Amani.
Innocent.
Wrongfully convicted.
Wrong place.
Wrong time.
Artist.
Friend.
Student.
Serving a sentence he doesn't deserve.

Ibi Izoboi and Yusef Salaad of the Exonerated five explore so many different topics that plague our society today in this stunning novel in verse. The authors show readers what life is like serving a wrongful conviction, living through racism, and exposing the school-to-prison pipeline. But they also take a deep look at art. How art, poetry, drawing, painting can help people express themselves, heal, and provide them with hope.

This novel does contain some string language, however, I would not let that stop me from putting it in my middle school classroom. I think it would be beneficial for more mature middle schoolers to read and definitely appropriate for high school students. Novels such as this one are so powerful, and deserve a space on every bookshelf. This book was released on Tuesday September 1st and is available anywhere you purchase books.

Amal is unjustly sentenced to prison - touches on racism, a boy's relationship with his mother (Umi in Arabic). This story is written in verse - there are some beautiful passages that made me pause for thought... and in addition to telling a story, isn't the point to make the readers feel what you, the writer, feel? I hope I am. It is a timely story, one that I will recommend to students - however, I feel like I would be more likely to recommend Dear Martin than Punching the Air. Thanks to #NetGalley for the opportunity to preview #PunchingTheAir by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam.

My name is Amal / and Amal means / hope means there / is still a tomorrow // But there's no future in these / four walls four walls / boxing me in boxing me in / so I punch the air // shadowbox with God / spar with all four of these / corners as if they are all / different versions of me

This is such an incredible novel — beautiful imagery in powerful verse. There are so many passages I wish I could quote, but I don't want to rob you of the impact of encountering them in context. If you're not into poetry, don't let that dissuade you. It's a quick read (unless you count the time you spend re-reading the parts you highlighted the first time through) and it delivers a clear narrative that touches on so many relevant contemporary issues. Racism and stereotyping and gentrification and the shortfalls in our education system and the school to prison pipeline and the judicial system and art and poetry and brotherhood and family and hope and love.

The surface story is relatively simple, although, as with any life, there's nothing really simple about it: Amal is a boy, a poet, a son, a skater, a student, an artist who is boxed in to the wrong place at the wrong time and is wrongfully arrested, charged, convicted, incarcerated. A process that is gut-wrenchingly and convincingly portrayed in all it's parallels to the processes of slavery. He struggles to hold on to his humanity, his voice, his art, his hope.

This would be perfect for class discussion and book clubs, but it's also perfect as a solo, sit-with-it read. It definitely crosses age groups: it could work for upper middle graders (especially those ready to move to something more personal and mature after reading "From the Desk of Zoe Washington") as well as YA and adults. It would pair well with Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Readers) and Stamped, and should appeal to readers of Jason Reynolds, Elizabeth Acevedo, Angie Thomas, and Ibi Zoboi's previous books.

Content notes: Racism, prejudice, physical violence, disturbing racist imagery, the N-word, police brutality

Punching the Air by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam is a definite must read for everyone! I do not even think I have the right words to describe the beauty of this story! The story will capture your attention, live in your heart, and stay on your mind for a long time! I just ordered the audiobook to enjoy the story again in a different way. Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. If I could give more than a five star review, I would!

An excellent examination of systemic racism and the school-to-prison-pipeline. This novel-in-verse is a quick and harrowing read that underscores the ways in which institutionalized racism can ruin young lives.

One of the best stories I have read this year. Amal's story is simply one I won't soon forget. An outstanding YA verse novel.

Stunning. One of those novels that makes you pause in its beauty. And to pause and reflect in the message. I found myself reevaluating my own ideas, thoughts, perceptions. This is a novel that also made me angry at our society; the systems we've created and continued, the utter wrongness.

Amal is "seen" by one guard and it struck me how the small gestures of compassion and understanding were what helped Amal keep his head above water. I was struck by how small actions have big impacts ... which connects beautifully with the butterfly metaphor.

I was struck by how Cheryl-Ann Buford assumes to "Amal" and how easy it is to pass a quick judgment, especially easier when steeped in racism, on a person and think that you know them. How often do we not pause and connect and listen and do the actual work to understand people around us?

The only thing I would have wished for in this book was artwork. I would have loved to see some visual representation of what Amal was creating with his words. I was able to read an advanced copy via NetGalley so it is possible that in the final edition artwork was included.

Written by Ibi Zoboi (Pride, American Street) and Dr. Yusef Salaam (of the Exonerated Five), Punching The Air is a book that everyone needs to read right now. Not only does it expertly show the many institutions (school system, justice system, prison system) that have failed Black people, especially Black youth, but poignantly portrays all of Amal’s various experiences. Beautifully written in verse, Punching The Air truly allows you to feel and experience everything that Amal goes through. From school to the fight, to the courtroom, to the prison cell, everything in Punching The Air is so visceral.

As Punching The Air is the first book I’ve read written completely in verse, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect in terms of how it would tell the story. As it was written in verse, you truly felt as though the words you were reading were from Amal’s notebook, were written upon a piece of paper he was given. At every turn of the page, you were fully immersed in Amal’s life every step of the way. While the verse makes it a book that one can read quickly, by no means is it in an easy read. It tackles subject matter that is oftentimes hard to read but is also the reality for Black youth in America and beyond.

The emotional depth that Punching The Air has is truly unmatched. The rollercoaster of emotions that Amal goes through are the same emotions that become your own as you continue to read the novel. The weight and impact of Amal’s voice is powerful throughout the novel. We know that he truly never got the chance to be or feel like a kid because society is set up in a way that doesn’t see Black children as such. At every turn, he’s experienced a multitude of racism whether it’s perpetuated by other people or whether it’s a system that is set up in a way to discriminate against people, Amal continuously feels like there is no escape. However, despite how everything in the world is set up against him, Amal is still able to find hope which bursts forth in his art and poetry.

