A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning middle grade novel in verse from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again. It's the summer before high school and Isaiah feels lost. He thought this summer was going to be just him and his homies Drew and Darius, hangin' out, doing wheelies, and watching martial arts movies--a lot of chillin' before high school and the Future. But more and more, Drew will barely talk to him--barely even look at him--and though he won't admit it, Isaiah knows it's because of Darius, because Darius is...gone. And Isaiah wasn't even there when it happened, with his best friend in his final moments. But he's going to be there now. Him and Drew both, they're gonna spend the summer breaking every single record they can think of, for Darius, for his dream of breaking world records. But Drew's not the same Drew, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn't
“Reminiscent of Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye.” ―The New York Times“One of the best books I have ever read…will live in the hearts of readers for the rest of their lives.” ―Colby Sharp, founder of Ne
A Newbery Honor BookWinner of the Correta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author AwardA Morris Award FinalistAn NPR Favorite Book of 2019A School Library Journal Best Middle Grade Book of 2019A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of 2019This deeply sensitive and powerful debut novel tells the story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.There are ninety-six things Genesis hates about herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list. Like #95: Because her skin is so dark, people call her charcoal and eggplant—even her own family. And #61: Because her family is always being put out of their house, belongings laid out on the sidewalk for the world to see. When your dad is a gambling addict and loses the rent money every month, eviction is a regular occurrence.What’s not so regular is that this time they all don’t have a place to crash, so Genesis and her mom have to stay with her gr
From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Genesis Begins Again comes a shimmering picture book that shines the light on Zora Neale Hurston, the extraordinary writer and storycatcher extraordinaire who
