Troublemaker

This novel tells the story of Jordan—a twelve-year-old Korean boy—and his immigrant family in the early 90s, following the events of the LA riots after the acquittal of police officers in the beating of Rodney King. Jordan navigates the realities of the time while also struggling to live up to the high cultural expectations of his family. Jordan embarks on a dangerous journey when he follows his father one night as he goes to check on his shop, learning about the many dangers his community faces, the power of weapons, and the power of kindness from people he meets on his perilous path. In a middle-school classroom, this novel can be used in literature circles or for whole-class or small-group discussions to broach subjects such as racial injustice, the mistreatment of immigrants, racial profiling, and current events.