Background / History and Independent Reading Analysis: I am a part of the generation born with advanced personal technology. Social Media is a reality for daily communication that exists beyond adult control at home and school. It is a brutal, unedited outlet where facts are often unchecked, and the truth is subject to inexperienced, biased experience. Who is seen, and who is canceled? Expanding the lens to forums like Twitter, do world leaders in business and civics have accountability? How does this shape our worldview? What impact does this communication have on the mental health of young adults? In that landscape, who is truly accountable?

Youth Review: This is at the top of my summer recommendations for YA readers. It is a fast-paced, incredibly well-researched piece of nonfiction with the integrity of total dedication to unbiased journalism. Accountabile is rare and valuable, an example of excellent writing. Dashka Slater's investigative reporting and research provide a balanced narrative, incorporating interviews with involved families, court documents, statistics, and testimonies. Equally powerful is the storytelling arc that brings the reader along this cautionary true story of a group of teens that navigated the dark side of social communication.

The reference material is a volume on its own. Accountable is a piece of investigative journalism that is gripping and haunting. I was inspired by the author's ability to show all sides of the story in an unbiased way. The book structures its narrative into parts with titled chapters, guiding the chronology of events. Including creative elements, such as student poetry and lists, adds a compelling emotional dimension that effectively breaks up the complex narrative. A few of my favorites are the List "Questions of Harm" (p.189,) "How to be a Pariah" (313,) and "Not Okay" (p.381.) Perhaps my best example is the poem on page 196:

"MATTERS OF GULT Does it matter if you didn't mean to hurt anyone? Does it matter if it was supposed to be a joke? Does it matter if you never commented? Does it matter if you knew it was wrong but said nothing? Does it matter if you're sorry?"

This mirrors the author's strength in posing questions to the reader, leaving them with the task of critical thinking about not only the events in question but also their own personal choices. Readers are left to consider the situation's complexities, encouraging self-reflection and critical thinking about online speech's boundaries. Through the lens of this real-life incident, Dashka Slater tackles essential themes such as the impact of social media, hate speech, racism, responsibility, and personal growth.

It left me wondering how words and actions affect others. Equally important, it magnified the role of those on the sidelines who also make choices in how they respond. They, too, are shaped by their choices.

I recommend this book to all who have a social media account. If you are old enough to engage, this material is essential reading.



*Student Nominated: Bank Street Children's Book Committee: Youth Review Book Cart (October 2023)

*2024 Summer Selection, Reading Athlete

Dashka Slater writes nonfiction in an engaging way that will even hook teen readers, which is getting harder to do each day. Almost all teens will see themselves or their friends immediately in these social media posts--maybe not with the same content, but the same "it's just instagram" attitude. Slater explores and exposes thr lasting real-life implications of posts, captions, and likes.

I couldn't wait to read Accountable because I love Bus 57. When I finished Accountable, my first thought was that it was no Bus 57; however, much like Bus 57, I can't stop thinking about this story and those teens! Dashka Slater's narrative writing style of her journalistic work is engrossing, and she has a knack for making me see and think about things that I didn't know I needed to see and think about.

In Accountable, Slater explores the events surrounding and resulting from a racist Instagram account targeting certain races and individuals at the high school in Albany, California. The events took place in 2017, and Slater follows the teens through the years following.

As is always the case, the account and postings are discovered, as well as the creator and posters after much bungling from the school administration. Slater then reports on the aftermath of the discovery and its effects on the teens posting or reacting to content, the targeted individuals, as well as the parents of all the teens. The premise is to reveal the potentially long-lasting effects of a single mistake.

Slater provides an even hand in disclosing the story. As in Bus 57, she reveals all information equally and lets it all sit with the reader. She is great at writing an emotional story without much emotion or over-dramatization. She doesn't need to because the facts of the story are emotional on their own.

For me, the most unforgettable part of the story is the initial shock of the boys to the allegations that they had done something wrong. They simply did not see their actions as hurtful or even racist. Here is the first point that I can't stop thinking about: How does this happen? Slater presents the idea that the only things that matter to a teenage boy are the laughs, reactions, and approval he receives from his friends. Here is the second point I can't stop thinking about: How do we redirect this search for approval?

As a high school teacher, I see this driving force behind stupid actions all the time. It is disturbing and scary. It's like just hoping that the mistakes are not too big and the consequences can be overcome.

Thank you to Slater for another narrative, non-fiction text focusing on our teens and their actions, as well as their thought processes. Everyone needs to read this book.

Thank you Farrar, Strauss, and Giroux for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Accountable" is a gripping and thought-provoking read that lingers in the mind long after the final page has been turned. Slater's nuanced exploration of accountability and the complexities of human nature makes this novel a must-read for anyone interested in the intricacies of justice and morality. In a world where truth is often elusive, "Accountable" serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy, understanding, and the pursuit of justice for all.

