Truth is

When considering how her unplanned pregnancy with her ex-boyfriend will affect her future, 17-year-old Truth Bangura knows only that she longs for "more options than the ones I've been given." While Truth doesn't know exactly what she plans to do post-graduation, she knows that she doesn't want to become a teen mom like her own mother, who decided to raise Truth rather than pursue law school. Disregarding her underestimating teachers' and her mother's advice, Truth earns a spot on Philadelphia's citywide slam poetry team and secretly applies to college. Though Truth's decision to have an abortion leads to missed slam practices and strains her relationships, she finds solace in writing and performing poems that speak her personal truth--until her secrets become public knowledge in a viral video clip. As she reevaluates existing dynamics, new bonds--with a love interest and her estranged father--embolden Truth to have faith in her writing and herself. Sawyerr (All My Fighting Parts) combines fast-paced, unwavering verse poems with text messages, social media transcripts, and more in this stunning portrait of a teen in transition that earns all the snaps. Truth's mother is Sierra Leonean. Writing prompts conclude. Ages 14--up. Agent: Samantha Fabien, Root Literary. (Sept.)

This verse novel's protagonist, high school senior Truth Bangura, does not make the grades her moralizing best friend does, but she still has goals beyond what her overbearing mother and her guidance counselor believe she's entitled to. An early application to Penn State provides some hope, but a positive pregnancy test inspires panic. Truth ultimately makes the difficult decision to end her pregnancy. She finds solace in her slam poetry team, a pursuit that helps her put her pain into words. When she makes those words public in a competition, her performance goes viral, but the reactions from those closest to her are far from supportive. Truth's story is told through various mediums in addition to verse, including poetry prompts, checklists, report cards, and quizzes. This unconventional narrative style not only reflects Truth's poetic voice but also mirrors the fragmented emotional reality of her teenage experience, making her inner world feel intimate and immediate. Her complicated relationship with her mother is particularly well drawn, illustrating the generational and cultural clashes (a young mother herself, Truth's mother is originally from Sierra Leone) that shape Truth's identity and decisions. Former Baltimore youth poet laureate Sawyerr offers a realistic glimpse into issues surrounding abortion access, choice, and determination in a lyrical way. A timely read for teens navigating identity, autonomy, and self-expression. Several poetry prompts are appended. Eboni NjokuNovember/December 2025 p.77 (c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

A Philadelphia teen chooses to have an abortion and finds strength and community on her slam poetry team. It's Truth Bangura's senior year of high school, and she's applied to Penn State despite mediocre grades and her mother's repeated refrain: "You know you've never been good at school." An ambitious immigrant from Sierra Leone, Truth's mom had her own law school aspirations cut short by her unplanned pregnancy, which has always made Truth feel as if having her "was her biggest mistake." After unprotected sex with her ex-boyfriend, Cameron, leads to a positive pregnancy test, Truth opts for the abortion pill. Her confidence regarding this choice--"Ready to make a decision / that belongs only to me"--despite being judged by her privileged, high-achieving best friend, Zariah, offers readers a satisfying, nuanced depiction of the importance of trusting oneself. Truth's viral slam poetry performance raises the stakes in a gripping way, making her private choice a very public matter that sends ripples through her relationships. Sawyerr's sophomore novel uses the verse format stunningly to highlight the complexities woven into each of Truth's authentic and compelling relationships. The book deftly addresses restrictive policies related to abortion access while prioritizing Truth's talent, goals, and growth in a humanizing and inspirational way. Writing prompts interspersed throughout the text support readers' deep engagement. An unforgettable, dynamic, and emotionally resonant novel in verse. (author's note)(Verse fiction. 14-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.