Promise Boys - by Nick Brooks

This story explores biases and stereotypes while 3 innocent high school boys are accused of killing their principal. All 3 of them were in detention the day he was shot and they had all seemingly disappeared from the room around the same time. They all had motive and had been witnessed fighting with Principal Moore that day before detention. What’s the real story? I liked the inclusion of outside voices. We get a look at how the community viewed the boys with their own biased eyes. Of course this kid seemed like a thug, so he must have done it; even though nobody knew he hated guns and was terrified of not getting to play basketball and get a college scholarship. This kid was a troublemaker because he was quiet and was family with gang members even though he just wanted to be able to save money to own his own restaurant. I’m glad we were able to get intimate looks into the thoughts of the 3 boys and were able to see who they really were despite how others painted them in rumors. There’s always more to someone then what may be seen on the outside. This story is also under 300 pages so it’s a fast paced thriller with plenty of twist and turns to keep you interested.

Loved this book, pacing, voice, mystery, loved it all. Great for my students!!

Overall I really enjoyed reading this book! I thought the style and the premise were super interesting and it really held my attention. It was a quick and easy read while still touching on important topics in an interesting way. (Included spoilers below) Pros: I really loved the characters and how unique and different they were from each other. I loved the style of the book and how it was broken up into different sections as well as different characters. I liked how easy it felt to read and the flow of the book (it didn't feel like it started to drag on at any point). I really enjoyed the end of the book and the year-later report, it tied up the book nicely. Cons: Because there were so many characters and side characters, it felt kind of difficult to get to know any of the characters. I did easily predict the actual murderer in the book which was disappointing, I wish things were more ambiguous throughout the book. I also wish we got more insight into the characters' lives. I would have loved to see more about Mrs. Hall and the cop as well as all three of the main boys.

This was the best book that I've read in a long while. I love the format of this book. There are multiple characters and viewpoints, some that we only get to experience once but they each have a meaning and purpose. I loved each voice and the journey that each chapter brings us as we head to the end reveal. The different POV's also makes it a very quick read. Trey, Ramon, and JB are suspects in the murder of their school principal.They are all student of a very strict and, supposedly, very achieving prep school called Urban Promise Prep. UPP is supposed to help you minority men succeed in life, but instead it's a prison where the young students are herded around and easily punished. These 3 young men all claim innocence and take the readers through their individual day before and day of the murder. Each of them have a motive and means to have committed the murder, but who really did it? I have to say the writing was great and the plot did have you hanging until the end. I was about 80% of the way through before I had a good feeling on who did it. I won't tell you if I was right or wrong! I was invested from the get go and I really recommend this read, not only for the plot and voices that I mentioned earlier, but also the important commentary on racism and how society views young Black or Latino men. This school was supposed to help them succeed but it instead enforced ridiculous rules, as if they were already criminals. It was a 5 out of 5 stars for me.

A fantastic YA novels for fans of The Hate U Give. This is a contemporary urban tale revolving around life in a highly disciplined all-boys high school. It will grab your attention while also being a fairly fast read since it is divided into numerous short chapters, ranging in length from a couple sentences to a couple pages. The first-person narrator changes with each chapter and rotates through a long cast of characters from teens to their various extended family members, their teachers, students in other schools, and of course the principal of Urban Promise Prep School whose murder is the subject of the very first sentence in the book. The "promise" part of the school's name is a nod to its promise to take boys whose families lack income, stability, civility or any combination of those in their under-served communities and turn them into well-educated, morally and mentally strong individuals with numerous opportunities for college scholarships. As with any organization or product that promises 100% success, there are some weak links in the chain and some grandiose promises that cover up problems. One of many strengths of PROMISE BOYS is its handling of the numerous issues that plague cities and the people who call it home. It is clear that no one issue carries all the guilt for trouble nor all the glory for success. The author's writing rings true and conversations sound authentic; Nick Brooks is from Washington,D.C. - the setting of this novel. In addition, this young author had experience as a teacher with at-risk youth. The changing POV's capture the frustration of adults who see flaws in the U.P.P. School program and administration as well as the the highly charged emotional highs and lows of the teenagers. Every chapter adds a new detail and raises a new doubt about who could or could not be involved inthe murder. Excellent writing that provides a story sure to be a hit for YA audiences but also for any adult who enjoyed books such as 'Long Way Down' by Jason Reynolds or 'The Hate U Give' by Angie Thomas. However, I found PROMISE BOYS to be even better than both of those outstanding books.

Urban Promise Prep School is a school for the "lost boys" of the DC school system, founded by its strict, rigid, authoritarian principal, Kenneth Moore. During a Friday night basketball game, Moore is found shot dead in his office. There are three primary suspects, J.B., Trey and Ramon. All are students, two are Black, and the third is Latino, each facing their own challenges. They were all supposed to be in detention at the time of the murder. None have an alibi, and all have a motive. Promise Boys is cleverly written, made up of a compilation of chapters from the perspectives of key characters, as well as articles and interviews with witnesses, other students and parents. The story is intense, fast-paced and hooks the reader right away. More than just a murder mystery, Promise Boys explores some serious issues such as racism, poverty, abuse, gun violence, incarceration, urban gangs, and the failure of the educational system. It's clear to J.B., Trey and Ramon that black and brown boys get no benefit of the doubt and no presumption of innocence. Promise Boys is gripping, powerful and deserving of all the hype. It would also make an amazing film.

When the principal of an urban prep school is murdered, three students are named as suspects. Can the boys work together to figure out who the real killer is… or is it actually one of them? I had read a sample of PROMISE BOYS weeks ago and wasn’t sure if it was going to be the right YA book for me. I love a good mystery; however, the synopsis didn't catch my attention in the way that other books have. Even so, I decided to give it a chance when I saw it available at my library. I liked that there were multiple narrators as that can make a book very interesting when you get to see multiple characters' perspectives. The problem I found was that many of the narrators sounded too similar. Additionally, some of them were inconsistent within their voice. The concept of having numerous characters tell their stories combined with transcripts of police interviews and text messages of the main characters was cool but ultimately wasn’t enough to hold my attention sufficiently. I found myself feeling bored during parts and wanting to get to the end just to find out what happens. It took a significant portion of the book to finally get to the boys investigating the murder themselves. The ending felt too fast and seemed like it resolved things almost too nicely. A great part of this book though is the keenly observed social commentary sprinkled throughout. This wasn’t a favorite read of mine, though I think PROMISE BOYS will hit better with a young adult audience.

The Urban Promise Prep School claims to turn boys into men. Trey, Ramon, and J.B., as students, have to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. They have been told that strong discipline is what is required to be college bound and to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. They call it the Principal Moore Method, and supposedly it saves lives. However, when Principal Moore is discovered murdered and the cops start investigating, the three young men become the prime suspects. While all three promise they are innocent, they must work together to discover who the real killer is before they are arrested. But is the real murderer hiding among them? The storyline was well written and the suspense kept me interested the whole time. It kept me guessing the whole time and the ending was well done. I was worried it was going to be a little too juvenile like some young adult books can be but it wasn't.