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Summary
Summary
This "stirring...emotionally raw" ( Publishers Weekly ) young adult debut novel about three teens entangled by secret love, open hatred, and the invisible societal constraints wrapped around people both Black and white is perfect for readers of All American Boys and The Hate U Give .
There is an unspoken agreement between the racially divided towns of Bayside and Hamilton: no one steps over the train tracks that divide them. Or else.
Not until Zach Whitman anyway, a white boy who moves in from Philly and who dreams of music. When he follows his dream across the tracks to meet his idol, the famous jazz musician who owns The Sunlight Record Shop in Hamilton, he's flung into Capri Collins's path.
Capri has big plans: she wants to follow her late mother's famous footsteps, dancing her way onto Broadway, and leaving this town for good, just like her older brother, Justin, is planning to do when he goes off to college next year. As sparks fly, Zach and Capri realize that they can help each other turn hope into a reality, even if it means crossing the tracks to do it.
But one tragic night changes everything. When Justin's friend, the star of Hamilton's football team, is murdered by a white Bayside police officer, the long-standing feud between Bayside and Hamilton becomes an all-out war. And Capri, Justin, and Zach are right in the middle of it.
Author Notes
Charity Alyse earned her bachelor's degree in English literature at Rowan University and is currently working toward a master's degree in clinical mental health therapy. Other Side of the Tracks is her first novel. Alyse lives in New Jersey. You can find her on Twitter and Instagram @Charity_Alyse and CharityAlyse.com.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 9 Up--In this mash-up of West Side Story and The Hate U Give, debut author Alyse writes from the perspectives of two teens who live on opposite sides of the tracks, creating a physical divide for the racism of this community. Alyse realistically portrays the language of teens with lines such as "Yo, you thirsty? You catch dehydration or something?" Through capturing teens' language, the author showcases their lived experiences. Readers meet Capri, a Black aspiring dancer, and Zach, a white musician, who meet unexpectedly and begin a whirlwind romance. The teens know they are up against the odds, but this becomes even more clear when a local Black teen--and Capri's brother's friend--is murdered by a white police officer. Suddenly, the divide becomes more visible and the two must fight for each other and their respective dreams. Capturing the emotions of first love with the roller-coaster of current events, this book delivers intense scenes that are all too common. VERDICT This excellent narration encapsulates teen love, the harsh realities of racism, and peeks into the world of teens today. Both heartbreaking and inspiring, this stunning debut will give readers much to discuss and debate.--Tracey S. Hodges
Publisher's Weekly Review
The violent, racist shared history between largely white Bayside and predominantly Black Hamilton--two New York towns separated by train tracks--reverberates into three teens' lives in Alyse's stirring debut. Black siblings Capri and Justin, whose relationship became strained following their mother's death, want to leave Hamilton to pursue their dreams: Capri as a dancer in N.Y.C. and Justin as a college basketball player. White musician Zach, a New Bayside resident and Philly native, is appalled by his neighbors' overt racism toward a Black Bayside resident. While visiting Hamilton, Zach befriends Capri and they support each other in their endeavors; Zach accompanies Capri to a dance school audition, and she helps him secure an opportunity to open for a local jazz legend. Meanwhile, Justin's athletic goals are derailed when he finds out that his longtime girlfriend is pregnant. The shooting of an unarmed Black Hamilton teen by a white Bayside police officer brings the towns' existing tensions to a boiling point, triggering a fallout that imperils the trio's futures. Through the characters' distinct and lingering alternating perspectives, this emotionally raw volume juggles interracial dynamics and themes of appropriation, identity, and systemic racism. Ages 12--up. Agent: Marlo Berliner, Jennifer De Chiara Literary. (Nov.)
Kirkus Review
An African American teen finds the courage to step into the spotlight and fight for her dreams despite divided loyalties. Aspiring Broadway dancer Capri Collins longs to attend an exclusive performing arts camp but lacks the courage to oppose her grandmother, who wants her to stay close to home. Capri finds support in her relationship with Zach Whitman, a White boy from Philadelphia who has moved to the town on the other side of the train tracks. He's shocked by his new White peers' overt racism. Bayside and Hamilton, located outside New York City, have intertwined histories: With the influx of African American families from the South, Bayside's White residents established Hamilton to maintain racial segregation. Zach's love for jazz brings him to Hamilton, where he meets Capri. Meanwhile Capri's older brother, Justin, aims to attend college on a basketball scholarship, an ambition complicated by his girlfriend's pregnancy. The siblings' fears of being trapped in their hometown are heightened when their friend Tyree Thompson, an aspiring doctor on his way to New York University, is killed by a Bayside police officer. The aftershocks ripple through the relationships of residents of both towns. The narrative alternates among the first-person perspectives of Capri, Justin, and Zach. The siblings' complex relationship is a particular strength. Interracial tension is a main driving force within the narrative, but Zach's role in this conflict is less well developed. An interesting look at the many forms activism can take. (Fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
Capri and her brother, Justin, have lived in Hamilton all of their lives. They were raised by their grandparents when their mother ran off to New York to become a beloved Broadway star. Secretly, Capri and Justin have made plans to leave Hamilton, each wanting to see their name in lights. When Zach, a white teenager, moves to the all-white neighboring town of Bayside, everything changes for Capri and Justin. Capri and Zach fall in love despite the deeply segregated and racist history between Hamilton and Bayside, and Justin is forced to make life-altering decisions regarding his future. When a tragedy shakes Hamilton and Bayside, Capri, Justin, and Zach find their lives turned upside down. Alyse's debut novel holds the perfect elements to create a fresh spin on star-crossed romances, while still offering sharp commentary on relevant social issues. Though the multiple-character points of view can sometimes be a bit clunky and repetitive, each of Alyse's characters has a distinct, original voice.