Chlorine Sky by Mahogany L. Browne

 Browne, Mahogany. Chlorine Sky. Crown Books for Young Readers, 2021. ISBN 978-0593176399

Plot

Story begins with Sky in the pool with Lay Li, Sky's best friend. They are in a pool when a young teen boy makes fun of Sky due to her dark skin tone. Lay Li doesn't defend Sky and instead giggles at the mean spirited joke. This is the beginning of a rupture between these two best friends. Story follows Sky dealing with the young kids are her school, the relationship continuing to fall apart with Lay Li, and eventually their rupture. She deals with bullying, sibling rivalry, and standing up to the boys that try to intimidate her when they play ball. She gains a new friend and renewed self confidence, as the story progresses with basketball and an older cousin of hers / and her new friend playing a big role in this transformation. 

Critical Evaluation

Although this is not a plot heavy story, it is rich in themes and the Sky is one character to root for. The themes are those that many young people in the age range deal with. There is a difficult relationship between Sky and her older sister, and some would want more as to why it is that way. The relationship with the mother also isn't much explored, and the story ends with Sky having a stronger sense of self and renewed self worth, yet as a reader one may need more to showcase how this renewed sense is personally changing her life. 

Reader's Annotation

Young Black woman deals with friendship breakup and colorism, as she finds her way as a teenager who enjoys playing basketball, yet struggles standing in her talents and gaining new friendships. 

Author Information

Is the Executive Director of JustMedia, a media literacy initiative designed to support the groundwork of criminal justice leaders and community members. She is the author of four books and founder diverse lit initiative, Woke Baby Book Fair. She has a poetry collection in the works, Remember Death By Its Proximity to What I Love is a book-length poem responding to the impact of mass incarceration on women and children). She is  based in Brooklyn.

Genre

In verse 

Booktalking Idea

When Sky is affirming in herself, ain't no more being still, ain't no more being quiet ain't no more time for all of that. 

Reading Level/Age Interest

Ages 14 - 17 and Gr. 9+

Challenge Issues

The individuals that are intently against Critical Race Theory (and they are incredibly off with combining books with Black protagonists dealing with colorism  among their own peers from their own communities and aligning this with Critical Race Theory). I will defend the book with the Library Bill of Rights  and share the Los Angeles County Collections Development Policy. 

Why I Chose This Title 

Themes of  sticking up for yourself, colorism, toxic relationships, specifically friendship breakups is why I chose this book.  This is really important, and happens a lot more frequently than we'd like to admit. I personally had a friendship breakup at 15 and interestingly enough, so did my daughter at that age. It can be a very painful experience. 

Ref: Bio (n.d.) Mahogany Browne. Retrieved December 1, 2021, from https://mobrowne.com/bio.html