Who is Tanksy?

by Bev Katz Rosenbaum

Fourteen-year-old Tanya Kofsky is invisible. She hates that no one listens to her, at home or at her new school. So as student elections get underway, Tanya starts secretly painting controversial images on the walls of the school. Soon everyone is talking about this amazing artist with a lot to say. The election results turn out to be a catalyst for more rebellion. And not just from students. Teachers, tired of the principal's authoritarian leadership, start promoting self-expression. Even the lunch ladies join in, ignoring the strictly controlled menu and serving more nutritious and culturally diverse fare. But can this revolution effect real change? Or will speaking up lead to complete disaster?

Genres: Young Adult

128 pages, Paperback

Published August 27, 2019

About the author

Bev Katz Rosenbaum has written tons 'o fun books for tweens, teens and adults. (More info at http://bevkatzrosenbaum.com.)

A Senior Editor at Entangled Publishing, Bev lives in Toronto with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Tynea Lewis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can you imagine switching schools all of the time and trying to figure out how to fit in? Fourteen-year-old Tanya Kofsky is certain no one listens to her at home or school. She feels she's not seen or heard. So she finds a way to get her thoughts out without anyone knowing she is behind the messages—graffiti! As she helps her friend who is campaigning for class president, she also works on voicing her opinion through her artwork. It gets people’s attention, and the school administration conducts many student assemblies in an effort to find out who is doing the graffiti. As the school election date approaches, Tanya struggles to get her homework in, help her friend win, and keep relaying her messages.


Who is Tanksy? is an amazing book for middle-schoolers, as it's a reminder that kids can have their say in everything. It encourages readers to tell people what is on their minds. As a middle-schooler myself, I find main character Tanya to be very relatable, particularly when it comes to school demands and getting her messages out. I love the relationship she has with one of her friends—how they are there to help each other out. This book is a very fast read, and it has very important messages about friendship, homework, and being heard!

[LitPick Book Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tanya Kofsky has just moved to a new town so her mom can take care of her grandpa. But Tanya finds that, except for a new candidate for class president, the student body largely ignores her. Tanya struggles to navigate the hardheadedness of not only her peers but also her grandpa. To "speak out" against the school principal and his policies, she turns to her favorite (although illegal) art medium—powerful and symbolic graffiti. It turns out that a good majority of the student body agree with her views and want change as well, yet the principal controls everything. Can Tanya help her new friend, the class president candidate, win the election in order to spark change? Will she be able to stay anonymous long enough to start a school rebellion?

Opinion:
I appreciate the book's theme, because it shows students who struggle to find a voice when adults in power refuse to listen. Many readers might be subjected to another person’s will, whether it is a parent, boss, teacher, or religious figure. In this book, the reader sees Tanya finding her voice and being heard among people who don’t particularly care to listen. Although Tanya doesn’t necessarily stay within the confines of the law when "speaking out" against the oppressive principal, she arguably does what is right, which can be perceived as admirable. The majority of the book shows Tanya struggling with this, providing interest and fun because it inspires me to cause change in my community. However, despite the inspirational nature of the book, it seems the author takes the easy way out with the ending, although I understand why the book ended the way it did since other avenues might have come off as unrealistic. Overall, Tanya is an inspirational character because she is relatable despite her bravery.

[Joanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Tanksy? is one of those books that mirrors everyday life in a way that is so illustrative of the world we live in. Tanya Kofsky’s high school life mirrors today’s divisive current political climate in a way that teens will easily recognize. This is a poignant and at times funny read for teens who have ever felt wronged or misunderstood by people in authority and have wondered if their words and actions can make a difference (short answer: YES!). It’s also a reminder of the importance and impact of art and how it can be a powerful catalyst to inspire change.

[Flesha · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better high/low books I have read. The story is quick and often shared through dialog. The themes of activism and self expression through art (graffiti) in order to make change is refreshing. Here you will find a lot of the issues that are plaguing our world (intolerance, inequality, lies shared as truth, an election) without the complications of politics.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am trying to familiarize myself with more Hi/Lo titles so I can recommend them to students, and this one jumped out at me. The themes of activism and rebellion come through strongly, and the text, while simple, doesn't feel overly simplistic. This one is well done.

[Erin Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fast-paced and compelling, with characters who keep surprising you!

[Susan Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who is Tansky? is punchy, fast-paced, politically relevant book that suprisingly covers a lot of ground. I thoroughly enjoyed Tanya's journey from invisible new kid to an engaged, opinionated student who up-ends the status quo and calls out injustice with thought-provoking graffiti.

[Mireille Messier · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very timely story about the importance of speaking up, taking a stand and being a young activist. The story clips along very quickly and caries a great cast of believable characters. A very good read!

[Angela Misri · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun, short read of empowerment and community with an underlying theme of activism and standing up for what is right. This is not a political book (though it reminds you of some of the more annoying aspects of the American system right now) but it gives a context that kids might find easier to absorb than our reality.