Much more than your typical murder mystery
I've read a lot of murder mysteries. And I've read a lot of young adult novels. "Promise Boys" by Nick Brooks stands out. It's absolutely a murder mystery. There's a cold-blooded murder, a pool of suspects, damning evidence, a murder weapon, detective work—it's all there. But it's so much more, too. It's a commentary on public schools. An education on microaggressions and stereotypes. A reflection on parenting and child-rearing.
You're entertained from start to finish as you attempt to discover who shot Principal Moore. But by the time you reach the last page, you'll also realize that you've been a student of Brooks's. He has shown you a few stories of what life is like for other people. You may relate to them, you may not. But the humanity he infuses into his characters is why we read literature—to build empathy towards these humans with whom we share our world. Come for a clever, well-written murder mystery, stay for a thoughtful reflection of society.
You're entertained from start to finish as you attempt to discover who shot Principal Moore. But by the time you reach the last page, you'll also realize that you've been a student of Brooks's. He has shown you a few stories of what life is like for other people. You may relate to them, you may not. But the humanity he infuses into his characters is why we read literature—to build empathy towards these humans with whom we share our world. Come for a clever, well-written murder mystery, stay for a thoughtful reflection of society.