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Response
Noah and his friends go to a predominantly white neighborhood with a plan: steal a car, sell it to a chop shop, and make some fast cash. But that never happens. Instead, Noah, a teen father, is the victim of a vicious beating that leaves him with a fractured skull. Was the attacker just protecting his turf, or did he assault Noah because he?s black? Awardwinning author Paul Volponi, known for his brutally honest portrayals of the moral complexities of urban life, uses alternating perspective to give readers a fascinating and chilling insight into the minds of those on both sides of a hate crime.
145 pages, Hardcover
First published February 12, 2009
24 people are currently reading
348 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 96 reviews
August 12, 2009
Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com
Noah has grown up in East Franklin, a predominately black area. One night when he and two friends decide to head on over to nearby Hillsboro (about 95% white) to boost a car, life changes dramatically.
The three friends never get to commit their intended crime because they run into three white teens bent on keeping their neighborhood free of blacks. The white boys verbally abuse and threaten Noah and his friends, and it's when they begin to chase them that things take a turn. Noah trips and falls. An angry youth nicknamed Scat swings a baseball bat and fractures Noah's skull.
The quick response of paramedics and the quality treatment at the Hillsboro hospital work together to save young Noah. He's plagued with headaches and will live with a metal plate stitched into his head, but he will live to finish high school and be around to be a father for his baby daughter.
When it was determined that the three Hillsboro teens had no way of knowing Noah and his friends were there to steal a car, arrests were made and the three were charged with a hate crime. The actual attack was horrific, but now Noah and his family must live through the stressful experience of a trial. They learn the hard way about harassment and plea bargains as they attend countless meetings with county provided attorneys.
Paul Volponi brings headline material to life in RESPONSE. He portrays a black family working together to educate their son and help him and his teenage girlfriend raise their own child. In Noah, readers will meet a frightened yet determined young man learning how to make his way in a not-so-friendly world.
Noah has grown up in East Franklin, a predominately black area. One night when he and two friends decide to head on over to nearby Hillsboro (about 95% white) to boost a car, life changes dramatically.
The three friends never get to commit their intended crime because they run into three white teens bent on keeping their neighborhood free of blacks. The white boys verbally abuse and threaten Noah and his friends, and it's when they begin to chase them that things take a turn. Noah trips and falls. An angry youth nicknamed Scat swings a baseball bat and fractures Noah's skull.
The quick response of paramedics and the quality treatment at the Hillsboro hospital work together to save young Noah. He's plagued with headaches and will live with a metal plate stitched into his head, but he will live to finish high school and be around to be a father for his baby daughter.
When it was determined that the three Hillsboro teens had no way of knowing Noah and his friends were there to steal a car, arrests were made and the three were charged with a hate crime. The actual attack was horrific, but now Noah and his family must live through the stressful experience of a trial. They learn the hard way about harassment and plea bargains as they attend countless meetings with county provided attorneys.
Paul Volponi brings headline material to life in RESPONSE. He portrays a black family working together to educate their son and help him and his teenage girlfriend raise their own child. In Noah, readers will meet a frightened yet determined young man learning how to make his way in a not-so-friendly world.
December 3, 2010
i chooseto read this book because it looked intresting. the genre was realalistic fiction. the setting is in hillsboro.the main characters name is noah, he is and african amarican hight school kid. noah has a young daghter and a girlfriend. noah works at mickey d's. in the begining of the book it tells ther plan to steal a car from the rich. it tells how they go into hillsboro and try to steal a car and get scared and run. they go to a italian place to get some food. they leave and start walking home. noah and his friends get chased by a group of italian kid. noah starts running, but he trips on a crack in the sidewalk. the group of kid start hitting noah with a bat. in the middle part of the book noah is just recovoring from his beatin, and noahs grandmother dies and ther is a big funeral. he starts to talk to the police and loyars about what hapened and why. he tells them why they were in hillsboro. noah tells them that the kids that beat him up had no way of knowing that he was stealing a car. one of the kid in the group got charged with a hate crime. in the last part of the book noahs life is back to normal. he goes to his job he helps take cear of his daughter. the main problem iin this book is that noah geats beat by some white kids just because he is black. this problem is solved by the police and the court. i really liked this book. it was good because i kept and reading it and i never got board of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2009
Volponi does it again with another short novel that is fast paced and filled with hard-to-answer ethical questions. Noah and his friends go to an Italian-American neighborhood to steal a Lexus. Before they are able to, they are jumped by three boys who shout racial epithets and beat Noah's head in with a baseball bat. Noah survives the attack and finds himself at the center of a racial controversy. Was the other boy right to defend their community from theft? Or was Noah and his friends targeted because they are black?
The fast-moving prose is interspersed with police interviews of the suspects, adding to the drama. Volponi does not come up with simple answers to the complicated questions that are raised here. Part of his skill is in formulating the scenario and the questions but allowing the teen reader to make up their own mind. Even the attackers are not cardboard, each emerging as a person themselves.
So much is done in such a short number of pages that it is staggering. Noah's own family is not stereotypical at all. His complicated relationship with the mother of his baby girl is equally deep and complex. Noah's eventual response to his attack is nuanced and mature.
Sure to be a popular read among teen boys who have probably already discovered Volponi, this book is appropriate for ages 14-18.
