It did make me uncomfortable, reading this book. These are discussions long in coming, yet necessary. We cannot fix problems in life without an awareness of a situation, and Emmanuel Acho raises awareness for his young readers, although the book is truly suitable for readers of all ages.

It's not a comfortable, easy read, and the topics touched on are certain to raise so table talk for the future. Timely, smart, concise, I'll be glad to carry this book for the teachers and students in my school library

Emmanuel Acho’s adaptation for young readers covers a range of timely topics and is bound to hold the interest of middle-school and high-school readers.

My grandsons ages 11 and 13 need role models like Emmanuel Acho. I was interested in reading this book after seeing his interviews. He has a strong persona. The message is good and conversational but it felt one sided and I don't believe it would hold their interest.

Wow, I loved this book. I flew through this and thoroughly enjoyed the narration and content. Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy is something that everyone who interacts with young kids should read (teachers, coaches, parents, babysitters, aunts, uncles, etc). Emmanuel Acho writes in a way that is easy to understand, relatable, challenging, and SO relevant. I love how he adapted his original book, which is an adult version, into a version that could easily be read/discussed with KIDS. As a kindergarten teacher in Chicago, this book challenged me and taught me SO much. Highly highly recommend!

Thank you Netgalley and publishers for an advanced digital audiobook copy in exchange for an honest review.

Emmanuel Acho speaks directly to the reader and makes you feel like you really are sitting down with him at the dinner table having a conversation. The structure of each chapter makes each topic flow easily - definition and explanation of the term, history of the term, connection to modern-day, and suggestions for what the reader can do. A great book to share with your kids to get much-needed conversations started.

A youth-friendly adaptation of Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man that covers a range of topics about race, identity, and racism. This should be (and I suspect will be) a standard text in school libraries and classrooms.

I am so glad Emmanuel Acho wrote this adaptation for younger readers. I read Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man months ago, but it stuck with me. I like that this book covers the same topics and stories, but in a way that appropriate for the younger crowd. I think it would be awesome for an adult and child to read their respective versions simultaneously and discuss along the way.

Emmanuel Acho takes on some big questions about race and racism and frames the answers in a way that will make sense to young readers. What started as one video addressing questions Acho felt needed answers has grown into two books and hopefully a movement by readers to make change in the world.

As a reader, I appreciated Acho's take on these questions. There were times I wished for clarification but also wondered if the adult version of this book would clear up my questions. I think this book belongs in school libraries and will be adding it to mine.

This honest review is in exchange for an ARC from NetGalley. Acho gets right to the point with young adults. I'd encourage white parents of teenagers to read it with their kids and begin taking action. The "Talk It, Walk It" sections in each chapter gives readers actionable steps. The book is written honestly and appropriately for young adults.

I read Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man and found this very similar, but on a lower level that's more accessible to kids. Both are really great. I enjoyed the set-up of it being a conversation where people can ask questions. This book (in both versions) is a must purchase for public libraries.

This is a book that should be in every Elementary (for older kids), Middle, and High school library. Moreover, I think the book should be assigned reading, probably in middle school, and would be good for class discussions, particularly in areas of the country where white people have been sheltered from interaction with black folks. The author addresses white folks directly, or at least white children, but as an Asian American, I felt like he could have been addressing me, or at least people in my parent's generation. Because growing up, there were many Asians in my parents' generation, often immigrants, who tended to fear black folks and think less of them. And that was conveyed to us through phrases or actions. But I, as an Asian American, have also experienced racism towards me because of the color of my skin, so I could feel some of what the author was talking about.

What I really appreciated about this book is that Emmanuel Acho spoke directly to kids and explained the issues, gave solid examples, and then challenged us to take certain actions to try to combat racism. He really breaks it down into three major categories of racism--individual, systemic, and internalized racism. But with each part, he tells his audience that it's time to get uncomfortable, and then he gives specific suggestions for what they can do to be an ally. He brings in a lot of history and he also explains where the anger comes from, although he is quick to point out that his anger may not be his friend's anger or the other guy down the street. Ultimately, though, he does not let up and urges us to really examine what we have learned and that perhaps it's time to open our mind (past time!). Although this is geared towards children, I honestly think this book could be good for older folks who have been reluctant to dive into the whole idea of racism.

