Mascot

Six students in an eighth grade honors English class and their teacher are the narrators of Charles Waters and Traci Sorrels' thought provoking novel in verse, Mascot. Callie is a Black Cherokee Nation citizen. Franklin is a Black sports fan. Priya's grandparents were born in India. Sean comes from one of the just getting by families in the affluent town. Tessa is fresh out of being homeschooled. Luis is an immigrant who has lived half his life in El Salvador. The plot is built around the question: What happens when a mascot is seen as racist, but not by everyone?
The school team is the Braves. Their mascot is a stereotypical warrior decked out for battle. During games and pep rallies their fans wear war paint and make chopping motions with toy tomahawks. While some students and families and community members find the mascot offensive and degrading others consider his presence as merely tradition—nothing to be bothered by. Some even consider it to be a tribute to the indigenous who they refer to as Indians.
Noticing that the students in her honors class are taking both sides in this controversy, Ms. Williams assigns a written and oral presentation centered around the appropriateness of using using Indigenous peoples as mascots. She assigns people to sides forcing some to argue from a position they're vehemently opposed to. There is a lot of anger, frustration and conflict. Friendships are formed and ended.
But the end of the assignment does not mean closure for the class. The anti mascot students are determined to take their crusade into real life and get the mascot replaced with something less offensive. Their pro mascot peers are determined to protect their beloved tradition. Soon there is more animosity between the two sides than the competing schools and school board meeting are getting packed by citizens who want to be heard.
This is a very timely read for younger readers. The issue is quite controversial. The characters on both sides come across as fully human.
On a purrrsonal note, I'm putting on ounces that gradually add up to pounds. I suspect maintaining weight will require effort the rest of my life.
A great big shout goes out to governor Janet Millls who is quoted in the book:
"A mascot is a symbol of pride,
but it is not the source of pride…
It is time for our symbols to reflect that."