The fast-moving prose is interspersed with police interviews of the suspects, adding to the drama. Volponi does not come up with simple answers to the complicated questions that are raised here. Part of his skill is in formulating the scenario and the questions but allowing the teen reader to make up their own mind. Even the attackers are not cardboard, each emerging as a person themselves.
So much is done in such a short number of pages that it is staggering. Noah's own family is not stereotypical at all. His complicated relationship with the mother of his baby girl is equally deep and complex. Noah's eventual response to his attack is nuanced and mature.
Sure to be a popular read among teen boys who have probably already discovered Volponi, this book is appropriate for ages 14-18.
September 23, 2009
This is the author that is closer to what I write than any other YA author. His writing makes you look at both sides, changes you from your encounter with it, and feels real. Off to find more of his books to read in the upcoming week- Penquin- VIking House Press- for some reason that matters right now!
The story of a young wanna be car thief attacked by a bat is one I'll not forget right away!
The story of a young wanna be car thief attacked by a bat is one I'll not forget right away!
September 17, 2009
Volponi always has a great "boy" book, especially for urban kids that deal with black versus white. Almost all of Volponi's works deal with race and race issues, and this book is no different. But, in thise case, a white boy is accused of hitting a black boy over the head with a baseball bat.
May 4, 2011
Response by Paul Volponi is a book about three African Americans, a teen father named Noah and his two friends Asa and Bonds who go to a nearly all white neighborhood with the intentions of stealing a car. Everything seems to go smooth, until they are almost caught, so they flee with no car at all and decide to grab a slice instead. At Mario’s pizza Noah and his friends are confronted with three Italian teens that start yelling racial slurs, Noah isn’t looking for trouble and they best decide to leave. While walking home, Noah, Asa, and Bonds are met up once again with the three Italian teens who pass them while riding in their car, with the fat kid of the pack swinging a baseball bat. The fat kid Scat tells his buddies Spenelli and Rao to pull over, furious, that earlier, Asa motioned as if he was going to steal Spenelli’s gold chain. As soon as they pull over, Noah, Asa and Bonds bounce. Noah is unlucky, he trips and is beat down by the crew, Scat fractures Noah’s skull leaving him with his skull being stitched up. Throughout the book, Paul Volponi expresses how Racism is still an ongoing issue in the world, an issue that needs to dissolve for the good of humanity.
Noah, Noah’s dad, Noah’s Grandmother, Mr. Dowling and Scat are complex characters. Noah is a determined, responsible teen. After he got his girl, Deshawna, pregnant, he had to step up and tell her father the truth. When the truth was out, he didn’t hesitate to support his girlfriend, he had to find a way to balance his education and his job at McDonalds. His job at McDonalds didn’t always pay enough, so his dad gave him a hand. He didn’t like that he received this “help”, since it was his mistake for getting his girlfriend pregnant he knew he had to take all the responsibility. Noah’s dad and Mr. Dowling inspired Noah and motivated him. Noah’s dad leads Noah to be inspired by telling him what it takes to be a man, the qualities. His dad motivates him because the extra amount of money he receives makes him care about his grades and be more successful in school, to dream big, to make him believe that he will actually become an engineer. Mr. Dowling inspires Noah, because he is the teacher that gives him the highest grade on his report card and his words touch Noah’s heart that it makes him feel a sense of pride inside him, something he hasn’t felt in a long time. Noah’s grandmother is like Noah’s second mother, she helps out Noah by caring for his daughter, Destiny Love when he or Deshawna are unable to. Noah’s grandmother turns out to be an accepting person. At first, she hated Caucasians because they were brutal against African Americans, but after Mr. Hendricks, a Caucasian “racist” gym teacher saves her from a heart attack she comes to an understanding. She realizes that no matter the color of people skins, everyone in the world are all brothers and sisters. Scat is the kind of person in society today that doesn’t change. Scat proves to be a racist, a careless person from the start. Throughout the book, he denies what he committed was not a hate crime, after he clearly shouted out racial slurs at Noah and his friends. Scat regrets what he did and knows that he shouldn’t have done it, but if he knew it was wrong then at the time being he knew that swinging the bat was not a smart move to make.
The setting is one of the most important components of the text. The beat down of Noah takes place in Hillsboro, a nearly all white neighborhood. Noah is African American and is assaulted by three Caucasians. If the book, did not take place in Hillsboro, it wouldn’t be as clear that a hate crime had taken place. It wouldn’t be as clear, because Hillsboro has had a hate crime before. Exactly 20 years ago, in Hillsboro a man named Michael Sheffield was struck by a car as he fled from an angry mob of white teenagers. After a second attack, people began accusing Hillsboro as a racist neighborhood.
Conflict is the whole purpose of the book. Paul Volponi clearly explained the conflict in this book which is a hate crime that took place. A hate crime that involved the beating of an African American teen by three Caucasian teens, because of racism. Throughout the book, after the attack the conflict is also justice, how long each person should be sentenced.
Good diction is clearly expressed by Paul Volponi. Paul Volponi is the kind of author that doesn’t do too much when writing his books. When he writes, he manages to tell what’s going on without adding sophisticated words. Volponi, sets the example that you don’t need complex words for description and to hook your readers in the story, in order for your writing to be appealing.
Major themes are expressed in this text. Racism is what the whole book is about. The hate crime committed is an example of racism. All around Noah, racism, follows him; his gym teacher Mr. Hendricks gives Caucasians more respect than African Americans which leads Noah to think Mr. Hendricks is a racist. When Noah arrives late to his work, his boss makes him wear a clown suit giving him a tube of white makeup. Noah refuses to wear the makeup and throws it away. In the end people complain about the clown being black and the boss yells at Noah “Since when did our clown turn black!” Racism is also expressed when the kids at school, wear the Free Spenelli shirts, even at gym. Noah is insulted that Mr. Hendricks allows it, not only does this anger him but the fact that people think Spenelli is innocent after he was clearly one that was involved in the assault. Justice is also noted. Justice is showed to be of importance, because Noah is prepared to go against Scat in court after Spenelli was sentenced. All eyes are focused on how long Scat will pay for what he did, after Spenelli was sentenced and Rao was let go innocent for cooperating with the police, since his dad is a detective, people being concerned they would be let go easily because of their race. Lastly, responsibility is a big theme. Responsibility is important because it shows how responsible a male teen has to be if they have to take care of a child, if they are a teen father. Volponi, shows us through Noah how we have to balance education and a part time job to get through life. The lesson that Mr. Volponi teaches us is that before we consider having sexual relations with another person we should take the time to think deeply of what can happen, the consequences that were going to have to face if the girl gets pregnant, the sacrifices were going to have to make, how our life can change after the pleasure we receive for a period of time. Before we think about doing it, we should ask ourselves is it really worth it?
Overall, Response is another well executed book by Paul Volponi. Paul Volponi is an author that has never let me down; he is the author that I do not hesitate to read his books. Every time I read his books, I know it’s worth my time, he doesn’t do too much in his stories, and he has a unique writing style that will hook the reader in and make the reader want to finish the book in one opening. Response showed how racism still impacts our world today, it made me feel upset how racism still exists today and how people can’t get over the fact that we are all equal, how we are brothers and sisters, God’s children. Everyone in the world should get along with each other and stop hating on each other for who they are, skin is just a color, who we are inside, is what matters the most.
Noah, Noah’s dad, Noah’s Grandmother, Mr. Dowling and Scat are complex characters. Noah is a determined, responsible teen. After he got his girl, Deshawna, pregnant, he had to step up and tell her father the truth. When the truth was out, he didn’t hesitate to support his girlfriend, he had to find a way to balance his education and his job at McDonalds. His job at McDonalds didn’t always pay enough, so his dad gave him a hand. He didn’t like that he received this “help”, since it was his mistake for getting his girlfriend pregnant he knew he had to take all the responsibility. Noah’s dad and Mr. Dowling inspired Noah and motivated him. Noah’s dad leads Noah to be inspired by telling him what it takes to be a man, the qualities. His dad motivates him because the extra amount of money he receives makes him care about his grades and be more successful in school, to dream big, to make him believe that he will actually become an engineer. Mr. Dowling inspires Noah, because he is the teacher that gives him the highest grade on his report card and his words touch Noah’s heart that it makes him feel a sense of pride inside him, something he hasn’t felt in a long time. Noah’s grandmother is like Noah’s second mother, she helps out Noah by caring for his daughter, Destiny Love when he or Deshawna are unable to. Noah’s grandmother turns out to be an accepting person. At first, she hated Caucasians because they were brutal against African Americans, but after Mr. Hendricks, a Caucasian “racist” gym teacher saves her from a heart attack she comes to an understanding. She realizes that no matter the color of people skins, everyone in the world are all brothers and sisters. Scat is the kind of person in society today that doesn’t change. Scat proves to be a racist, a careless person from the start. Throughout the book, he denies what he committed was not a hate crime, after he clearly shouted out racial slurs at Noah and his friends. Scat regrets what he did and knows that he shouldn’t have done it, but if he knew it was wrong then at the time being he knew that swinging the bat was not a smart move to make.
The setting is one of the most important components of the text. The beat down of Noah takes place in Hillsboro, a nearly all white neighborhood. Noah is African American and is assaulted by three Caucasians. If the book, did not take place in Hillsboro, it wouldn’t be as clear that a hate crime had taken place. It wouldn’t be as clear, because Hillsboro has had a hate crime before. Exactly 20 years ago, in Hillsboro a man named Michael Sheffield was struck by a car as he fled from an angry mob of white teenagers. After a second attack, people began accusing Hillsboro as a racist neighborhood.
Conflict is the whole purpose of the book. Paul Volponi clearly explained the conflict in this book which is a hate crime that took place. A hate crime that involved the beating of an African American teen by three Caucasian teens, because of racism. Throughout the book, after the attack the conflict is also justice, how long each person should be sentenced.
Good diction is clearly expressed by Paul Volponi. Paul Volponi is the kind of author that doesn’t do too much when writing his books. When he writes, he manages to tell what’s going on without adding sophisticated words. Volponi, sets the example that you don’t need complex words for description and to hook your readers in the story, in order for your writing to be appealing.