Overall, I think this is a book that should be widely read, and I am hoping that some hearts and minds might be changed by it.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Of all the books on racism and the history of racism I’ve read, this is perhaps the best. Acho uses clear language and presents excellent examples to illustrate his points. His style is objective and will not alienate readers of any persuasion. He covers uncomfortable topics but I felt informed not lectured or talked down to. This would be an excellent summer reading book for young adults or high school students. It should also belong in school libraries. I thank NetGalley and the publisher to for the opportunity to read this ARC.

I was drawn in right away, and Acho kept my attention throughout the entire book. I appreciated when he broke things down, and I learned quite a bit from him. I am going to get a few copies of this for my middle school classroom as well.

Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Boy would be an excellent classroom read, as it really would work best with some further adult explanations. The concepts are a little too complex for younger students still developmentally in concrete thinking, but as we all know young people are exposed to racism and racist ideas which need to be challenged and corrected as early as possible.

Thank you, oh so much, NetGalley for this ARC and now reference book for me.

I don't follow football, so when Emmanuel Acho started Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man on YouTube I came for the content rather than the name. See, Donald Trump was our president and all of a sudden, friends and family members came out as bat sh%$ crazy. What could be worse than the horror of an idiot white supremacist at the helm of our nation? A world pandemic in which said idiot claimed was no big deal.

I NEEDED Acho's episodes. And now - I have Acho's book. While I will be getting this book for the middle school library post haste, I will also be buying the "grown up" version for myself.

As members of the Trump cult are trying to get elected to our school board, the issue for them is to get rid of any critical thinking when it comes to race and American history. Through this book, Acho is my cheerleader, therapist, and teacher.

"It's not always obvious, but don't ever let anyone convince you that we are in a racism-free, or, as some folks like to say, a "post-racial America."

"An evil, oppressive past is right here with us. And it's not hiding in plain sight. It's raising its arms and saying, LOOK!"

Recommended for everyone. Seriously. Everyone.

This is a good start for white people who have started to consider how they interact with race. Acho is patient but unflinching

This may be one of the most important books I have ever read. I tell myself I am colorblind because I believe all people are people, no matter the color of their skin. I know that by being born white I will never be treated or know how people of other skin colors are treated simply because of the color of their skin.

I didn't realize that color blindness is just as bad as labeling people because of their color: "If you don't see someone's skin color, then you'll never recognize when you're treating them poorly because of their race. Instead of being color blind, be introspective." That does make a lot of sense to me- I tell my children, hate is not the opposite of love, apathy is. In order to see our biases, we have to admit that we have them and be aware of them and consciously make changes. This important realization happened before Chapter 3!

This book is so well written with stories and analogies even younger children can understand. While he does bring in his experiences and history, he also added references to bolster his narrative and give credence to those who may be reading and trying to argue his points.


I will be introducing this to my students this year, although we are down to 13 days, but will be sure to begin the book the beginning of school next year to give us time to read and discuss. I was given the opportunity to read this by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

A must-read for everyone! Direct, with humor and insight, this book explains how racism can be addressed. Will open the door for many meaningful and valuable conversations.

Where do I start with this book? It's wonderful, fantastic, outstanding, and so much more! It's the perfect book for helping white kids learn about their privilege and giving all kids the language and courage to speak up and out against racism. It addresses so many aspects of racism head-on - "reverse racism", affirmative action, the N-word, white privilege, redlining, Black names, ... I absolutely cannot wait to read the adult version of this book (Uncomfortable Conversations with a Black Man).

Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group/Roaring Brook Press and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.

5 stars+++ = Best of the best

Exceptional! I highly recommend this one for classroom and school libraries as well as public libraries and home libraries. This is for readers 10 and up. Some readers may struggle to push through the material - discussion groups at school or family discussion can help, because the material is worth pushing through. The material is written for white readers to better understand racial issues, but the history and author's stories and context could be fantastic for readers of color as well.

Chapters respond to a specific question and common topics in anti-racist discussions - white privilege, microaggressions, bias, color blindness, systemic racism, the Confederate flag, etc. Each chapter follows a set pattern which I think will help struggling readers know what to expect from each section. The tone is conversational while never talking down to readers. It's an intense conversation, so readers will likely want to take it a chapter at a time.

Just because this is targeted at kids and teens doesn't mean adults can't benefit from reading this too. If you find yourself confused by the recent conversations about anti-racism, or if you aren't sure how to respond to common arguments, this will be a fantastic starting point for your anti-racist journey.