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doll2021's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Promise Boys is a YA thriller/mystery focusing on three students, J.B., Ramon, and Trey, who are all students at a prep school accused of killing the principle and founder of the school. The book explores the complex dynamics that exist between students, between students and teachers, and how things are not always like the seem. This book artfully explored systemic racism of how all three students were treated by the public, press and the police. It also showcased that situations can be misinterpreted as malicious based on preconceived notices. There are many points throughout the book where one of the students does something that is perceived as suspicious by privileged students at other schools and by the police that is actually innocuous or hinting at other issues, like abuse and bullying. Brooks does an amazing job at pointing out that you never know what is going on with someone and how easy it can be for teenagers to mask what is really going on. The audiobook of Promise Boys enhanced the reading experience by giving all of the characters distinct voices. When listening you could really feel what was happening and form a deeper connection with each character as they navigate both a difficult time in life, coming of age, while also fighting off accusations that could forever ruin their lives. This book also highlights that forming connections as young adults is important but also hard. Not only was this book poignant, but the mystery element worked really well. The pacing worked well and there were many twists and turns as J.B., Ramon, and Trey put all of the pieces of the puzzle together. This book keeps you on the edge of your seat, desperately wanting to know what happens next.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Murder
Moderate: Child abuse, Gun violence, and Police brutality
ashylibrarian's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
This is a great book. It very much gives The Hate U Give meets One of Us is Lying. Nick Brooks masterfully draws attention to the despicable systemic racism and inequality that too many young Black and Brown folks (especially male-presenting) face in the United States educational system. Brooks created more than just a young adult mystery - he created a symphonic call-out to systemic inequalities.
Brooks also touches on pretty much everything a young adult mystery should touch on. There was drama. There was Romance. There were shady characters. Characters that made you question your judgment.
I had my assumptions about who the killer was about a third of the way through, but with all of the distractions and character perspectives, I could never be 100% sure. I think that part of this was due to all of the POV changes. I don't often love a book that changes POV so much because it feels like it is easy to become lost, but how Brooks wrote the multiple POVs was smart, intentional, and full of depth. Each main character was so dynamic, and the supporting characters fit into the plot like perfect puzzle pieces.
I am always happy to recommend this title to readers!
Brooks also touches on pretty much everything a young adult mystery should touch on. There was drama. There was Romance. There were shady characters. Characters that made you question your judgment.
I had my assumptions about who the killer was about a third of the way through, but with all of the distractions and character perspectives, I could never be 100% sure. I think that part of this was due to all of the POV changes. I don't often love a book that changes POV so much because it feels like it is easy to become lost, but how Brooks wrote the multiple POVs was smart, intentional, and full of depth. Each main character was so dynamic, and the supporting characters fit into the plot like perfect puzzle pieces.
I am always happy to recommend this title to readers!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Child abuse
zombiezami's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fantastic social thriller. It was heart-wrenching to read about how this fictional school abused students, knowing that in real life, so many adults think you can brutalize children into being successful adults.
There were a few plot threads that felt like they weren’t explored as much as they could have been. The ending also felt abrupt.
There were a few plot threads that felt like they weren’t explored as much as they could have been. The ending also felt abrupt.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Murder, Police brutality, Gaslighting, Alcoholism, Addiction, Classism, Blood, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Racism, Xenophobia, and Cursing
Minor: Pedophilia, Suicide, and Sexual harassment
Gangs, incarcerationknockoffrainbow's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Blood, Child abuse, Alcohol, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, and Racism
reaganisreading's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Racism
Moderate: Violence
Minor: Ableism, Pedophilia, and Alcoholism
ghostlyprince's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Gun violence, Murder, Physical abuse, Racism, Child abuse, and Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Addiction, and Alcohol
Minor: Abandonment and Panic attacks/disorders
auteaandtales's review against another edition
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Police brutality, Racism, Violence, Physical abuse, Child abuse, and Murder
Minor: Sexual content
lybrarie's review against another edition
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's difficult for a book with less than 300 pages to do everything it sets out to do effectively, but I think this book did it perfectly. It was fast-paced, interesting and just a great read. I loved the structure of the book - with the rumours and opinions of other characters tied in with the boys' perspectives. I can think of nothing wrong with this book, I had a great time reading it and I think it did a great job of highlighting how people are profiled just because of the way they look.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Racism, and Gun violence
natashaleighton_'s review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
An unputdownable YA thriller that expertly uses multiple POVs (from main characters, secondary sources and even the media) into an intrigue-filled and plot twisty murder mystery that highlights the systemic inequality in both the criminal justice and education systems towards boys of colour —and hopefully see readers reevaluate and spark conversations around the harmful effects these biases have in our societies.
It follows three teens whose lives are irrevocably changed when their school’s principal is shot to death and they’re all named as suspects in his murder. In order to clear their names, the three boys (Trey, J.B and Ramón) band together to track down the killer before they find themselves wrongfully charged for the crime.
This was such an evocative and incredibly moving story that I found myself thoroughly and emotionally invested in!
J.B, Trey and Ramón were all incredibly well written characters whose lives I became inextricably concerned for and felt the multimedia aspects and interviews with students, teachers and local members of the wider community gave a richer and more realistic portrayal to how investigations like this actually work.
