Onyx has a secretIt's 1970, and following the death of his grandmother, Onyx, a 12-year-old Black boy, is left living alone with his mother, who has early onset dementia. Fearing losing Mama, too, he keeps her condition a secret from everyone and instead vows to make sure that he keeps up the show of everything being OK at home. His days are filled with completing chores, leaving sticky notes for Mama to read when she wakes up, attending Catholic school, and catching up with his cousins and other relatives when he can. Onyx relies on the knowledge passed on to him by his grandmother to manage their Alexandria, Virginia, home-shopping for groceries and preparing simple meals for himself and his mother. As her condition begins to worsen, however, he desperately tries to find a way to help Mama get her memories back. Facing the looming threat of a home visit by social workers, Onyx takes bigger and bigger risks in his attempts to return his mother to her former self. Written in verse through the eyes of a child, the novel tackles complex topics honestly yet hopefully. As readers follow Onyx in his endeavors to help his mother, they're also given a glimpse into being a young Black boy who, for all his troubles in life, has just as many joyful moments with his family and friends.A story of perseverance and love. (author's note)(Verse historical fiction. 8-12)

Gr 3–7— It's 1970. Onyx, 12, lives in Alexandria, VA, with a huge secret. His mama isn't like other moms—she sleeps during the day and has difficulty remembering certain facts, like how Onyx's gran passed away two years ago. Onyx must keep her early onset dementia a secret so they aren't separated by social services. Consequently, Onyx is self-sufficient, doing laundry and fixing meals for them both. Onyx's pops and extended family, living in Washington, D.C., don't realize how dire the situation has become. Plagued by loneliness, Onyx tries to fix things the only way he can imagine how. He draws inspiration from African folktales, where his captive ancestors grew wings to escape bondage and fly home. Can Onyx harness the inner strength to grow wings and save his mama? Or is it time to ask for help? Onyx is an empathetic, introspective kid whose actions are relatable to anyone who's had to grow up too fast. Although his feelings of isolation are palpable, his community quietly supports him. References to space travel, school desegregation, and the assassinations of Dr. King and Malcolm X firmly root the story in Onyx's time and place. Although the resolution is a bit too tidy, readers will appreciate the optimistic ending. The story is based on the life of the author's father, who grew up in Alexandria and whose mother has dementia. VERDICT A beautifully told novel in verse about family and community. Recommended for all middle grade collections.— Hannah Grasse

Onyx has a secretIt's 1970, and following the death of his grandmother, Onyx, a 12-year-old Black boy, is left living alone with his mother, who has early onset dementia. Fearing losing Mama, too, he keeps her condition a secret from everyone and instead vows to make sure that he keeps up the show of everything being OK at home. His days are filled with completing chores, leaving sticky notes for Mama to read when she wakes up, attending Catholic school, and catching up with his cousins and other relatives when he can. Onyx relies on the knowledge passed on to him by his grandmother to manage their Alexandria, Virginia, home-shopping for groceries and preparing simple meals for himself and his mother. As her condition begins to worsen, however, he desperately tries to find a way to help Mama get her memories back. Facing the looming threat of a home visit by social workers, Onyx takes bigger and bigger risks in his attempts to return his mother to her former self. Written in verse through the eyes of a child, the novel tackles complex topics honestly yet hopefully. As readers follow Onyx in his endeavors to help his mother, they're also given a glimpse into being a young Black boy who, for all his troubles in life, has just as many joyful moments with his family and friends.A story of perseverance and love. (author's note)(Verse historical fiction. 8-12)