The Urban Promise Prep School is an all-boys school focused on principles that, through strict rules and discipline, will, according to its principal and founder Kenneth Moore, turn boys into men on their path to college. This path takes a large and life altering detour for three students–Trey, Ramon and J.B.–when Principal Moore is found murdered at the school and all three of the boys appear to be viable suspects. They all maintain their innocence, yet no one seems to believe them. Leaving the trio with no other choice, they must come together to find the real murderer, even if it is one of them.
This novel is an absolute force. One of my favorite things about this novel, other than the actual story itself, is the style used by Brooks. Combining texts, emails and articles with the multiple points of view was a great way to tell the story. It was very effective at showing how much power perspectives and perceptions, good and bad, can contain. I also really liked how Promise Boys started off in the middle, grabbing me immediately, and then jumped to the beginning, building up to the murder and showing how the characters got to where they did as suspects. I really enjoyed the characters, specifically the three boys; they are unique individuals with their own talents and stories of obstacles and perseverance. Promise Boys also contained, in my opinion, a sad but honest commentary about the state of education in America and the roles it has taken on in some places, as well as what has been lost.
This novel is an absolute force. One of my favorite things about this novel, other than the actual story itself, is the style used by Brooks. Combining texts, emails and articles with the multiple points of view was a great way to tell the story. It was very effective at showing how much power perspectives and perceptions, good and bad, can contain. I also really liked how Promise Boys started off in the middle, grabbing me immediately, and then jumped to the beginning, building up to the murder and showing how the characters got to where they did as suspects. I really enjoyed the characters, specifically the three boys; they are unique individuals with their own talents and stories of obstacles and perseverance. Promise Boys also contained, in my opinion, a sad but honest commentary about the state of education in America and the roles it has taken on in some places, as well as what has been lost.