Thank you to Macmillan and BookishFirst for this book in exchange for an honest review!
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks is a YA thriller featuring three teen boys of color. The story revolves around three students at Urban Promise Prep School - J.B., Trey, and Ramon. When their principal is found dead, the three are blamed and treated as suspects in his murder. All of them claim to be innocent, but is one of them lying? Who had the motive and means to commit the murder? Will the three be able to find the murderer before they become the next victims?
Here is a scary excerpt from a chapter from the perspective of a Dean at Urban Promise Prep:
"Oh God.
I found him dead.
Oh God, why’d it have to be me?
I’ve never seen blood move like that. A red river rushing along the
edges of the desk.
Blank eyes stared back.
I stepped closer and closer. “Kenneth! Kenneth!”
My eyes scanned over his body. I couldn’t tell where the blood came
from."
Overall, Promise Boys is a YA mystery that will appeal to high school students everywhere. One highlight of this book is how easy it is to read. I sped through this book and couldn't put it down until I finished it. As a high school teacher myself, I am always looking for books that are accessible and interesting for my students. I feel like this book is definitely on the easier-to-read side, which would make it the perfect book to use in the classroom.
Another highlight of this book is how it features black and Hispanic main characters. I am always looking for books the represent the backgrounds of my students, and I can see this being used in classrooms everywhere. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA mysteries in general, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!
Promise Boys by Nick Brooks is a YA thriller featuring three teen boys of color. The story revolves around three students at Urban Promise Prep School - J.B., Trey, and Ramon. When their principal is found dead, the three are blamed and treated as suspects in his murder. All of them claim to be innocent, but is one of them lying? Who had the motive and means to commit the murder? Will the three be able to find the murderer before they become the next victims?
Here is a scary excerpt from a chapter from the perspective of a Dean at Urban Promise Prep:
"Oh God.
I found him dead.
Oh God, why’d it have to be me?
I’ve never seen blood move like that. A red river rushing along the
edges of the desk.
Blank eyes stared back.
I stepped closer and closer. “Kenneth! Kenneth!”
My eyes scanned over his body. I couldn’t tell where the blood came
from."
Overall, Promise Boys is a YA mystery that will appeal to high school students everywhere. One highlight of this book is how easy it is to read. I sped through this book and couldn't put it down until I finished it. As a high school teacher myself, I am always looking for books that are accessible and interesting for my students. I feel like this book is definitely on the easier-to-read side, which would make it the perfect book to use in the classroom.
Another highlight of this book is how it features black and Hispanic main characters. I am always looking for books the represent the backgrounds of my students, and I can see this being used in classrooms everywhere. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of YA mysteries in general, I recommend that you check out this book, which is available now!