In Up in Smoke the MC is Cooper (aka Coop) King. It begins with a protest and Coop and his friends decide they're going to loot some stores. But as they are in the process of doing so, gunshots ring out and someone has been killed. Unfortunately, they were in the wrong place at the wrong time and one of the buys, Jason, was arrested for murder.

Coop and Jason's sister team up to find the real killer because nobody who knows Jason believes he could murder anybody. But still the doubts began to creep in here and there due to evidence. What happens in the end is for others to read and find out...no spoiler here.

The book's intended audience is YA and I think it works well for that age group. I think there are some messages in it that might help some young adults to think about something twice if only while reading the book. All choices have consequences and bad choices will come with bad consequences.

I had the e-book as well as the audiobook. For me, the audio didn't really add to how much I liked the book. The reading was easy, fast-paced and not difficult to understand; however, having taught English in high school mostly to freshmen, I think the audio would be perfect for reluctant readers.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and Nick Brooks for this ALC.

In Washington, DC, Cooper King is peer-pressured into serving as a lookout for brother figure, Jason, who is determined to loot a high-end clothing shop during a protest for a teen murdered by a cop. But during the getaway things go horribly wrong, and an undercover agent is killed, and Jason is arrested for the crime. A very nervous Cooper helps Jason's sister, Monica, work to find the real murderer while they discover they have feelings for each other.

This YA novel has something for everyone. Lots of action and suspense as they conduct their own investigation of the murder. There is even a love story for those who love a little romance. If you like The Hate You Give, I believe that you will also enjoy this book.

Up in Smoke, by Nick Brooks is beautifully narrated. This book is important to have in libraries today and belongs in all YA collections.

This is a relevant young adult novel about true problems happening now and the real dangers people of color face in America from the people who should be protecting them, law enforcement. The characters are realistic and sympathetic and there is a lot of action, and the narration for this audiobook is great.

Up in Smoke is a compelling and fast moving young adult novel from Nick Brooks that met my high expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed Promise Boys and this book, while different in plot and structure, has a similar vibe with dynamic young Black characters and situations that will resonate with young and older readers.

This book follows two main characters, one of whom ends up unjustly imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. As his friends struggle to help him, the situation grows dire. It calls to mind memories of the time period after the death of George Floyd and the rise of the BLM movement.

I loved this from start to finish and recommend it to anyone who enjoys well written, character driven suspense.

This book was pretty good. As a white female from the country it was nice to get this perspective of all of the more recent cultural events in our country. It leaned a little heavier on politics than I typically listen to but it was good!

This was quite an interesting story. Very sad that young black men and woman are killed by police unjustly so often that authors write about it and the sad plight it cause in people’s lives

Up in Smoke by Nick Brooks and narrated by Aubrey Joseph and Megan Sousa is about Cooper King, a Black teenager persuaded to engage in looting during a protest by an older friend named Jason. Jason is also the older brother of Cooper's crush, Monique. During the protest, a police officer is shot and killed. Later, Cooper realizes that Jason has been arrested for the murder, but Cooper is sure that Jason is innocent of the crime. Cooper is determined to help Monique clear her brother's name, but can he do it without revealing that he was at the protest?

Overall, I liked the realism of the situations in the story, but it felt a little rushed to me., especially at the end. The audio narration was good and the voices fit the characters well.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for a review copy of this audiobook.

Washington DC. Demonstration regarding the death of a teen. A very fast paced story that involves Cooper and Monique. Told in dual point of view of Cooper and Monique, best friends.  Cooper is part of a group of guys that were looting in the wake of the demonstration, ghings get violent and a police officer is dead. Monique's brother is arrested and is charged with the shooting. Cooper and Monique work to clear her brother's name. As they get closer to the answers, secrets are revealed, and more lives are endangered. This was an excellent upper YA thriller. Be prepared for a fun ride.

Thank you to Henry Holt and Macmillan audio for the ALC. The voice actors were great!

3.5 stars rounded up!

Up in Smoke is a YA mystery that blends a solid investigation tale with current and relevant social/racial issues.

When Jason is arrested for a murder he did not commit, he leaves his friend, Cooper, and his sister, Monique, to track down the real perpetrator and clear Jason's name. Through dual POV, the deuteragonists Coop and Monique set out on an investigation that has them searching for evidence amongst friends, the police and extreme activists. Throughout their partnership, Coop is also concealing the fact that he was at the scene of the crime, which adds a layer of tension.

While I didn't love this book as much as Brooks' debut, The Promise Boys, I still enjoyed the fast paced plot and the character dynamics between Coop and Monique. Additionally, I liked that the investigation included both positive and negative representations of the police. The conclusion of the mystery, although a bit rushed, was satisfying.

As someone who doesn't love audiobooks, I found Aubrey Joseph and Megan Sousa's narration (on 1.5 speed) fantastic and engrossing! The narration definitely added to my experience, especially with the dialogue and sound effects.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this review copy in exchange for a honest review.

This audio was not my favorite, so I'm glad I also received this in e-book form. The story was good. I think it will really resonate with a younger generation.

This was a very real read, so much of this mirrors, I wouldn’t say society today because this has been going on for generations. The loss of innocents, shady dealings in the background, & the framing of the minority. The injustice of it all… Truly sickening. This really captures it all, whilst uplifting the readers w/ beautiful poetry & adding mystery solving to bring JUSTICE for once. Now only if the world mirrored that… Overall, this was an amazing book w/ a moving message to back it up. The narrators at Macmillan did phenomenal, I would love to listen to them again!!

I just want to say thank you for an Advance Audio copy of this book. I read Promise Boys by this author and I really like it. This book was very interesting and I do like the storyline. I like the narrators however, I feel like I wanted alittle more background on the characters. Overall I like the book and the author writing fits my reading interests. 3.5 but I can round up to a 4 star read.

“No justice, no peace.”
“Respect Black lives like you respect Black culture.”
“Silence is violence.”
“Racism is a disease, revolution is the cure.”

Nick Brooks’ Up in Smoke is a powerful and timely novel that blends mystery, social justice, and coming-of-age with unflinching honesty. Set in the heart of Washington, D.C., the story follows Cooper, a Black teen caught in the chaos after a peaceful protest turns into a night of looting and violence. When gunshots ring out and an undercover agent is killed, the fallout is swift—and Coop’s best friend ends up in handcuffs.

Determined to clear his friend’s name, Coop is thrust into a dangerous search for the truth. What unfolds is more than just a murder mystery—it's a confrontation with the systemic racism that shapes every part of his world.

Brooks captures the urgency of protest and the complexity of being young, Black, and unheard in America. Through Coop’s voice, we see a city simmering with anger, resilience, and the refusal to stay silent. This novel doesn’t pull punches—it forces readers to reckon with injustice, bias, and what it really means to fight for what’s right.

Up in Smoke is a gripping, emotional, and thoug

Find the real killer or be blamed.
Up in Smoke is a well written YA mystery/thriller. I was waiting for the next turn the entire time! The narrative throughout the story in relation to black youth was really amazing. I really enjoyed the dual POVs and narrators.

Big thanks to NetGalley, The publisher and Nick Brooks for the opportunity to read an ARC of "Up in Smoke".

Cooper "Coop" King hasn't had a great couple of years. The beginning of this book finds him joining in on a looting expedition in response to the shooting of a young black man as well as a few other things. When someone is killed during this mayhem and one of his friends is arrested as the shooter, Coop knows he has to try to exonerate his friend. He works with his friend's sister, Mo-the person who had attempted to gather a peaceful protest prior to the looting. Along the way the two uncover some twisted revenge plots that culminated in the death during the looting. Overall, this was a good book, though it did not live up to my expectations after Promise Boys. The writing was there. The storyline was enticing. The twists were great. The characters fell flat, though. I liked Mo alright, but I really couldn't get behind Coop. And then there was the romance. It was not poorly done, but it felt like a distraction rather than a natural growth in the two main character's relationship. This book may have been a miss for me, but I am still excited to see what Brooks gives us in the future.

I went into this book completely blind and i enjoyed the premise and storyline of this book. This is considered a YA thriller but I would say it was more of a YA mystery than a thriller. It has a big message that it wants to deliver about political and racial injustices and I do feel the book portrayed that message well. The narrators did a great job with this story as well. There was also a romance plot line as well between the characters and that was a fun and lighthearted way to entice the readers. I did give this book 3.5 stars rounding it out to 4. The story was interesting and unique storyline to anything I’ve read in the past but it was a little slow for me and for a YA thriller I expected a little more. Overall a good read and I do believe that it will be more enjoyable for its targeted audience.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the advance listeners copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This quick read gets you hooked right away. There’s a rally/protest for an unjust racial shooting. Mid rally, shots are fired and someone else dies. One of the main characters and his buddies are in the wrong place at the wrong time, and are caught up in the chaos. What follows is a predictable plotline of racial profiling by the police and how can innocence be proven in such circumstances. Told in two viewpoints, one male and one female, the teens try to override the police in order to get to the bottom of who the real shooter was. Even though this isn’t a new plotline, it is still recommended for reluctant high school readers. 3.5 stars rounded up for reluctant readers

excellent casting for narrators! I had serious issues with the canon of this story but I do think the narrators were perfect for each character.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook..


Decent YA mister/crime/thriller. Kids doing a job the police should be doing.... I can see more - making a series.

Unmask a murderer or take the fall.

After Cooper King is pressured by big brother figure Jason to go on a looting spree during a local march, the unthinkable gunshots ring in the air and someone ends up dead. After Cooper flees, the news shows four teens in ski masks near the scene of the murder—Cooper and his friends. Cooper fears the cops will come knocking at his door, and the pressure only mounts when a suspect is taken into Jason.

Monique, Jason's sister and Cooper's longtime crush, is willing to go any length to clear her brother's name. Even if she needs to go into the belly of the beast and confront the killer herself. When she teams up with Cooper, they fall down the investigation rabbit hole and start to fall for each other. But little does Monique know that within this web of deception, Cooper is shrouding the truth that he was there when the shots went off. If the pair fail to uncover the real murderer, Jason will get locked up for a crime he didn't commit—and drag down Cooper with him.