Major themes are expressed in this text. Racism is what the whole book is about. The hate crime committed is an example of racism. All around Noah, racism, follows him; his gym teacher Mr. Hendricks gives Caucasians more respect than African Americans which leads Noah to think Mr. Hendricks is a racist. When Noah arrives late to his work, his boss makes him wear a clown suit giving him a tube of white makeup. Noah refuses to wear the makeup and throws it away. In the end people complain about the clown being black and the boss yells at Noah “Since when did our clown turn black!” Racism is also expressed when the kids at school, wear the Free Spenelli shirts, even at gym. Noah is insulted that Mr. Hendricks allows it, not only does this anger him but the fact that people think Spenelli is innocent after he was clearly one that was involved in the assault. Justice is also noted. Justice is showed to be of importance, because Noah is prepared to go against Scat in court after Spenelli was sentenced. All eyes are focused on how long Scat will pay for what he did, after Spenelli was sentenced and Rao was let go innocent for cooperating with the police, since his dad is a detective, people being concerned they would be let go easily because of their race. Lastly, responsibility is a big theme. Responsibility is important because it shows how responsible a male teen has to be if they have to take care of a child, if they are a teen father. Volponi, shows us through Noah how we have to balance education and a part time job to get through life. The lesson that Mr. Volponi teaches us is that before we consider having sexual relations with another person we should take the time to think deeply of what can happen, the consequences that were going to have to face if the girl gets pregnant, the sacrifices were going to have to make, how our life can change after the pleasure we receive for a period of time. Before we think about doing it, we should ask ourselves is it really worth it?
Overall, Response is another well executed book by Paul Volponi. Paul Volponi is an author that has never let me down; he is the author that I do not hesitate to read his books. Every time I read his books, I know it’s worth my time, he doesn’t do too much in his stories, and he has a unique writing style that will hook the reader in and make the reader want to finish the book in one opening. Response showed how racism still impacts our world today, it made me feel upset how racism still exists today and how people can’t get over the fact that we are all equal, how we are brothers and sisters, God’s children. Everyone in the world should get along with each other and stop hating on each other for who they are, skin is just a color, who we are inside, is what matters the most.
October 2, 2019
My students really enjoyed the themes and difficult topics in this book. The dialogue and relationships are realistic and the book does a nice job presenting topical issues like racial discrimination and hate crimes as well as the criminal justice system and the role of media. Overall, an interesting read. Caution: language and adult content
February 4, 2015
Have u ever been hated by your color.Well then Response is a good book for u.Responce has alot of hate in it by the color u are white folks hate black people and hurt them for being in there neighborhood.this book is a realistic fiction.
This book takes place in a neighborhood named Hiillsboro.There some kid named Noah he is a super senior and has a baby named Destiny Love and he doesnt have enough money to give his baby mama money for Destiny Love so he decided stealing a car would get him six G's and then he wouldnt have too hear Deshawana talk alot of smack at him. He has a job at micky D's but the get paid enough.Noah n some friends go to the town were only white people live and there racists pigs he is in a pizza place were he sees some white kids and his friend wanted too steal there chain so the guess went and told a guy named Charlie him and some friend go and look for Noah and his friend they find them and Noah trips and fall then Charlie and his friends jump out the car and beat Naoh for being black the beat him with a bat and steal his shoes.they took Naoh to the hospital and called his mom and dad his grandma was like oh lord please dont take him.couple weeks go by and charlie got arrested and they told his family there was no bond to get him out there had to be a court because what he did was a hate crime to the black and could have killed Noah with that bat he also got charged for stealing Noah's shoes they had found in the back of his car the same day they arrested him and his friend.Noah had to miss work and school alot to meet with people that were gonna help him get Charlie in jail for a couple of monthes.After a long time of going to see people and missing school and work the date to go to court came and every in Noah's family came to it even one of his teacher his baby girl Destiny Love came after a long time there they gave Charlie 18 years in jail for hate crime.Everything went well Noah justed wished his grandma could have went but sadly she passed alway.
I wish that Noah's grandma didnt have to pass alway she was a very amazing person in the book.This book reminds me of when people in my neighborhood fight because of your color and or they dont like black people because how they act there fun poeple i say.
i would rate this book a 10 it amazing everyone in the book is amazing. I would recommend this to people who love crime and action if you wanna find out why people who go to school with black get made fun of read Responce
This book takes place in a neighborhood named Hiillsboro.There some kid named Noah he is a super senior and has a baby named Destiny Love and he doesnt have enough money to give his baby mama money for Destiny Love so he decided stealing a car would get him six G's and then he wouldnt have too hear Deshawana talk alot of smack at him. He has a job at micky D's but the get paid enough.Noah n some friends go to the town were only white people live and there racists pigs he is in a pizza place were he sees some white kids and his friend wanted too steal there chain so the guess went and told a guy named Charlie him and some friend go and look for Noah and his friend they find them and Noah trips and fall then Charlie and his friends jump out the car and beat Naoh for being black the beat him with a bat and steal his shoes.they took Naoh to the hospital and called his mom and dad his grandma was like oh lord please dont take him.couple weeks go by and charlie got arrested and they told his family there was no bond to get him out there had to be a court because what he did was a hate crime to the black and could have killed Noah with that bat he also got charged for stealing Noah's shoes they had found in the back of his car the same day they arrested him and his friend.Noah had to miss work and school alot to meet with people that were gonna help him get Charlie in jail for a couple of monthes.After a long time of going to see people and missing school and work the date to go to court came and every in Noah's family came to it even one of his teacher his baby girl Destiny Love came after a long time there they gave Charlie 18 years in jail for hate crime.Everything went well Noah justed wished his grandma could have went but sadly she passed alway.