Beautifully written and impactful, Punching The Air needs to be added to everyone’s to be read lists immediately.

It’s ok; judge this book by its cover. The inside is every bit as beautiful as the cover art.

The story begins in the courtroom, and we immediately enter Amal’s confusion about his new reality. This book-in-verse will easily coax those generally scared away by the number of pages into falling into the narrative, much the way Elizabeth Acevedo did with The Poet X. Readers sympathize with Amal as he adjusts to residency at a juvenile detention facility, from alliances to education to therapy to guards to visitation. Zoboi and Salaam wisely withhold the background of Amal’s courtroom appearance, opting to reveal it in pieces along the way. That decision makes Amal’s confusion more realistic and generates sympathy quickly.

As a teacher in an alternative education facility, I have encountered students that have had legal matters or juvenile detention in their personal histories. This story speaks to their experiences, and I believe that my students or a book club would greatly benefit from reading and discussing this together.

This ARC was provided by B&B/Harper Collins via NetGalley.

I can't say enough about this book, written by two powerhouses. Through powerful verse, Amal tells us the story of his life, how he was targeted and scapegoated in school, and how this led to his becoming involved in a crime that went sideways. He compellingly narrates his journey through the court system and juvenile detention. This book resonated strongly with me given my background as an educator in Boston, as well as in a prison in Massachusetts. This book is a must read.

I received this Advance Reader Copy from @netgalley. Here is my honest review of this text.

Punching the Air is an incredibly important book given our current climate and culture. Far too many young, Black folks are having their futures ripped away at the hands of racist policing and unfair judicial proceedings.

Amal is a poet and artist who makes a few bad choices resulting in him being in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is accused of a crime that he did not commit. Punching the Air follows Amal's journey through the juvenile detention system. As he struggles to recognize himself within the confines of his cell, Amal continues to turn to art and poetry to help him remain connected to his humanity.

The co-author, Yusef Salaam, is providing first hand knowledge about Amal's experiences as he is part of The Exonerated Five. This YA novel joins the call for prison reform and more just policing practices. The free verse format of this book helps make it more easily accessible to all ability levels. Be sure to add this to you TBR! Overall, 5 out of 5 stars.

This book left me in tears. It was so heartfelt. The structure was a sweet balance to the incredibly tough content. This book will be powerful as an independent reading book, but I could see it working well in classrooms and books clubs as there is SO much to discuss. I loved it and I can't wait to listen to the audiobook.

Beautifully crafted, heart-wrenching, gut-twisting. Amal was convicted of a crime he didn't commit... wrong time, wrong place, wrong color... he's in juvie. When all he'd rather do is read, write his poetry, and create his art. But even those loves may not be possible for this flightless butterfly... for now anyway... because he intends to fly. This is a must read for adults and young adults. I couldn't put it down!

Thanks to Netflix, I've read this verse novel by award-winning novelist Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five that follows the tragic result of one night Amal Shahid, sixteen and an artist and a poet, but seen in a different and biased way because he is black. This night, a fight over boundaries that have appeared because of gentrification becomes Amal's tragedy. His time in a juvenile detention center even though innocent is shouted and cursed, cried and whispered by him through poignant words written by Zoboi and Salaam.
Consider the months lived recently and then read Amal's words with empathy if you want to know his truth. In part:
"On the day of my
conviction
I forget
my school ID
number
my top three
colleges
my class schedule"

Don't miss it!

I couldn't put this book down and there were parts I just had to read out loud (to myself AND others) because the way the words were written on the page was too much to keep to myself. My heart was both broken and put back together multiple times throughout the story. I hope to add this title to the lit circle options for 8th grade ELA this year.

This was a powerful book full of both pain and hope. It speaks to how hard it can be to stay true to who we are in the face of how others choose to see us. This story is co-written by Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam, who was one of the "Exonerated Five" in the Central Park Jogger case.. Amal, in imprisoned after taking part in a street brawl where the black boys are guilty by default. Abused by a system that confuses forced violent compliance with rehabilitation, Amal uses art and poetry to express his hopes, fears and regrets, while holding fast to those he loves outside to keep him strong within them.

If I could give this book more than five stars, I would! A novel in verse that reflects what Yusef went through as part of the Exonerated Five. The imagery with sometimes very few words in the page will leave you stunned. Such a riveting story that you won't want to put down until you finish it!

Loosely based on Yusef Salaam's experience as part of the (now) Exonerated Five, Punching the Air also draws inspiration from other stories of racial injustice like the Jena Six and the Scottsboro Boys. This novel in verse has a lyrical cadence that is both relevant to the current political climate and is beautifully devastating in how it addresses the unfairness of the criminal justice system. Zoboi's verse uses powerful, and often simple, language to draw the reader in and leaves them decrying the racial injustice that still exists in both the justice and prison systems.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

There is as much beauty as there is pain in this story. As Amal struggles to come to terms with what has happened, we learn about what lead to the choices he made. Reading this was almost as hard as watching DuVernay’s When They See Us because of the injustice on top of injustice.

It’s a great reminder for teachers to decolonize our classrooms and curriculums.

This is a powerful, moving story about the school to prison pipeline. It was a hard read, content-wise, but an important one. The poetry itself is astounding, and the story of finding hope, purpose, and a voice even when the world is trying to box you in is awe-inspiring. I cannot wait to see PUNCHING THE AIR spread its wings and fly. It's truly a tour de force for our times.