Synopsis
A blockbuster mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names—this page-turning thriller is perfect for fans ofKaren McManus, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson.
“Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp.” —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
“A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery.” —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End
The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students—J.B., Ramón, and Trey—emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive—and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?
Find out who killed Principal Moore in Nick Brooks’s murder mystery, Promise Boys—The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying.
The Good
A. Mystery – It is an actual mystery with suspects, clues, victim who was murdered, and reveals.
B. Commentary on Black & brown majority schools
-how the boys are treated/seen
– Black savior (generally male) principal who treats kids like criminals or people who need to be straightened.
-weird narrative around saving Black & brown students
C. Represent Black men and boys relationship.
D. Represents Black and brown boys in general.
E. Get to see Black culture in school.
F. Giving empathy and nuance to many people who usually do not get it.
G. Has visions of ways Promise Prep and other schools like it (maybe) can improve.
The Bad
Story is on the nose about its messages at times.
The Meh
The culprit(s) was eh.
Thoughts
I. Black Majority Schools
A. Promise Prep gives dystopia easily like if they went further left this could be a dystopia school.
Also, it feels like they are taming wild animals or preparing these kids for jail.
B. Capture’s the weird philosophy around underprivileged Black & brown schools.
C. Would love to see a girl version of Promise Boys to show things Black and brown girls deal with in these types of schools.
D. The change in setting from a white majority school means that so much gets to be represented that usually is not represented.
II. Discipline
A. Why is discipline the only solution for Black and brown (and boys in general)? Discipline is used to fix poverty, all inequalities at these schools/ communities, and basically everything.
Is half of the things they are punished for worth the punishment? Then again are the kid’s guardians preparing for the world that treats them/sees them in a certain way?
B. This separation of the boys from being kids/young thus not being allowed the benefit of doubt or to make mistakes. Why does everyone assume they are guilty until proven innocent? Does it seem like adults are just waiting for kids mess up so they can set up a message especially for these kids?
C. Anger is the only emotion folks/society accept from Black & brown boys.
III. Black & YA & Mystery
– I am excited at the moment about the influx of Black ya mysteries we are getting this year. I say so far because I was excited about Black ya horror last year but that underwhelmed me.
-I am ready for a non-racial centered mystery for Black folks.
IV. The ending gives movie.
I received this for review from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group via bookishfirst
themollyweather 