Just Another Hero

June 15, 2009
More trials are in store for the Ohio teens featured in Battle of Jericho
and November Blues
in this final book in Draper's trilogy. This time the focus is on Arielle—whose mother has recently married a wealthy, controlling man who treats his stepdaughter and wife more like property than family—and Kofi, a promising student whose chance for success is threatened by his prescription drug addiction. While fighting deeply personal battles during their senior year, Arielle and Kofi are drawn into school dramas concerning the inexplicable disappearance of student property as well as recurring fire drills, a prank that eventually leads to a deadly situation. As in her previous novels, Draper shows mastery in building suspense and articulating adolescent emotions and reactions (“Kofi could feel Dana tense up, in the same way some people reacted to a snake—with great fear and the need to put distance between themselves and the reptile”). If the shocking climax, which culminates with a school shooting, appears a little contrived, powerful final events will leave readers pondering the definition of heroism. Ages 12–up.

Few authors have a finger on the pulse of contemporary African-American teens as well as Sharon Draper. This final installment of the Jericho Trilogy perfectly captures high school kids' difficult lives at home and school and as they look to the future. Narrator JD Jackson more than meets the challenge of portraying a wide array of kids and adults. Main characters Arielle and Kofi, along with their friends, demonstrate their strengths, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and setbacks. Also outstanding are Mrs. Witherspoon (the dream teacher); Eddie, just back from juvenile detention; and wheel chair-bound Eric. Draper and Jackson's descriptions and characters are so realistic that listeners are right inside Douglass High School with them. S.G.B. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine