This was a novel in verse set in the 80’s. The main character was a struggling student that had a passion for rap. While I really liked the concept of this book, the format of talking to the future was very distracting to me, and made it hard for me to enjoy this book.

Hand this book to someone who is neurodiverse or to someone who needs to understand how individuals with neuro diversity think and act. This book is extremely informative and the novel in verse format makes it easy to digest.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Kids for the ARC of this book.

I enjoyed this read and found it to be a well-written novel in verse that offers many literary allusions and puts center stage the challenges that can be associated with experiencing, being diagnosed with, and treated for ADHD. I could see some young readers struggling with this book because it doesn’t really have a typical narrative arc with a climax/significant action; however, the nature of its format (verse) does make it a fast read and it could prove to be a good addition in a poetic forms unit or unit in disability studies.

I would place this book in upper middle school/lower high school. Although Pernell is heading into his senior year of high school, I think that much of this book would resonate with students at the beginning of their high school career, particularly because students often prefer reading about people who are a few years older than them. It is also refreshing to read a book without a lot of swearing or other material that makes it hard to recommend to readers of a variety of ages.

If anyone loves poetic prose and short chapters, the book would be for you.
Sadly my brain, late diagnosed autism. When there’s a lot of short chapters and written in like magical realism, I have the hardest time understanding.

Thank you for the arc.

Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Blackstone Publishing, and Idris Goodwin for the opportunity to read King of the Neuro Verse in exchange for an honest review.

King of the Neuro Verse is a novel told in a poetic verse style. Let's take a loot at the title for a moment. The main character, Pernell, has ADHD. It's his third year of summer school English. At summer school, there is a group of kids who like to cypher. In poetic terms, this is basically going around in a circle and taking turns saying poetry, often bouncing of what others say. So, a poetry circle, kind of like for beats! The students love their cipher time, and Pernell shows some skills that dub him the Cypher King. English is challenging for him when it comes to deeper meaning, but when applied to a poetic form, he gets it! The Neuro aspect to the title likely refers to Pernell being neurodivergent, and it's the poetic beats that help him make connections.

The novel takes place in 1999, an important element to how ADHD is perceived at the time, especially by educators. When his summer school teacher has a last minute emergency, his least favorite teacher takes up the role. He thinks she's out to get him, but really, there is a disconnect between the teacher and Pernell's best way of learning information. Once they have a discussion about his ADHD, he aims to use his unique way of learning as an advantage to learning the English curriculum.

This novel is a well-written exploration of self-expression featuring a Black teen with ADHD. The poetic verse style offers its own beat for the reader, and gives it a more joyful bounce while Pernell navigates through summer school, ADHD, poetry cyphers, and his long-standing romantic crush. It makes for a unique, diverse, and fun novel for teen readers.

Thank you so much to the publisher, author, and NetGalley! We need more books like this. Thank you so much to Goodwin for putting this book out into the world. I'm really looking forward to seeing it show up in my library. A great hi-lo suggestion for a large group of youth.

This is a really interesting story. The format was unique and fit the story really well. There were times where things were a little unclear or confusing; I had to do a fair amount of reread to clarify what was happening. There were also some plot points and ideas that I wish were explored or explained.

Overall, this was good read, and I think it will really resonate with some readers.

Thank you so much to Simon Teen for approving me for this ARC.

This book is one of my favorite in-verse novels that I've read. For the third consecutive summer, Pernell is facing summer school. He has always faced the same struggles with learning, so it feels more like a battlefield than a high school. His English teacher is out for him, his parents are pressuring him to see a doctor for his ADHD, and his best friend, Electra, is too busy chasing her dreams to give him the time of day. He also wants to become Cypher King, who is the leader of the lunchroom's rap battles. He will lose everything, including not graduating from high school, if he doesn't find a way to succeed with his ADHD.

I may not be the correct audience for this book, but I loved how this book will become an impactful one. It was frustrating, though. Pernell knows exactly how to conquer his ADHD, but no one seems to understand what works best. His English teacher doesn't exactly give a crap, and instead of working with him, Ms. Harding decides to yell, fight, and fail him. It shines a light into the real world on how many children aren't diagnosed correctly and are just thrown aside in our education system. I especially love the integration of music and rap in this book and how it helped with Pernell's feelings and thoughts, and the way it helps with his chaotic mind. It shows that not everyone is straightforward with their thinking, and not everyone learns the same.

Overall, I loved this. I feel like this is a great representation of being a teenager with ADHD. It's vulnerable and covers a hard topic, but does it in such a joyful way that it makes you feel like it's going to be okay.

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

I flew through this book. I really connected with Pernell and his struggles with ADD. This story of him making his way through school, finding things that helped calm his mind and allowed him to process was so powerful. I LOVED the nostalgia of the 90's that came through and seeing and hearing about some of my favorite artists. The lyrical way this was written was such a treat. I read this book from start to finish in a day!

