Jazz and baseball, first loves and best friends and poetry, an ending you will never see coming. Really life writ large and powerful and swinging. Best book of 2021.
Swing by Kwame Alexander
The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
Best book of 2020. Hands down. A poet slam you in the face kiss your lips hug you hard and make damn DAMN sure you have both eyes wide.
Thank You Skateboarding by Ricky Roberts III
A lovely homage and meditation on gratitude, life’s serious hard landings, community and heart. Short, punchy, worth closing at the end and starting right over for a second read.
Chlorine Sky, a novel by Mahogany L. Browne
Weirdly thoughtful & tough novel in verse about a young black woman coming into her own on the basketball court against the boys & in her heart & mind against the world’s version of herself. Cool, breezy, poetically tight & quick.
Stuntboy, In the Meantime by Jason Reynolds
Portico Reeves has anxiety, a best friend, and… a secret – HE’S A SUPERHERO! Excellent graphic novel/ YA Fiction/ urban adventure story. Like Miles Morales* for weenagers.
*Jason Reynolds also wrote that book! Stay tuned for review!
rez dogs by Joseph Bruchac
The most interesting, engaging and touching book I’ve read since Kwame Alexander’s “Swing”. Thoughtful and poignant, funny and present. Definitely building a lesson plan around it as we speak.