during arrests and compels students to choose and report their findings on the circumstances of those tragedies.
The Creative Writing culminating activities include new coverage of the novel’s protest, a social media compilation based on #RASHAD IS ABSENT AGAIN TODAY, a letter and response letter to/from a character, and a song or poem by or about a character.
Finally, the Art choices include drawing Rashad’s depiction of his arrest as he describes it in the novel, creating pamphlets, flyers, and posters for the protest, and a collage illustrating a character’s struggles and strengths.

For these culminating activities include customizable rubrics so you can choose criteria and point values.

If you are pressed for time or are looking for a more creative, fun assessment at the end of the novel unit, you might consider this engaging characterization activity for All American Boys: Character’s Cell Phone. Students imagine the apps that would be on the characters’ phones. What songs are on the playlist? What news articles are they reading? What games do they play? What might their bitmoji look like? What is in their shopping cart? My kids absolutely love this activity. Sometimes, if time permits, I let kids have a class period to share their favorite creations. This activity is a fantastic way to assess students’ understanding of characterization and their understanding of the plot and themes.

I hope you found some great ideas for your All American Boys novel unit. Thanks for considering teaching this especially important novel to your high school English students.

If you are interested in a closer look at my All American Boys novel unit, please click right here.