Jason Reynolds captures the specific rhythm of Miles Morales thinking through his anxiety, making the reader feel like they are inside the head of a real teenager rather than a distant superhero.
The story focuses more on the physical and social inconvenience of having powers, like a buzzing spider sense during a boring class, which makes the extraordinary feel hilariously ordinary.
Readers will feel the pull between the high stakes of a prestigious private academy and the soulful, familiar streets of Brooklyn as Miles tries to find his footing in both.
The plot keeps readers hooked by weaving a supernatural threat into a chilling investigation of historical secrets and systemic injustice that Miles discovers in his own classroom.
The book avoids cliches by showing a protagonist who genuinely respects his parents but still struggles with the guilt of keeping secrets from the people he loves most.
Reach for this book if your teenager is struggling with the weight of high expectations or feels like the world is judging them before they even speak. While it features a famous superhero, Jason Reynolds focuses on the internal life of a young man caught between his responsibilities at a prestige academy and his loyalty to his Brooklyn neighborhood. It is a powerful choice for discussing systemic unfairness and the courage it takes to define your own identity when others try to write your story for you. As Miles navigates a school suspension and a growing mystery involving his history teacher, the story tackles heavy themes of racial profiling and ancestral trauma with nuance and grace. It is perfectly suited for middle and high schoolers who appreciate realistic fiction but enjoy a touch of the extraordinary. Parents will value the strong family bonds and the honest portrayal of a teenager trying to do the right thing in a complicated world.
