Lu

Satisfying ending to a middle grade series with so much heart, authenticity, and humor. Reynolds' facility with language remains impressive and his messages here are delivered without being didactic. Guy Lockard did such a great job with the audio books, will miss listening to these.

Oh, Jason Reynolds, you can tell a story! Not only do you write a story that is a-can't-put-it-down-read-to-the-end story, but it's a story that shares Important Things About Life without (miraculously) shoving the story or the morals down your throat.

Almost nobody else in the world, not even our very, very best writers, can do this.

Lu is the story of an albino boy in a hard-working black family who is trying to do hurdles and keeps messing up. His dad has had problems in the past. His coach has had problems in the past. His friends have had problems in the past.

In short, everybody in the story has troubles. In short, it is a very real book.

Jason Reynolds, I adore you. I hope you are writing away. We need more books from you.