LINKED
Book Description
After witnessing a violent quarrel between his parents, Greg feels confused, resentful and angry. His father accused his mother of having an affair fifteen years ago, and if the details of the affair are true, then the man that Greg had always called father is not his real father. Even worse is the fact that after striking his mother, Greg�s "father" walks out. Nine months later Greg is still d...
MoreAfter witnessing a violent quarrel between his parents, Greg feels confused, resentful and angry. His father accused his mother of having an affair fifteen years ago, and if the details of the affair are true, then the man that Greg had always called father is not his real father. Even worse is the fact that after striking his mother, Greg�s "father" walks out. Nine months later Greg is still dealing with the fall-out of his father�s accusations. His relationship with his older brother and mother has steadily deteriorated, his schoolwork suffers, and worse, his brother is siding with their father and blames their mother for the family�s break-up. Meanwhile, Greg has only his mother�s word that his father is really his father.
Into this mix comes the link.
Steve hates his stepfather. He has struggled for years to find out why his mother would choose to remain with a man who physically abuses her. A broken arm is blamed on a fall and bruises on her face are carefully hidden with makeup. Steve�s secret fear is that his stepfather is actually his real father. Frustrated and angry, Steve goes for his stepfather�s gun. Fortunately, he doesn�t get a chance to use the weapon, but the whipping he receives for his effort seems likely to scar him for life.
Until there is the link.
Neither boy is able to deal with his families� problems; each needs help. And suddenly, help is available! They switched! The boys are mentally linked-they can read each other�s minds and even communicate mentally-and they�re living each other�s experiences. Somehow, their spirits now inhabit each other�s bodies. Greg is now faced with Steve�s family�s problems and Steve has Greg�s. But that�s not all. Suddenly, family matters are no longer the biggest problem. Because Greg is black and Steve is white, each boy now faces the question of race from a different perspective. Prejudice, racism and subconscious stereotypes come to the fore. Fearful that no one will believe the switch--and even more fearful of becoming experimental subjects--they struggle on their own to survive. They are forced to share information, communicate and-even worse in their eyes-get along with each other.
Dare to roam away from that racial thing! Linked is a must-have to jump start discussions on race, stereotypes, class and privilege. It is guaranteed to offer surprising new opinions in the discourse on race.
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