I remember Eric Walters visiting my elementary school, waaaay back in the day (well, it feels like a long time to me). We All Fall Down was a big book at the time, and I ended up doing a book report for it. Another classmate also did the book report and had the entire class make fun of me because I did a better job (and got a better mark). I stopped reading Eric Walters books after that because I was tortured for enjoying his books.

Well, here I am. Adult me! I found Branded at a local book store and it was on clearance, so I grabbed it. I figured, why not give Eric Walters another chance? It wasn't his fault my bullies were giant jerk faces! I remember his tiger books fondly...

This book? I don't feel too fondly about, and not because it isn't good. This is a great book to get kids talking about political issues. This book dives deeply into moral responsibility and how we take care of the world. We buy clothes that kids make, and they don't make a true living off of. It's forced labour and isn't fair. What happens when the school our heroes go to buy their new uniforms from a sweat shop? Well, the kids take charge!

I didn't like this book because of how it ended on a cliffhanger. I wanted to see how it would turn out, but obviously the book's goal was not to show us that. It's to start a conversation. I can easily see this book being used in the education system to bring up tough topics, and I like that.

Overall, this is a great middle grade book to start talking about those tough, social justice issues.

Two out of five stars. ( )

Reviewed by Sally Kruger aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Ian and his friends have just received some shocking news from the principal, Mr. Roberts. At the weekly assembly, Mr. Roberts announces that starting in two weeks everyone in the school will be required to wear a school uniform.

Shirts, ties, dress pants, skirts, all with a school crest will be the required attire. Some students simply take it in stride and carry on, but Ian watches as other students openly object. The punishment for not wearing the proper uniform is suspension.

At first, Ian has mixed feelings. Uniforms are not the worst thing in the world. He can even understand the argument Mr. Roberts presents in favor of the change. However, Ian's feelings change when it is discovered that the company providing the uniforms uses sweatshop labor to create the clothes.

In addition to being principal, Mr. Roberts teaches a class in social justice and has recently revealed the horrors of sweatshops. Ian doesn't understand how he can know about the abusive working conditions in these places and still encourage the requirement of these particular school uniforms.

Author Eric Walters uses BRANDED to raise awareness of a terrible social issue. Sweatshops are the subject of news broadcasts and articles, but until the products of these companies touch us directly, we tend to turn a blind eye. Teens will be interested in watching Ian as he struggles to make sense of opposing views on the subject and how adults often preach one thing and then practice another. ( )