This book was not fun. But it is important. Kiely's exploration of this topic is beneficial and graceful.

THE OTHER TALK by Brendan Kiely is an absolutely vital addition to any anti-racist bookshelf. It can be difficult to take a white author seriously in a conversation that should be dominated by Black voices, but what I love about Kiely's book is his total humility. Beyond teaching about racism and listening to marginalized voices, he gets to the heart of what it means to actually BE an ally. He's totally vulnerable in revealing the areas where he has fallen short in the past, and it makes for a perfect instruction manual for young readers looking to enhance their anti-racist reading materials. Although this book is for young readers, I actually think it's an even better entry point for white adults who may be less likely to ever check out or purchase an anti-racist book written by a Black author. This is an incredibly accessible but still powerful book. There are very, very, very few white authors I would trust with this subject matter . . . only Brendan Kiely.

Thanks to @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the advance Kindle copy of this book, which is out on 9.21.21. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for this one, which I think fills a gap in the conversation of racism in America for young adults. Kiely reflects on his experiences as a white male in America and how his privilege is inherent in our country and how that differs from the experiences of the Global Majority. He also talks about reckoning with that and how to help take action and stand up to social injustice and racism. I think this belongs on the shelves of all middle and high schools, especially those that are, like mine, predominately white. Foreword is by Jason Reynolds.

Excellent book for white middle and high school students. Kiely uses examples from his own teenage and adult years and explains things in very relatable ways. Will be recommending this to several white friends raising teens.

This is the intro to white privilege that every white kid, parent, teacher, librarian, aunt, uncle, friend, and human* has been missing in their lives. Engaging and conversational, refreshingly honest and personal, verified white guy Brendan Kiely gives us a great starting point for understanding how white privilege saturates our society, for examining how it affects our individual lives and those around us, and for starting a conversation about it with our kids and each other. Plus: intro by Jason Reynolds! plenty of dumb teen shenanigans! excellent on audio!

*I've said it before and I'll say it again — there is no shame, NONE, in adults learning from YA books. They're specifically written in an engaging style that reduces cognitive load so important ideas can shine through. Perfect for busy modern readers ages 12 to 100. Adults who are curious about this whole "white privilege thing" will find this book to be accessible and helpful.

Kiely tackles a huge topic in a conversational, personal way. He critically examines his own experiences and family history to help young readers understand the breadth and depth of white privilege in America. While he touches on the ideas of white guilt and white shame, he never assigns guilt or shame to himself or others. Instead, he pushes readers to understand, pay attention, reflect, and act to make change.

Kiely provides an exceptional roadmap for white people. He does not claim to be an authority, but is still learning himself. He tackles stepping up vs. stepping back, listening and sitting with discomfort, guilt vs. responsibility, and more. This is a must read for white folks everywhere, especially teachers, librarians, parents/guardians, and teens. Start small and watch the seeds grow!