Black And White

Black and White (2005) is a young adult novel written by Paul Volponi. It follows two teenage basketball stars, one Black and one white, who commit a robbery together and are caught when they accidentally shoot one of their targets. The novel then explores their different experiences of the justice system and in navigating the consequences of their actions. Volponi, an author, journalist, and educator, draws upon his own experiences teaching in the New York City prison system to explore systemic inequality in the justice system and how racial tensions affect urban youth. Black and White is the recipient of the IRA Children’s Book Award for Young Adult Fiction, the ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and the ALA Quick Pick Top Ten. Other works by Volponi include Rikers High (2005), Rucker Park Setup (2007), and The Final Four (2012).

This guide refers to the 2005 paperback edition published by Speak.

Content Warning: The source material contains depictions of racism and racial discrimination, as well as both anti-Black and antisemitic slurs.

Plot Summary

Marcus Brown and Eddie Russo are high school seniors and stars of their school basketball team.