By H.D. Hunter, Farrar Straus Girous Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing Group, 2024
Background information of author: H. D. Hunter is a teaching artist and community organizer. He is the author of the middle grade series Futureland. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/authors/2256833/hd-hunter/ In a interview with Rob Bowen, of Citywide Blackout, Hunter mentions this is his young adult debut. He wrote this book in 2019 but made many changes before it was officially published in 2024. He wanted to write a teen romance book from a male perspective that dispels some stereotypes.
Synopsis of the book: Xavier (Zay) gets into a violent fight in his first month of junior year in high school. He gets expelled from his district school and has to attend Broadlawn, an alternative school, in order to complete the academic year. Broadlawn is basically a learning center where every kid who’s been expelled from his/her district school “comglomerates”. Hunter says “it’s not the nicest place. They don’t have the resources and it’s sort of a situation where a lot of the educational decision makers have given up on this particular group of kids.” While attending Broadlawn, Zay has to live with his aunt and her boyfriend, Smith. Zay also meets and falls for a new female student name Feven. Her parents moved into another district school. That district school was overcrowded and Feven had to enroll in Broadlawn instead. Hunter states “the rest of the story is this balance between Zay trying to find redemption and his personal academic life and get back to his district school and kind of make his wrongs right. Also exploring these new feelings with this person that he cares about and trying not to mess that up but also knowing that there’s sort of a built-in end date to when they can pursue that relationship because both of them are of course trying to go back to their rightful places.”
What works: Zay’s character who has a tough exterior but is also sensitive and a nerd. Zay navigating his “love” for Feven. Kenny, who befriends Zay and gives him an orientation of the school. Aunt Mel and her boyfriend’s relationship. All of these characters help shape and develop Zay into the person he is becoming. Hunter also does a good job integrating family dynamics and school to prison pipeline themes.
What doesn’t work: Some readers may be offended by the profanity in the book. Some readers may think that Zay is too sensitive. I was neither offended and I certainly found Zay’s sensitivity endearing.
Grab it: This is a refreshing and realistic story about romance, relationships, family and identity from a biracial young adult male perspective. The story is well written, humorous at times, and emotional. The characters in the story have unique personalities and Hunter does an excellent job in portraying and developing them. This book could be a great discussion starter on romance, family, and relationships.
Black Cotton Reviewers 