This is not a fun book. It's not meant to be. It's a tool—a well-crafted, research-backed, carefully written tool for parents who want to talk to their young kids about racial injustice and police violence.
The question isn't whether the book is good (it is—4.8 stars on Amazon, NAPPA winner, bestseller). The question is whether you're ready to use it. Because once you read this with your kid, you're opening a door to conversations about why police shoot Black people, whether police can go to jail, and what racism means. The book gives you language and structure, but you still have to show up for the hard parts.
It's been challenged and banned in some communities, which tells you it's doing something right—or at least something that makes people uncomfortable. The fact that it's on ALA's most challenged list is both a red flag for controversy and a green flag for impact.
If your family is ready, this is an excellent resource. If you're not sure, wait. There's no prize for rushing into conversations your kid—or you—aren't ready to have.






