Comment

Jul 01, 2022
Jason Reynolds does it again with a phenomenal poem that covers a lot of hard-hitting issues important to teens today- police violence in the aftermath of George Floyd's murder in the first section and COVID in the second section. The third section ends on an uplifting note calling for change and each section ends with a meditative breath in, breathe out. The lines of the poem are accompanied by incredible illustrations from Jason Griffin that match the chaotic and uncertain mood. I really like this new trend of "picture books for teens" (see also: Cicada by Shaun Tan, Inheritance by Elizabeth Acevedo, and very loosely- The Words in my Hands by Asphyxia). It allows teens to engage with books and these deep themes, but in a way that is accessible for teens regardless of busy schedules and different reading levels.