I wish that Noah's grandma didnt have to pass alway she was a very amazing person in the book.This book reminds me of when people in my neighborhood fight because of your color and or they dont like black people because how they act there fun poeple i say.
i would rate this book a 10 it amazing everyone in the book is amazing. I would recommend this to people who love crime and action if you wanna find out why people who go to school with black get made fun of read Responce
March 2, 2009
Paul Volponi's latest novel, Response, takes on the dilemma of a hate crime in a racially divided community. Three African American teens go into Hillsboro, mostly white and Italian, to steal a car and make quick money. The car theft never happens, but as the boys walk home, they are chased by three white teens in a black Land Rover. Asa and Bonds, run for their lives, never looking back. If they did, they would have seen that their friend, Noah, tripped, and fell flat on the sidewalk. With a metal bat, Nick Scat, one of the teens, beats Noah about the head while his friends, Tommy and Joey, steal his sneakers and rip his diamond stud from his ear. Laughing, they get into their Land Rover and race away. Noah calls his friends about the beating and they summon 911. In the hospital, surrounded by his family, Noah is questioned by the police, while his friends in a police car, finger the perpetrators, who claim they were protecting themselves from a robbery. The police investigate the crime to Noah as a hate crime. Volponi uses many different characters' voices to give their own viewpoint and the result is chilling as racial prejudice, stereotyping and bias abound. Noah is a young father and his love for his daughter, Destiny Love, is unquestioned. But Noah is not perfect; he has been arrested before, he is in his fifth year of high school, and is not sure how much he loves DeShawna, Destiny Loves' mother. The reader struggles along with Noah as the court's justice system promises results, his high school and teachers are divided over the hate crime, and life keeps throwing curve balls. It is only with his inner strength, goals for his future, and the love of his family, that Noah waits for the final court judgment. This book is a sure winner, young adult readers will devour it, talk about it, and pass it around. It is a hard fight from the first look at the dark silhouetted figures on the cover to the final bang of the judge's gavel.
October 12, 2017
Paul Volponi is one of my favorite authors because he writes about stuff that can relate to the real world. For example in Response the US can heavily relate with the book.
The book is about a black kid and a group of his friends that plan to commit a crime on a different part of town where they are not welcome. They go into a restaurant where they are immediately harassed just because they are black. While they’re leaving a group of kids beat the main character up with a baseball bat and he is left to die. He goes to the hospital and is visited by his family.
Throughout the book the question was if the attack was a hate crime. In today's world that is very relatable. So many people are discriminated because of their skin color or because they’re different in some way. Most of the time the victims are hurt physically or emotionally. The culprit normally gets away with it because a lot of the times they are white or their punishment has very minimal impact. In this case Noah the main character is fighting to get his voice heard against the person that could have taken his life away and would have left his baby daughter without a father to grow up with.
If you want to read a book that can relate in some way to the world that we live in today, I would recommend reading this one and many other of his books.
June 1, 2010
Growing up and living in small, safe and pleasant communities for most of my life, I saw this book as an antithesis of my life but one that needs to read and understood. Volponi gives a voice to the other side of the town, where the nice roads end and where buildings are disintegrating. The side that I have too have driven past and ignored because it was not part of my life. However, after reading Response, I questioned my morals and society’s. One particular question was, “We are infuriated and disgusted when a hate crime happens but what about the overall picture?” I felt that society wants to directly protect a human’s life when it has been threatened but indirectly, e.g. living conditions, we turn the blind eye. Not only was the main character’s life threatened but that of his baby daughter’s too. He was a provider for her care, and his actions to attain more money for her led him a side of town where he was visibly not welcomed. I think that Volponi not only confronts the despicable act of hate crimes but also challenges society to respond to other significant societal problems.
November 1, 2017
Noah a teenager of a 6 months daughter was a victim of a hate crime. He worked part time and Deshawna was giving him a hard time about the $50 that he gives her. So he and 2 of friend friend decide to go into a white neighborhood to steal a car to make money to provide for his child. The 3 teens change their minds not to steal and start walking home. they got approach by three Italians American teens. Charlie using hateful language and beating Noah with a bat. He was hospital and journey through the court.
This books is an fast and easy read. Sometimes I feel that mother's pressure men to the point where they have to steal to provide for the child especially when they are not dead beat. Noah doing all he can to raise his child and being a student just like her. I'm glad Noah had sense enough not to steal. With the hate crime. it will never end and Noah got justice. One thing I loved about Noah he was maturing fast and he not going to let them is one incident to make him hate all white. He judge people for their character not akin. His grandmother is one wise women.
This books is an fast and easy read. Sometimes I feel that mother's pressure men to the point where they have to steal to provide for the child especially when they are not dead beat. Noah doing all he can to raise his child and being a student just like her. I'm glad Noah had sense enough not to steal. With the hate crime. it will never end and Noah got justice. One thing I loved about Noah he was maturing fast and he not going to let them is one incident to make him hate all white. He judge people for their character not akin. His grandmother is one wise women.
