This Thing of Ours

by Frederick Joseph. Candlewick Press. May, 2025

Frederick Joseph is a celebrated poet and nonfiction author. He writes to engage young readings in critical ways to understand how white supremacy and racism permeates our society while providing them with hope for true change. While this is his first work of fiction for young adults, he previously wrote The Black Friend On Being A Better White Person for this age group. Joseph can be found on Instagram.

In This Thing of Ours, Ossie Brown is a young Black man whose basketball prowess has gotten him accepted into a prestigious, predominately white private high school. His career was suddenly derailed after an injury on the court. As an athlete, Ossie took his talent, and the privileges it gave him, for granted. But, when he was made to realize that he been given a platform, he had to decide how to use it.

What works: Written in first person, this novel provides the inner thoughts of a young Black teen developing into manhood. Ossie is able to listen to those around him and to learn from them in ways that will allow him to work for the liberation of others, not only himself. Through interactions with gay and BIPOC characters, Ossie (and readers) realize the importance of solidarity.

After his injury, Ossie is forced to see his surroundings in new ways, creating an awareness he’s never had. Joseph presents this growth in ways that aren’t didactic. Using the school to represent an institution of racism and homophobia is something young readers can easily identify with. Joseph presents social issues that are so relevant to today’s political situation, allowing readers to understand what’s at stake while also giving them tools and hope for change.

What doesn’t work: The story is limited by the stereotypes of all white people (and their institutions) being bigots and almost all BIPOC characters being woke. It would really be nice to read a story of a predominantly white institution that engages with BIPOC students in ways that explore the privileges they earn by attending these schools, what allyship could look like, both the benefits and liabilities of attending these schools, and more insidious ways tokenism is expressed. It would be nice to get something different stories set in private schools.

I couldn’t understand the animosity between Ossie and his mother, and I needed the grandmother to deliver more than magical Negro qualities.

Pass It OR Grab It? This could be a good addition to a high school or public library with students who have an interest in books about private schools, athletes, or who want a solid Black male romance.