One teenage boy starts an Instagram account and posts shocking racist images and statements about his classmates including Black girls who consider him a friend. A handful of boys follow the account, some of them liking the posts and commenting on them. Not one of the boys stands up to stop the posts or to tell anyone about the account's existence. When screenshots of the racist posts go public, the victims of the account are devastated and the students in the small California town are outraged. The boys who participated are expelled, suspended, and/or left unable to attend school. Restorative circles turn violent, leaving the school open to lawsuits and lingering mistrust. All the while the victims of the hatred are shattered and living with pain and betrayal. Sasha Slater spent years following this story and interviewing the participants on all sides. This book is an absolute tour-de-force of nonfiction writing. It is compelling and engaging and written in short bursts that draw the reader in to the many perspectives she lays bare. This is absolutely one of the best nonfiction books I have ever read and it should be required reading for teenagers as well as for school administrators and teachers and people who care about what social media is doing to our society and our children. Recommended for 8th grade-up.

As a high school English teacher dedicated to nurturing both literary appreciation and social-emotional development in my 10th-grade students, I'm excited to incorporate "Accountable" by Dashka Slater into our curriculum. This compelling narrative not only captivates readers with its engaging storytelling but also serves as a poignant vehicle for exploring themes of accountability, empathy, and resilience.

"Accountable" artfully weaves together the lives of its characters, inviting readers to delve into the complexities of human relationships and the consequences of our actions. Through the lens of Slater's narrative, students are prompted to examine the intricate connections between individual choices and their broader impact on society—a crucial lesson in personal responsibility that resonates deeply with adolescents navigating their own moral compasses.

One of the key strengths of "Accountable" lies in its ability to foster social-emotional growth among students. By immersing themselves in the diverse experiences and perspectives of the characters, readers are encouraged to develop empathy and compassion, skills that are essential for building strong interpersonal relationships and navigating the complexities of the world beyond the classroom.

Moreover, the novel provides ample opportunities for students to engage in critical discussions about ethical dilemmas, justice, and the power dynamics at play in our society. By analyzing the characters' motivations and choices, students are prompted to reflect on their own values and beliefs, ultimately deepening their understanding of themselves and the world around them.

Overall, "Accountable" by Dashka Slater is a valuable addition to the 10th-grade English curriculum, offering a thought-provoking exploration of moral responsibility and human connection. Through its compelling narrative and thematic richness, the novel not only enhances students' literary skills but also fosters their social-emotional development, empowering them to become empathetic and ethically informed members of society.

The book chronicles the discovery and its aftermath of a racist Instagram account at an affluent California high school. Slater examines the story from the angles of the perpetrators, the victims, their families, and school and district personnel.

Accountable is a fascinating deep dive into an actual event. I was surprised at the length of time included in the research and in the actual writing of the book. High school teachers and students need to read this.

Wow-what a relevant book especially as we head into what will likely be a volatile election season. There's so many ethical questions and discussion to be had based on this work. Slater is a wonderful non-fiction writer and 57 Bus was also heralded as a book that stops you in your tracks and forces you to have tough conversations about prejudice and hatred.
This work in some ways is even more powerful--because it deals with the consequences of online speech/social media. Something that is literally within our reach daily. But, how far is too far? What is funny? What is hurtful? Is there a line? What consequences from something that seems to have "harmless" origins and what does it mean when it comes to the future? As they say online is forever. Will you dumb gag post ruin your life?
I really think every young person could benefit from reading this powerful book! It's not a shock at all that it seems to be buzzy as the yearend awards are named. I read an advanced copy via NetGalley and immediately ordered the book for my high school library.

This was a phenomenal read, one that I will be thinking about for a long time. I'm eternally grateful that social media was not a tool available to me as a teenager. This book shares the impact of a racist social media account, both on the students targeted by the account and the creator and followers of the account. I recommend it to teenagers, especially high schoolers, and for anyone who works or lives with young people who are active on social media. Slater's exploration of the fallout from this account is both engrossing and difficult to read. There are so many points at which the adults seemed to fail the teenagers involved, yet I would be hard-pressed to articulate how I'd have handled the situation differently. Of course actions have consequences, but should we be responsible our entire lives for dumb things we do as teenagers? What about the responsibility to people who will be haunted their entire lives by dumb things done to them as teenagers? This book left me with more questions than answers, but I believe in the importance of those questions.

Complex, nuanced and challenging to read.. Slater is skilled in presenting multiple sides of the story- simultaneously making the reader feel outrage and empathy in one moment, then shattering any simple taking of sides in the next Buying for my HS library, but might be a difficult sell for students to pick up. Will recommend to all educators I come across.

This accounts the grim reality of the right wing pipeline. Harrowing but real this was a story that needed to be told.

This YA Nonfiction by the author of The 57 Bus tells the story of an Instagram account that was started by a couple of people at a high school in small town California that contained racist and sexist content. While the creator(s) considered it edgy humor and didn't explicitly set out to hurt anyone, once the existence of the account was revealed to those targeted all hell breaks loose. This book examines things from both sides-those involved in content for or liking the content for the account, and the students impacted by what was posted. How should situations like this be handled when the harm is perpetrated on social media? How can the school punish the wrong doers? How does a community heal from this type of trauma? Is it even possible to come back together after something of this magnitude happens? Slater uncovers every single aspect of this story. The book did seems to revisit the same thoughts/feelings/themes regularly which made it drag a little here and there but overall this was a very good read and a valuable one. I think it gives a lot of insight into how kids are interacting now in ways we didn't when growing up and to those in the target age group for this book, seeing how something considered "harmless" by the account creators could cause so much damage and division-it definitely sends the message "think before you post". It also really makes one consider whether we as a society are becoming to desensitized to weighty topics and how handling them callously can cause harm.