September 16, 2009
One of the best things about Volponi's books is that they really make you think about social and racial issues and question the way that you look at the world. At first when I read that the main character was the victim of a hate crime, but that he had been in a white neighborhood to commit a crime, I thought - "Why did he have to muddle it with that distinction." But thinking about it further, I think that just strengthens the story, because it makes you get out of your comfort zone of clear rights and wrongs. Like "Monster" by Walter Dean Myers, this book gives you another perspective - different than the media perspective - on a teen who commits a crime. I hope that it makes people think more about how we can help these teens rather than building up hate for them.
I do wonder how teens will take the book, however. There are some lessons laid out so plain, that I'm afraid teens will be turned off (ex. conversation between father and son on what it is to be a man).
I do wonder how teens will take the book, however. There are some lessons laid out so plain, that I'm afraid teens will be turned off (ex. conversation between father and son on what it is to be a man).
July 30, 2009
So far this book is every bit as good as "Black and White," the previous book by the same author that I've read.
7/29: During our discussion at the YART meeting someone felt this was a bit heavy handed in its portrayal of racism but, unfortunately, I think it's all too true that we still live in a society where people are judged by the color of their skin. It's sad but true and this book about three African American teens who venture into a predominantly white neighborhood to steal a car and end up with one of them hospitalized when he's beaten up, is a sober look at the reality of racism in this country.
This book should work well in my library where I have lots of kids who like to read books with an urban setting but are not particularly strong readers so a shorter book is helpful for them.
7/29: During our discussion at the YART meeting someone felt this was a bit heavy handed in its portrayal of racism but, unfortunately, I think it's all too true that we still live in a society where people are judged by the color of their skin. It's sad but true and this book about three African American teens who venture into a predominantly white neighborhood to steal a car and end up with one of them hospitalized when he's beaten up, is a sober look at the reality of racism in this country.
This book should work well in my library where I have lots of kids who like to read books with an urban setting but are not particularly strong readers so a shorter book is helpful for them.
May 19, 2009
I tagged this book as juvenile fiction, but after getting through to the ending, it seems a strange label for a book with almost as much obscene language, violence and over-the-top racial bickery as I see in some of the crime/noir that I read. Yes, at the end, some minds were changed, and some amount of good came out of all the muck, but for a novel targeted towards juveniles, was it really all necessary?
I've read a lot of juvenile fiction that has conquered difficult, mature issues, and many of those authors proved they could do so effectively, pushing teens to think and empathize, without watering it down, while still using mature, but appropriate language for the target audience, teens.
I've read a lot of juvenile fiction that has conquered difficult, mature issues, and many of those authors proved they could do so effectively, pushing teens to think and empathize, without watering it down, while still using mature, but appropriate language for the target audience, teens.
October 1, 2009
A black teenage father, Noah, burdened by the financial responsibilities of raising a child while also trying to graduate and go to college makes a stupid decision: to steal a car from the wealthy, all-white neighborhood. What he gets instead is a beating and a fractured skull. Was he the victim of a racist hate crime, as his neighborhood believes as they rally behind him, or a dumb criminal who got caught? A brutally honest portrayal of inner-city neighborhoods torn apart by poverty, race, and a healthy dose of teenage stupidity, this book does not quite live up to Volponi’s Black and White, but it still manages to address complex issues in a believable teenage voice almost flawlessly.
October 11, 2018
My book was about this kid named Noah Jackson and he grew up in East Franklin. Most of the people in his neighborhood is were African Americans. Noah and his friends try and boost a car and take it to a scrap shop to make money but things change. Noah gets severely beaten up by three white kids. Then Noah and his friends continue to fight for there freedom and tell them Noah isnt fighting back because he doesn't want more problems. But Noah and his friends hate being called all these names just because of their skin color. I would recommend this book to anyone that likes smaller books that are detailed and has a good story to it. This book had me hooked and i could not put it down.
May 21, 2009
I really wanted to like this book. The overall story was good and will make for good discussion. What I didn't like was the switching to newspaper articles, interviews, etc. I felt like the author was trying a technique to make the title appeal to reluctant readers that ended up being a bit too jarring and unnatural for me because so much of the book was not written that way. I did have a headache while I was reading this book though so maybe that's clouding my judgement. This title should still appeal to high school boy reluctant readers.
January 3, 2012
The book response by Paul Volponi, reminded me of the outsiders. It was a about a boy named Noah, an african american that lives in a mostly white town. He and two of his friends plan to steel a car from an all white neighbor hood, but people see them and take a baseball bat to Noah and his friends heads and Noah ends up with a fractured skull. This book is about steeling and gangs and a lot of similar things as the outsiders. I loved this book and recommend it to anyone that loved the outsiders like I did, which is everyone.
May 25, 2009
I liked the sweet portrait of teen dad and baby daughter, and the flawed protagonist; but otherwise, the courtroom scenes weren't nearly as compelling as what I'd hoped for, and this seems very dated (unless, possibly, it's historical fiction and I missed it, but I don't think so). I mean, one of the Italian-American characters asks why the black kids at their school can't be more like the people on The Cosby Show and less like the ones on Good Times. Sure, there're reruns, but come on.
March 26, 2009
Three African American teens plan to steal a Lexus from white neighborhood. They don't actually pull it off, but on the way home from trying, they are attacked by a group of white teens. Main character - who is also a teen father and works at McDonalds - is viciously beaten with a bat. DA office prosecutes as a hate crime.
