It's hard to pinpoint all of the things I loved about this book. I think at the center is the fact that it is about two queer Black boys being friends, and there aren't many books about that (or the power of platonic friendship in general). Harrison and Linus are both complex characters who are trying to figure out who they are and how they can be themselves in a world that mostly wants them to fit into boxes.
The characters in this book don't fit into boxes and that another thing I love about it. They are diverse in their experiences and identities and that's part of what makes this story such a fantastic trip. Aparna, Pops, Corinne, all of their parents and friends are such unique (and vaguely unpredictable people) that you never know where the story is going to go.
As someone from DC who has also spent time in Baltimore, I also really appreciated the setting. Baltimore usually has a bad reputation and it was nice to see it portrayed in a multi-faceted way.
The characters in this book don't fit into boxes and that another thing I love about it. They are diverse in their experiences and identities and that's part of what makes this story such a fantastic trip. Aparna, Pops, Corinne, all of their parents and friends are such unique (and vaguely unpredictable people) that you never know where the story is going to go.
As someone from DC who has also spent time in Baltimore, I also really appreciated the setting. Baltimore usually has a bad reputation and it was nice to see it portrayed in a multi-faceted way.