Kirkus called it ' masterful debut rich with intersectional nuance and grass-roots clarity.

In the same vein, the diversity of this title also makes it shine: sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, race, and ethnicity are all portrayed in Oshiro's inner-city Oakland setting.' The trade paperback edition of the highly buzzed about YA debut from Mark Oshiro, Anger Is a Gift follows a boy from Oakland as he falls in love amidst the chaos of modern America. There are no good models of white ally-ship, and the title is stronger for this fact. I also admire that Anger is a Gift highlights how oppression targets so many due to their identities and shows us that we cannot ourselves rise while leaving others behind. School Library Journal called the book 'art sweet love story, part social justice commentary,' stating that 'this title begs to be read and discussed. Oshiro brilliantly gives us a challenging and truthful world that will foster profound discussion on a topic we shouldn’t be shying away from. When tensions hit a fever pitch and tragedy strikes, Moss must face a difficult choice: give in to fear and hate or realize that anger can actually be a gift.Īnger is a Gift received starred reviews from School Library Journal and Kirkus, as well as positive reviews from The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and Publishers Weekly. ( January 2022) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)Īnger is a Gift is a young adult novel by Mark Oshiro, published by Tor Teen.ĭespite their youth, the students decide to organize and push back against the administration. The same is true of the fact that Moss has several techniques given to him by a therapist for dealing with them, including sorting through a “Rolodex” of happy memories of his father, without which he cannot get the sound of the gun or the sight of the blood out of his head. In this sense, Moss’s panic attacks are symbolically significant, highlighting the lasting effects of police brutality and the fact that victims of violence and murder by the police extend far beyond those actually killed or injured by them.This article needs a plot summary. The fact that Esperanza is so used to them and so well-versed in how to respond helps to highlight both how regular they are and what a debilitating and significant effect they have on his life.

Indeed, he collapses within the first chapters of the book after being triggered by a protest against the police murdering another unarmed person of color. Since witnessing his father’s murder six years earlier, Moss’s life has been marked by trauma, manifesting in anxiety, nightmares, and especially panic attacks.

Mark oshiro anger is a gift