April 10, 2009
Teen Fiction- This is a good book for reluctant readers, the story sucks you in quick with a lot of drama and action. The book is centered around racial tensions in an urban setting. The main character is a teen boy with many grown up responsibilities.
November 27, 2009
This book really made me realize that there is still racial discremination in the world. and a lot of it. I mean a kid gets smushed in the head with a baseball bat. What more do you want?
February 10, 2010
Volponi has his finger on the pulse of today's youth. In this story, he shows what racism and violence can do to teens and families. This book has already been in high demand in my library.
May 13, 2015
it was a very good boom i enjoyed reading it
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October 27, 2017Madison white
The Response by Paul Volponi is about a young African American teen named Noah Jackson who is brutally beaten simply for the color of his skin. The main characters are Noah Jackson, his family and friends and the suspects. Noah's actions leading up to the beaten was all because he and his friends decided to do a devious mission which was stealing a car in a rich white area, ending with cop cars, ambulences, and handcuffs. “We went there for the wrong reason, to boost a car,” Noah said, can put Noah at the leading up situations
The theme in the response is forgiveness and peacefulness based on the facts that Noah was beaten for his skin color, and still managed to forgive and forget and not retaliate in a harmful way leading to justice. This story definitely hit home to me because racism is something my family has coped with so automatically reading this I felt connected making the story draw me in. Also because I find it inspiring how people can stay strong no matter what the situation is making me learn that violence is not always the answer even if it seems like that’s what needs to be done. For example, Noah stated in the story “I was satisfied that I didn’t sink to scats level, feeding whatever was left on the negative feelings inside me” show that even tho he didn’t sink to his level, he still felt good about himself and how he handled the situation.
I give the Response a 4 out of 5 because I felt connected to the story, however, I felt like the author could have made the story stronger with better vocabulary and choice of wording, making the story also longer. In conclusion, I recommend this book to a teenager wanting to understand real-life events that are happening because of racism through a book. I noticeably get bored on books and abandon them until I find something that interests me, but Response was intriguing enough for me to want to stick with the book and read more to find out what happens next.
The Response by Paul Volponi is about a young African American teen named Noah Jackson who is brutally beaten simply for the color of his skin. The main characters are Noah Jackson, his family and friends and the suspects. Noah's actions leading up to the beaten was all because he and his friends decided to do a devious mission which was stealing a car in a rich white area, ending with cop cars, ambulences, and handcuffs. “We went there for the wrong reason, to boost a car,” Noah said, can put Noah at the leading up situations
The theme in the response is forgiveness and peacefulness based on the facts that Noah was beaten for his skin color, and still managed to forgive and forget and not retaliate in a harmful way leading to justice. This story definitely hit home to me because racism is something my family has coped with so automatically reading this I felt connected making the story draw me in. Also because I find it inspiring how people can stay strong no matter what the situation is making me learn that violence is not always the answer even if it seems like that’s what needs to be done. For example, Noah stated in the story “I was satisfied that I didn’t sink to scats level, feeding whatever was left on the negative feelings inside me” show that even tho he didn’t sink to his level, he still felt good about himself and how he handled the situation.
I give the Response a 4 out of 5 because I felt connected to the story, however, I felt like the author could have made the story stronger with better vocabulary and choice of wording, making the story also longer. In conclusion, I recommend this book to a teenager wanting to understand real-life events that are happening because of racism through a book. I noticeably get bored on books and abandon them until I find something that interests me, but Response was intriguing enough for me to want to stick with the book and read more to find out what happens next.
December 19, 2019
The writing style of the author was very descriptive and has a lot of suspense and action to it. I say that because from the beginning to the end of the book it was descriptive about every little thing like the bat when having blood and hair on it from the beating. Another thing is the author's way of making you feel like you're there with all the imagery he uses.
I don't believe this book will be one of the ̈classic ̈ books because it really is just a fun interesting book to read. I say that because I just don't see that many people would be interested in this book unless you really are interested in like, discrimination or black books.
This book really displays the reality of what has happened in the past with children with money messing or beating up other children especially blacks that doesn't really have anything or as much as people think.
The main theme or lesson I got from this is that even during bad times get through it because it's basically a light at the end of the tunnel.
The story is in the narrative of 1st person and Paul Volponi uses these in most of all his books and I think that's what separates him from a lot of other great authors because he can really make it feel like you're in the book.
I feel that I really connected with this book because i´m black and i feel that its real that people really use/still go through discrimation everyday because the color of their skin.
My favorite part of this book was grandma letter finally being read hat she sent to Mr.Hendricks (the PE teacher). I rate this book a 5 star because I really connected with this book and I believe a lot of African American teens would love this book and actually connect with it in some way.
I don't believe this book will be one of the ̈classic ̈ books because it really is just a fun interesting book to read. I say that because I just don't see that many people would be interested in this book unless you really are interested in like, discrimination or black books.
This book really displays the reality of what has happened in the past with children with money messing or beating up other children especially blacks that doesn't really have anything or as much as people think.
The main theme or lesson I got from this is that even during bad times get through it because it's basically a light at the end of the tunnel.
The story is in the narrative of 1st person and Paul Volponi uses these in most of all his books and I think that's what separates him from a lot of other great authors because he can really make it feel like you're in the book.
