Review by Booklist 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.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
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.)
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Review by School Library Journal Review
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
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Review by Horn Book Review
"Be like water," Isaiah says. "Always," Darius replies. These are the final words the boys say to each other before Darius takes off on his bicycle to break the Guinness world record for a wheelie. Isaiah is in charge of watching for cars, but a chaotic, unexpected confrontation ends with a tragic fatal accident. Isaiah and his other best friend, Drew, each deal with grief and guilt in their own way: Isaiah wants to open up about his pain, while Drew withdraws. Written in verse, this resonant coming-of-age novel flows with accessible language that quickly draws readers into the story; emotionally moving grayscale illustrations are interspersed. After Isaiah is violently attacked, he begins to shut down, and his mother sends him to visit relatives in North Carolina. There, Isaiah begins a journey of self-acceptance and unpacking of the emotional weight he has been carrying. Williams (Genesis Begins Again, rev. 1/19) handles the sensitive topics of death, grief, racism, violence, and racial and gender expression with care, making sure the narrative doesn't become overly dark and heavy. The novel's focus on Isaiah's inner world allows readers to witness the evolution of a thirteen-year-old Black boy dealing with life-altering events, navigating challenging relationships with friends and family, and, finally, feeling comfortable enough to reveal his full self in the process. Monique HarrisMay/June 2024 p.151 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
Tragedy strikes a trio of friends, but as the remaining duo grieve and grow apart, high school looms. Darius and Isaiah first became friends as the only Black kids at robotics camp, but with new student Drew added to the mix, the three skater kids from Michigan use their humor, friendly wagers, and Guinness World Records ambitions to overcome almost anything--from bullies to missing dads. But the sudden death of Darius, who was hit by a car while being harassed by a stranger, isn't something Drew and Isaiah can easily overcome. Isaiah, a secret plant lover and not-so-secretly sensitive 13-year-old, narrates the feelings of loss and anxiety that overwhelm the last months of middle school and cause a rift between him and Drew, since both boys are grappling with big feelings of guilt, blame, and regret over Darius' death. Each free-verse poem is presented with the emotive rhythm and pacing of a kid who's just as afraid of what his peers think as he is of not being seen as man enough in his dad's eyes. Isaiah is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in North Carolina for the summer for a bit of a fresh start, which proves to be a necessary diversion that yields new friends, new perspectives--and first kisses!--for the boy who hid so much of himself from a world that made him believe he had to. Occasional pen-and-ink--style art complements the text. Black boy joy, hurt, anxiety, and perseverance relayed with charm. (Verse fiction. 10-14) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
