Starred Review ALA Booklist (Fri Oct 04 00:00:00 CDT 2024)

Starred Review Isaiah has never been like the other Black boys that he knows. One, he loves rock and roll; two, he enjoys activities like painting his nails; and three, he's not as much of a daredevil as his friends think he is. But even though Isaiah hides parts of his identity from his two close friends, Drew and Darius, he still values their friendships. When Darius is killed in a tragic accident, Isaiah's life is altered in ways he never imagined. As Isaiah unravels under the weight of grief and the changing dynamics of his world, his remaining friend, Drew, pulls away from him. Isaiah's father is away on business more than he's home, leaving Isaiah alone to deal with the aftermath of racial violence in the wake of Darius' death. Williams' sophomore novel expertly explores the complexity of grief. Isaiah is a wonderfully written and nuanced character who challenges traditional gender roles within his community. Williams' book, written in verse and adorned with vivid illustrations, offers readers an accurate depiction of Black boyhood. This compelling novel, full of vulnerability and hope, is a must-read.

School Library Journal Starred Review (Fri Mar 01 00:00:00 CST 2024)

Gr 5–8— Managing grief is difficult, even more so for a 13-year-old boy processing the death of a best friend. Isaiah, Darius, and Drew skate together, do stunts, and break world records. But then one earth-shattering day, while trying to get the record for longest wheelie, Darius is hit by a car, and everything changes. Isaiah loses his best friend, but also finds that Drew is shutting down and disappearing. Isaiah is on the verge of losing both his boys, and in the midst of that has to face his true self before he loses that, too. In lovely verse, Williams tells a powerful story of a young teenager struggling in the wake of a friend's death. Isaiah's fear is palpable and very relatable to those with a habit of freezing in stressful situations. Observing him overcome his fears, both of risky stunts and of showing people his true self, is incredibly empowering. This novel also skillfully deals with issues of absent fathers, friendship changes, and prejudice. Interspersed are Novgorodoff's beautiful watercolor illustrations that perfectly complement the story. All characters read as Black. VERDICT A quietly stunning novel in verse about grief and learning to accept yourself. Recommended for all middle grade collections.— Mariah Smitala

Publishers Weekly (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Black eighth grader Isaiah and his best friends Drew and Darius enjoy skate-boarding and trying to break Guinness world records. His comfortable world is soon torn apart when, during an attempt to break the record for the longest wheelie on a bike, Darius is hit by a car and dies, leaving Drew and Isaiah to contemplate their upcoming summer and subsequent move to high school without him. Wracked with grief and guilt, Isaiah feels a fissure forming between him and Drew, stemming partially from Isaiah hiding parts of himself—such as his love of classic rock and comics, and his exploration of nail polish and emo fashion—for fear of being called a “wannabe-white-boy-rock-star.” To reconnect with Drew, Isaiah suggests that they try to break the world record for the longest wheelie to honor Darius. But when his desperate scheme inadvertently leads to more heartbreak, Isaiah is sent to his aunt and uncle’s house in the country for respite. Pastoral features such as expressive b&w illustrations by Novgorodoff (Long Way Down) and clear, accessible verse by Williams (Genesis Begins Again) skillfully juxtapose larger, heavier examinations of grief, identity, mental health, and racism, making for a heartfelt novel about an unmoored child seeking strength and self-forgiveness. Ages 10–up. Agent: Brenda Bowen, Book Group. (Apr.)