I received this book through the Bookish First giveaway. I truly enjoyed reading this book. It is about three boys from the Promise Prep school who are suspected of murdering the principle, Mr. Moore. It is written from three time lines - the day before the shooting, the day of the shooting, and the week following the murder. I like how Brooks added these mini "testimonials" before each section to give a feel of what the community is saying and thinking.
This is a very impactful book with some potent issues of race, socioeconomical, and stigma. Each of the three boys were seen as trouble and because they were all in detention at the time of the shooting they are blamed. And with any stigma as soon as you are blamed, esp. a black young adult, it usually sticks even if they are proven innocent. Even within your own community can you be tagged a murderer or a gang member or just no good, even if the opposite is true. This was a great read. I highly recommend it.
This is a very impactful book with some potent issues of race, socioeconomical, and stigma. Each of the three boys were seen as trouble and because they were all in detention at the time of the shooting they are blamed. And with any stigma as soon as you are blamed, esp. a black young adult, it usually sticks even if they are proven innocent. Even within your own community can you be tagged a murderer or a gang member or just no good, even if the opposite is true. This was a great read. I highly recommend it.