All the Noise at Once - by Deandra Davis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Winner of the William C. Morris Debut YA Book Award
Three starred reviews!

A Black, autistic teen tries to figure out what happened the night his older brother was unjustly arrested in this "propulsive" (Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments), moving story about brotherhood, identity, and social justice.

All Aiden has ever wanted to do was play football just like his star quarterback brother, Brandon. An overstimulation meltdown gets in the way of Aiden making the team during summer tryouts, but when the school year starts and a spot unexpectedly needs to be filled, he finally gets a chance to play the game he loves.

However, not every player is happy about the new addition to the team, wary of how Aiden's autism will present itself on game day. Tensions rise. A fight breaks out. Cops are called.

Brandon interferes on behalf of his brother, but is arrested by the very same cops who, just hours earlier, were chanting his name from the bleachers. When he's wrongly charged for felony assault on an officer, everything Brandon has worked for starts to slip away, and the brothers' relationship is tested. As Brandon's trial inches closer, Aiden is desperate to figure out what really happened that night. Can he clear his brother's name in time?

Review Quotes

* "[A] propulsive debut. Aiden's intimate first-person perspective offers an organic portrayal of a Black autistic teen navigating social stigma and systemic racism. Writing nuanced and complexly rendered characters, family dynamics, and social commentary, Davis delivers a powerful portrayal of identity and siblinghood that's as gripping as it is thoughtful."--Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "A stellar debut about ignorance and privilege and the abuse of it that resonates beyond the final page."--School Library Journal, starred review "4/1/25"

* "A stunning debut that empathetically captures the nuances of being both Black and autistic with care and love. Aiden and Brandon's relationship as brothers is complex and layered, and readers will root for both of them and hope they reconcile their differences. At its heart, this is a story about brotherhood, family, the fight against police brutality and the carceral system, racism and anti-Blackness, and ableism through the autistic experience--all in all, it is essential reading about activism and collective action. Aiden's voice will linger long after you finish this riveting work."--Booklist, starred review

"An atmospheric gridiron tale that highlights the complexities of team sports, friendship, and bias."--Kirkus Reviews "2/1/25"

"Davis masterfully weaves a powerful story and elements of suspense with issues of race, social justice, and disability. Equal parts witty and heartbreaking, All The Noise at Once serves as a window into the Black autistic experience and as a beacon of hope for those our justice system has forgotten and failed. Easily one of the best books I've read all year."--Jay Coles, author of Tyler Johnson Was Here and Things We Couldn't Say

"In this winning debut, Davis tackles brotherhood, forgiveness, and unbreakable bonds with propulsive tension. Aiden is an unforgettable narrator whose sharp insight and wit will have readers rooting for him on and off the football field."--Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments

"Somehow both heart-wrenchingly beautiful and cramp-your-abs hilarious, All the Noise at Once is the warm hug my inner teenage autistic self desperately needed."--Sonora Reyes, National Book Award for Young People's Literature finalist of The Lesbiana's Guide to Catholic School

About the Author

DeAndra Davis is New York-born and Florida-bred. She's a hopeless musical theater nerd (Wicked is definitely her favorite), a perpetual student and teacher, and always trailed by a kid or a dog because she has way too many of both. She has an opinion for everything, an argument ready, and a hug for everyone, and she thinks you should, too. She is the author of All the Noise at Once, winner of the William C. Morris Award for best young adult debut book, and The Lovers, the Liars, and Me. DeAndra can be found on most socials @DeAndraWrites.