Reading about the federal witness protection program inspired Jacqueline Woodson to write Hush; she took her fascination with the idea of such an uprooting to the page and created this critically acclaimed novel. Publishers Weekly addressed the book’s powerful theme of identity in a starred review, saying that the story should comfort readers who might be dealing with identity crises of their own, for the novel addresses these challenging issues with hope and optimism. Hush also received a starred review from School Library Journal and was a National Book Award finalist in the young people’s literature category. It was a 2003 American Library Association Best Book for Young Adults and received numerous additional honors. Hush takes its place among a growing body of books featuring African American characters in which race exists as an aspect of the characters’ lives but is not of central focus within the plot.