
Reach for this book when your teenager is feeling the heavy weight of being an outsider or is processing their first direct encounters with systemic prejudice and community hostility. The Meantime follows a Black family as they move into a predominantly white, middle-class suburb, only to be met with escalating tension and open resentment from neighbors and peers alike. It is a raw look at the emotional toll of maintaining one's dignity in a space that feels unwelcoming. Written with psychological insight, the story explores themes of identity, family solidarity, and the frustration of injustice. While it tackles difficult social realities, it serves as a powerful mirror for children in similar situations and a window for others to understand the daily courage required to navigate biased environments. It is best suited for mature middle schoolers and high schoolers who are ready for honest, often uncomfortable conversations about race and belonging.
The book deals directly and realistically with racism, including verbal abuse and social exclusion. The approach is secular and starkly realistic. The resolution is not a fairy-tale ending where the community changes their minds; instead, it is a realistic portrayal of resilience and the decision to define one's own worth regardless of external validation.
A thoughtful 14-year-old who feels isolated in their community or school and needs to see their experiences of microaggressions and systemic bias reflected in literature to know they aren't alone in their anger.
Parents should preview the scenes involving Luke's experiences with racial slurs and social exclusion at school to prepare for discussing the impact of racism with their child. The book should be read with a plan to discuss how the racial tensions depicted in the early 90s, such as specific instances of police brutality or discriminatory housing practices, compare to contemporary issues of systemic racism and ongoing activism. A parent might choose this after their child comes home from school describing a situation where they were excluded based on their race, or when a child expresses that they feel they have to work twice as hard to be seen as equal.
Middle schoolers will focus on the social dynamics and the desire for peer acceptance, while high schoolers will likely pick up on the systemic pressures and the psychological toll on the adult characters.
Unlike many contemporary YA novels that use a lighter touch, this 1990s title is unblinking and psychologically dense, reflecting the author's background as an M.D. in its exploration of internal emotional states.
The story centers on the Brents, a family who move into a new suburban neighborhood and face racial hostility. The protagonist, Luke, must navigate a high school environment where he is isolated and targeted, while his parents attempt to maintain their professional lives and family unity despite the overt hostility of their neighbors. The narrative tracks the psychological strain this environment places on each family member.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Your experience helps other parents find the right book.
Sign in to write a review