Pernell has ADHD and is in summer school for the third summer in a row. He finds he can’t stay connected but finds rapping and music help him with his creative and chaotic mind. When his summer school teacher comes in (not his favorite), he asks her “ What can I teach you? “
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

🧠🎶🎙️ Thank you to NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Idris Goodwin for the chance to read this wonderful book.

King of the Neuro Verse was a fun read and a relatable one too! While I don't have ADHD like Pernell, I have dyslexia, so I understand his struggles with school and life in general. When one's brain functions a little differently it really does impact everything. I love seeing stories from a neurodivergent perspective brought forward. King of the Neuro Verse will be an excellent addition to school libraries. I know if I would have picked this book up when I was younger, it would have made me feel seen.

The only thing I got stuck on is the age range. I kept thinking the characters were younger than they were because they felt (to me at least) like they were in middle school rather than high school.

I did love the characters, however! Especially Pernell and Electra. I wish there was more to the book so I could continue to follow along with their stories. I'm sad to let them go.

⭐⭐⭐⭐.5/5

🧠🎶🎙️🧠🎶🎙️🧠🎶🎙️🧠🎶🎙️🧠🎶🎙️🧠🎶

Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy.

I truly adore this book. As an English teacher, I really disliked Harding. She never tried to understand what works best for P. I’ve had to adapt my instruction to meet the needs of all learners.

I also love that the book takes you through what it’s like to have ADHD as a kid. The representation is also appreciated.

There is so much to love in King of the Neuro Verse. There's joy, understanding, self-discovery, and 90s nostalgia. But most importantly, there's an insight into ADHD that feels authentic and vulnerable.

I think what I loved most about King of the Neuro Verse was the joy that Pernell expressed and experienced. He found himself surrounded by friends and family that supported him and helped him to discover his innate talents. He was allowed the opportunity to explore an artistic outlet that worked for him, both through the cyphers and seemingly innocuous conversations with the future. Idris Goodwin did a phenomenal job articulating and showing that not everyone has the same learning style, and when adults acknowledge and embrace that, they allow their children and students to shine.

As someone who was just diagnosed with ADHD in my early 40s and who was a high school senior graduating in 2000, this book felt like a time capsule. It reminded me of why I became an educator and how important it is to see everyone as individuals, not just the characteristics that they or others would use to describe them. Idris Goodwin has written a book that shares the human experience in a vulnerable and joyful way.

I enjoy a book that gives the reader a glimpse into the life of another. Whether it is their personal struggles or their environmental woes, Goodwin does justice for those not only in high school but those that deal with not being the "norm". As an educator, I rooted for Ms. Harding to open her mind and her heart. Our education system and the ways one was once taught has to change with the times. Finding what motivates our students and allowing their individuality and creativity to expound on their knowledge is key these days. This is definitely a book on my personal library shelf.

my first ARC read! I enjoyed this book immensely. I think that the writing flowed very well from words to lyrics back to words again. My favorite scene is when he is speaking with his mother. it was super validating and emotional. I think the writing was poetic and the story was quick and fun! I love a short read so I feel like this book had the perfect pacing. Side note, the cover is just gorgeous. as a book lover and graphic designer, consider me impressed!

I did not finish.
For a book to written well in verse, it must flow, and this did not do that. Each line break felt choppy and hard to follow. It was also just kind of boring. I gave it a few chapters, but never could get into it.

The 2 stars are for the ADHD representation and a really cool cover..

A quick read. This one is in verse and is about a boy going to summer school for the third ywar in a row, the summer before his senior year of high school. He enjoys having Cypher battles with other students and really lives for the rhyme. Unfortunately, he doesn't focus well in school and his nemesis, English Teacher Ms. Harding, is the summer school teacher. An interesting look at ADHD. I found it frustrating that no one had tested this kid before his senior year, despite the problems he admits to having in school throughout his career.

Idris Goodwin’s King of the Neuro Verse dives into the mind of a protagonist with ADHD, using the power of rap and music to mirror his chaotic, yet creative thought process. The story captures how music, specifically hip-hop, helps him make sense of his world, offering both clarity and chaos in equal measure. Through a mix of poetic prose and rhythmic flow, Goodwin illustrates how the protagonist's connection to rap becomes a vital tool for navigating his thoughts and emotions. This fusion of music and narrative creates a unique, dynamic experience, showing how the beats of rap can provide both grounding and liberation in a fragmented mind.

OMG!!!! As someone who has ADHD, I've read books where the protagonist also has it. But I don't think I've read a character that so closely aligns to my own experience. This was such a delight to read, I wanted to shout out several times while reading this, because the author truly hit the nail on the head with the representation and how it truly affects people. If you have anyone in your life with ADHD, especially young people, please make them read this book. It was a breath of fresh air.