A white police officer has just shot and killed 13-year-old Shae Tatum, an unarmed African American girl. Over the next few weeks, the aftermath of this tragedy is chronicled through a variety of perspectives, including Shae’s best friends, Tina (younger sister of Tariq, murder victim in Magoon’s earlier How It Went Down ) and Sheila; community activists Kimberly and Zeke; gang leader Brick, Sheila’s protective big brother; Tyrell—Tariq’s best friend, now away at college and trying to keep it all at a distance; DeVante—another Black student in Tyrell’s dorm; Robb—DeVante’s white suite mate, who thinks he’s woke; Steve Conner, a Black man assigned the case when the police hire his PR firm; the young daughter of the white officer; and others. Among the many compelling elements of this narrative are discussions in the news of events taking place in the neighborhood in the aftermath of the shooting, offering keen insights into how media coverage often frames the activism and outcry of Black communities in response to racism and police violence as “rioting” and “violent,” as well as how activists must navigate myriad concerns in an effort to keep people safe. These and other compelling issues are examined through the lives of individual characters trying to make sense of what’s happening, and facing personal decisions about whether, and how, they will respond. (Age 13 and older)

Told in a series of vignettes from multiple viewpoints, Kekla Magoon's Light It Up is a powerful, layered story about injustice and strength—as well as an incredible follow-up to the highly acclaimed novel How It Went Down.

A girl walks home from school. She's tall for her age. She's wearing her winter coat. Her headphones are in. She's hurrying.

She never makes it home.

In the aftermath, while law enforcement tries to justify the response, one fact remains: a police officer has shot and killed a thirteen-year-old girl. The community is thrown into upheaval, leading to unrest, a growing movement to protest the senseless taking of Black lives, and the arrival of white supremacist counter demonstrators.

This title has Common Core connections.