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Kings of B'more
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December 2022 BotM - Kings of B'more
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I'll keep this spoiler-free. I totally enjoyed this book. I've never watched the movie that inspired the boys' big day together, so I can't say how much the film may or may not have influenced the events here, but the friendship between Harrison and Linus was funny and sweet. This isn't a plot-driven story but a wonderful exploration of platonic love between two queer black boys. Realistic dialogue and a diverse cast of side characters keep things lively. The author touches on some darker themes, including racism, but that in no way diminished my enjoyment.
Gene wrote: "I'll keep this spoiler-free. I totally enjoyed this book. I've never watched the movie that inspired the boys' big day together, so I can't say how much the film may or may not have influenced the ..."Oh good - I own it but haven't opened it yet. I don't know the movie either, so I'm glad that wasn't an obstacle.
Two Black, queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by celebrated cultural critic and bestselling Here For It author R. Eric Thomas.
With junior year starting in the fall, Harrison feels like he's on the precipice of, well, everything. Standardized testing, college, and the terrifying unknowns and looming pressures of adulthood after that--it's like the future wants to eat him alive. Which is why Harrison is grateful that he and his best friend Linus will face these things together. But at the end of a shift at their summer job, Linus invites Harrison to their special spot overlooking the city to deliver devastating news: he's moving out of state at the end of the week.
To keep from completely losing it--and partially inspired by a cheesy movie-night pick by his Dad--Harrison plans a send-off � la Ferris Bueller's Day Off that's worthy of his favorite person. If they won't be having all the life-expanding experiences they thought they would, Harrison will squeeze them all into their last day. They end up on a mini road trip, their first Pride, and a rooftop dance party, all while keeping their respective parents, who track them on a family location app, off their trail. Harrison and Linus make a pact to do all the things--big and small--they've been too scared to do. But nothing feels scarier than saying goodbye to someone you love.
Content Warnings: (view spoiler)[parental abandonment, racism, harassment, mental illness (hide spoiler)]
I look forward to seeing what our members think of this one. If you want to comment on something that may be a story spoiler, you can hide it by putting <*spoiler> (without the *) ahead of it, and <*/spoiler> (without the *) after it - eg. (view spoiler)[hide the info. (hide spoiler)]