With widespread media coverage and the age old rumour mill acting as judge & jury in the court of opinion, able to spread misleading narratives long before a suspect can even plead their case.
I loved all three boys and really enjoyed getting to see their experiences in life, but seeing how the system was failing them (with soo many people in positions of authority giving up on them before the murder) was incredibly heartbreaking. The details into their home lives and the dreams they have for their futures was truly lovely to see and really brought each boy to life.
J.B is the quiet one that keeps his head down and works hard to earn that promise scholarship for university and make his mum proud. But the suffocating, prison-like conditions of the school make things much more challenging, his only light right now is Keyana—the smartest and prettiest girl in he know (and who he’s had a crush on forever) has finally agreed to date him.
Trey is the charismatic basketball star and a bit of a joker despite having such a tough uncle, who expects nothing but excellence from Trey on an off the court. But someone’s it’s a role that Trey finds too overwhelming to maintain.
And Ramón is a culinary wizard who unlike his beloved cousin Cesar—the leader of the Dioses del Humo gang (who’s been trying to recruit him), Ramón only dreams of starting his own restaurant who helps shoulder some of his grandmother’s financial burdens by selling pupusas at school.
I enjoyed the murder mystery sleuthing aspects and felt the ending was genuinely satisfying, in terms of finding answers —I just wish the investigation aspect was little longer as given how pacey the book was, it flew by soo quickly.
Nick Brooks’ film making skills were also very visible in the seamless transition between tenses and POVs, as well as in the visual descriptions—which were wonderfully,emotionally visceral—and I definitely hope to see this adapted on the big screen at some point in the future.
Overall, a moving and incredibly enjoyable YA thriller that you won’t forget any time soon—I definitely recommend to fans of Angie Thomas and Holly Jackson.
Also, a huge thank you to MacMillan for the physical proof.
It follows three teens whose lives are irrevocably changed when their school’s principal is shot to death and they’re all named as suspects in his murder. In order to clear their names, the three boys (Trey, J.B and Ramón) band together to track down the killer before they find themselves wrongfully charged for the crime.
This was such an evocative and incredibly moving story that I found myself thoroughly and emotionally invested in!
J.B, Trey and Ramón were all incredibly well written characters whose lives I became inextricably concerned for and felt the multimedia aspects and interviews with students, teachers and local members of the wider community gave a richer and more realistic portrayal to how investigations like this actually work.
With widespread media coverage and the age old rumour mill acting as judge & jury in the court of opinion, able to spread misleading narratives long before a suspect can even plead their case.
I loved all three boys and really enjoyed getting to see their experiences in life, but seeing how the system was failing them (with soo many people in positions of authority giving up on them before the murder) was incredibly heartbreaking. The details into their home lives and the dreams they have for their futures was truly lovely to see and really brought each boy to life.
J.B is the quiet one that keeps his head down and works hard to earn that promise scholarship for university and make his mum proud. But the suffocating, prison-like conditions of the school make things much more challenging, his only light right now is Keyana—the smartest and prettiest girl in he know (and who he’s had a crush on forever) has finally agreed to date him.
Trey is the charismatic basketball star and a bit of a joker despite having such a tough uncle, who expects nothing but excellence from Trey on an off the court. But someone’s it’s a role that Trey finds too overwhelming to maintain.
And Ramón is a culinary wizard who unlike his beloved cousin Cesar—the leader of the Dioses del Humo gang (who’s been trying to recruit him), Ramón only dreams of starting his own restaurant who helps shoulder some of his grandmother’s financial burdens by selling pupusas at school.
I enjoyed the murder mystery sleuthing aspects and felt the ending was genuinely satisfying, in terms of finding answers —I just wish the investigation aspect was little longer as given how pacey the book was, it flew by soo quickly.
Nick Brooks’ film making skills were also very visible in the seamless transition between tenses and POVs, as well as in the visual descriptions—which were wonderfully,emotionally visceral—and I definitely hope to see this adapted on the big screen at some point in the future.
Overall, a moving and incredibly enjoyable YA thriller that you won’t forget any time soon—I definitely recommend to fans of Angie Thomas and Holly Jackson.
Also, a huge thank you to MacMillan for the physical proof.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Murder, Racism, and Child abuse
Moderate: Cursing, Alcoholism, Gun violence, and Classism
caseythereader's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Thanks to Macmillan for the free advance copy of this book.
- I blew through PROMISE BOYS in one sitting. The format of the book - switching between the three boys' perspectives along with commentary from others in the community, news clippings, etc. - made the book move super fast as I was eager to gather the clues with the protagonists.
- You'll find yourself wanting to shout at the book as each boy's story is told, wanting to grab the adults and make them pay attention to what is actually going on in these kids' lives. It's a really heavy book, despite the speed at which it moves.
- I blew through PROMISE BOYS in one sitting. The format of the book - switching between the three boys' perspectives along with commentary from others in the community, news clippings, etc. - made the book move super fast as I was eager to gather the clues with the protagonists.
- You'll find yourself wanting to shout at the book as each boy's story is told, wanting to grab the adults and make them pay attention to what is actually going on in these kids' lives. It's a really heavy book, despite the speed at which it moves.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Blood, Child abuse, Gun violence, Murder, and Physical abuse
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