The premise of this book was so promising but sadly the magical realism didn’t flow with the storyline for me. That does not lessen the impact of Henson’s story, however. This book deals with many serious but important topics such as racism, police brutality, grief, and slavery, and it could easily be adapted for teaching. This book would be a meaningful example of how Black people are still treated as if they “belong” to anyone but themselves and as if they are commodities that can be forced into action or life paths at the will of others. I know many parts of this book will stick with me for years.

In Great Mountain, Mississippi, Henson is a freshman varsity football prodigy in a predominantly white community. When a friend of his is brutally assaulted by cops, Henson awakens to the injustice of it all. As his father tries to change his mind by sharing their family’s history, Henson isn’t swayed. As the community starts threatening him to go back to playing football or else, Henson must decide what’s best for his friends, family, and himself. What will Henson decide?

The plot is well written, thought-provoking, and engaging. The characters are authentic, believable, and well developed. The political and racism undertones in the book are overbearing and may bother some readers. Readers who like realistic fiction, sport fiction, and standing up for what one believes in will want to pick this one up. Recommended for general purchase where such books are popular. 2 stars, Gr 6 to 8.

Though I loved the premise of this book--star athlete's life turned upside down when an incident with a police makes him more aware than ever of racial realities in his community--the writing style made it hard for me to get invested. It almost reminded me of Casey at Bat, in the way heightened way it was written that didn't feel quite like reality while dealing with a very real topic. That's fully a personal preference thing though, and I'm sure it will click better with others.