I feel that I really connected with this book because i´m black and i feel that its real that people really use/still go through discrimation everyday because the color of their skin.
My favorite part of this book was grandma letter finally being read hat she sent to Mr.Hendricks (the PE teacher). I rate this book a 5 star because I really connected with this book and I believe a lot of African American teens would love this book and actually connect with it in some way.
April 12, 2021
Noah has grown up in East Franklin, a predominantly black area. One night when he and two friends decide to head on over to nearby Hillsboro (about 95% white) to boost a car, life changes dramatically.The three friends never get to commit their intended crime because they run into three white teens bent on keeping their neighborhood free of blacks. The white boys verbally abuse and threaten Noah and his friends, and it's when they begin to chase them that things take a turn. Noah trips and falls.
An angry youth nicknamed Scat swings a baseball bat and fractures Noah's skull.
The quick response of paramedics and the quality treatment at the Hillsboro hospital work together to save young Noah. He's plagued with headaches and will live with a metal plate stitched into his head, but he will live to finish high school and be around to be a father for his baby daughter.
When it was determined that the three Hillsboro teens had no way of knowing Noah and his friends were there to steal a car, arrests were made and the three were charged with a hate crime. The actual attack was horrific, but now Noah and his family must live through the stressful experience of a trial.
They learn the hard way about harassment and plea bargains as they attend countless meetings with county provided attorneys. Paul Volponi brings headline material to life in RESPONSE. He portrays a black family working together to educate their son and help him and his teenage girlfriend raise their own child. In Noah, readers will meet a frightened yet determined young man learning how to make his way in a not-so-friendly world. Overall I would rate this book 5 stars.
An angry youth nicknamed Scat swings a baseball bat and fractures Noah's skull.
The quick response of paramedics and the quality treatment at the Hillsboro hospital work together to save young Noah. He's plagued with headaches and will live with a metal plate stitched into his head, but he will live to finish high school and be around to be a father for his baby daughter.
When it was determined that the three Hillsboro teens had no way of knowing Noah and his friends were there to steal a car, arrests were made and the three were charged with a hate crime. The actual attack was horrific, but now Noah and his family must live through the stressful experience of a trial.
They learn the hard way about harassment and plea bargains as they attend countless meetings with county provided attorneys. Paul Volponi brings headline material to life in RESPONSE. He portrays a black family working together to educate their son and help him and his teenage girlfriend raise their own child. In Noah, readers will meet a frightened yet determined young man learning how to make his way in a not-so-friendly world. Overall I would rate this book 5 stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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November 7, 2019"three days"
This story is not your usual story. This is a crazy story with weird plot twist. The main character is a little girl whos’ name is Jackie. Jackie went with her dad on a business trip to Italy. After a long day of having fun with her dad something happens. Her dad randomly falls behind the wheel and the little girl is left by herself. Jackie knows she has to do something but she is not really old enough to truly know what to do. She knows she could call the cops but she does not know the number for italian police. It would have helped if she understood itilian. Finally, Jackie has an idea and she tries to flag down help from on going traffic. Too bad she flagged down the wrong people. There was an old man and a younger man. They checked her dads pulse and then took Jackie. Jackie was so worried about her dad that she did not really see what was going on. Jackie is a fighter and has good survival instincts. She knows she has to take every chance she can to escape. She tries a couple times on the ride to wherever she was being taken. She knows still has to go through a lot more harder challenges when she gets to where her kidnappers took her. Jackie's fight to escape was very interesting and kept me turning the pages.
This story is not your usual story. This is a crazy story with weird plot twist. The main character is a little girl whos’ name is Jackie. Jackie went with her dad on a business trip to Italy. After a long day of having fun with her dad something happens. Her dad randomly falls behind the wheel and the little girl is left by herself. Jackie knows she has to do something but she is not really old enough to truly know what to do. She knows she could call the cops but she does not know the number for italian police. It would have helped if she understood itilian. Finally, Jackie has an idea and she tries to flag down help from on going traffic. Too bad she flagged down the wrong people. There was an old man and a younger man. They checked her dads pulse and then took Jackie. Jackie was so worried about her dad that she did not really see what was going on. Jackie is a fighter and has good survival instincts. She knows she has to take every chance she can to escape. She tries a couple times on the ride to wherever she was being taken. She knows still has to go through a lot more harder challenges when she gets to where her kidnappers took her. Jackie's fight to escape was very interesting and kept me turning the pages.
May 17, 2018
The main characters name is Noah, he lives in a neighborhood that is more populated by black people, but one day him and his friends decide to go over to the white neighborhood to take a car and then sell it for some cash. The main reason Noah decided to go and steal a car was because he wanted to impress his girlfriend and her parents because they have a kid together. Then while there doing it some lady wakes up and they book it, so then they decide to go eat some pizza while in the white neighborhood where they then get jumped by a few white kids that go to their school. Noah's friends get away clean but Noah is not so lucky he gets beat up pretty bad and is sent to the hospital. The book is very interesting and I got to see what racism is like for people that are African American and it made me wonder if racism is as bad as they point it out to be. I would think maybe in some parts of the world its still like that but in most of the world it is not. I liked the book a lot and would recommend it if you were trying to get another view on racism.
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