How it Went Down
How it Went Down
By Kekla Magoon
Reading Level
Lexile: 560
Length
352 pages
Representation
How It Went Down has approximately 12 different narrators, offering a wide range of diverse perspectives on the aftermath of the shooting of a young black man. For the most part, the characters feel authentic.
Appropriate Content
How It Went Down is about a white man shooting an unarmed black teenager. Though the violence is not graphic, it is naturally disturbing. There is also gang activity, swearing and drug use throughout the book, but none of it is glorified. The publisher (Macmillan) recommends the book for students age 12+. Common Sense Media recommends the book for students age 10+. You can read their review here.
Engagement
How it Went Down begins with a dramatic shooting and remains engaging throughout. Shifting from one narrator to another may be challenging for some readers- the bookmark activity listed under “Book Club Materials” may help support these readers. You can read the beginning of the book on the publisher’s website.
Substance
This is a great book for school communities who don't have much experience discussing the shootings of young black men. The wide range of clearly laid out perspectives in the book provide a natural structure for conversation. Communities with more experience discussing the topic may want to try The Hate U Give, whose story is a bit more complex.
Summary
Summary provided by the author.
In Kekla Magoon’s How It Went Down, when sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson dies from two gunshot wounds, his community is thrown into an uproar. Tariq was black. The shooter, Jack Franklin, is white.
In the aftermath of Tariq’s death, everyone has something to say, but no two accounts of the events line up. By the day, new twists and turns further obscure the truth.
Tariq’s friends, family, and community struggle to make sense of the tragedy, and of the hole left behind when a life is cut short. In their own words, they grapple for a way to say with certainty: This is how it went down.
Book Club Materials
How it Went Down: Book Club Agenda
How it Went Down: Teacher's Guide from Macmillan Publishing
How it Went Down: Bookmark and Visualization Activity
How it Went Down: First Perspectives GIST Activity
How it Went Down: Quote Matching Game
How it Went Down: Promotional Poster
How it Went Down: Discussion Questions
How it Went Down: Student Generated Questions for the Author