Wow! Accountable is a raw look at racism in a small community and how it can tear everyone and everything apart. When an extremely racist Instagram account is discovered by some students at Albany High School, all hell breaks loose. Kids that have grown up together are suddenly mad at one another, no one knows who to trust, and no one feels safe. One kid has started an Instagram account for laughs, and it takes a dark turn. Soon, he is putting images of his classmates with horrible captions, drawing nooses around their necks, and making horrible remarks. The (mostly) girls who were targeted don’t feel safe or welcome at school anymore. Eleven other kids followed the account with varying degrees of participation, but soon everyone is lumped into one of 2 categories: the harmers, and the targeted. The school district doesn’t handle things exactly right and ends up contributing the the chaos. Families are fighting, and kids don’t want to go to school. This is a sad look at some of the prevalent racism that is occurring all over the United States today and how it affects everyone involved. With facts, studies, and accounts from the actual witnesses and those affected, this is a very powerful book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Accountable is about how a racist Instagram account affected a school and community. After reading Slater's previous book, The 57 Bus, I had high expectations for Accountable and it DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Accountable has the same artful storytelling coupled with deep research and portrayals of all involved that we saw in The 57 Bus and on another important, divisive topic. This would be an amazing text for book clubs, book groups, or any assignment where students can talk and process what they read. I can't recommend this book enough and how it is a MUST READ for everyone -- teachers, students, community members, parents, social media users, etc. I found it amazing and unique how Slater held back opinion or reflection on the events as much as possible, even humanizing all parties and helping us more deeply understand them. The only thing I yearned for was an update on the school and community at the end like Slater did for the people who were involved.

I liked the premise of this novel, the synopsis had my attention from the moment I read it. I liked the writing style and the lessons the author was trying to get across. there were moments that went on in the book that were just too wordy, but I wouldn’t say they made me want to DNF or anytging. This will be a great book for teens to read, very valuable lessons for sure!

I really enjoyed reading The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater and was excited to read another YA nonfiction book that she investigated and wrote. I feel like Accountable is very important reading material for teens and I'm so glad it exists!

Accountable is the story of a raciest "joke" Instagram account made by a high school boy and the effect it had on him, his classmates who were the targets of his posts, and the classmates that followed, liked, and commented on the account. Much of the story is about how the school district failed to adequately address the issue, but Slater also addresses the long-lasting emotional devastation of the girls who were victimized, the personal and social reconning that the followers of the account had to go through, and the complex nature of social media i.e. are the students who only followed the account but never interacted with it as responsible for its devastating effects and it's continuation as followers who liked and commented.

ACCOUNTABLE by Dashka Slater (The 57 Bus) is subtitled "The True Story of a Racist Social Media Account and the Teenagers Whose Lives It Changed" and relates events that occurred in 2017 in Albany, California (liberal Bay Area) when a Korean American high school junior posted racist and misogynist memes on Instagram. Even though he initially had only 13 followers, many of the posts dealt with classmates and people they knew, especially Black and biracial girls. The New York Times recently published a lengthy article written by Slater who described, “competing narratives about how exactly the events should be interpreted, with some seeing them as a calamity that occurred despite Albany’s particular virtues (small, liberal, educated, interconnected) and others as a consequence of Albany’s particular shortcomings (too white, too insular, too wealthy, too obsessed with academic achievement).” Clearly, there is MUCH opportunity for teaching, for reflection (e.g., Am I racist? What makes someone racist? Why had no-one said anything earlier?) and for discussion (e.g., Does not taking action imply approval of content? How could the account followers and its subjects attend school together? Do the statistics Slater share correspond to our school? Are these events about race? Gender? Both?) with adolescent students. ACCOUNTABLE received a starred review from Booklist which says in part that this text "should be required reading for any teen before they create, comment, or even like a media post."

This is a must read for all - especially recommended for social media users- parents and children will find this a good book to discuss racism, bullying, social media use and accountability.
This is a very useful book for professional development in media literacy and should be read by all school staff.
This story is still being reported on and I read the decision on appeal from the Ninth District Court of Appeals- this case may go to the Supreme Court on issues of freedom of speech, hate speech, school violence and bullying.

Accountable is the true story of a group of high school students involved in a series of racist social media posts. Dashka Slater, author of the award-winning book The 57 Bus, again did her homework when researching the events that are retold in this book. Through interviews, diary entries, and more, Slater urges readers to think about what it means to be held accountable for our actions. I loved that she recounted the events from multiple perspectives - both the perpetrator and the victims as well as school staff and parents. This would make a great literature/ELA pick for high school teachers.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) and NetGalley for a review copy of the book and audiobook.