Scan barcode
burnedstory's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.5
cipotalectora's review against another edition
4.0
All these boys talk tough. Give them a little love and watch them melt. They're children. Everyone seems to always forget that. No matter their size. No matter their skin color. No matter their attitude.
The thing about the mystery and thriller genre is that I hardly read them, so I’m confident that I’m more bound to enjoy the books because of my lack of experience with these stories. You start noticing a pattern, similar storylines, and recycled characters when you read a genre so much. It may still be appealing and enjoyable, but there’s no doubt it gets tedious and tiring after reading the same thing repeatedly, with minimal changes between characters’ personalities, tropes, plot lines, social issues, and more. And so, while Promise Boys may not be the most…newest in this genre, I found myself entirely immersed in the world, wanting to find out how it would end, how justice would be served, and what the boys would do to clear their names.
I will start by saying what didn’t work for me, which isn’t my usual: I thought the ending needed a little more depth. While I knew who the killer was, I believe a little more context used to let the readers know how the ending came to be would have sufficed. From how I saw it, it was missing some development. It felt like we needed to accept and move on from how the ending came to be. In addition, I would have loved to see an epilogue to see where the three boys were. We know what happened, but we don’t see it, and instead, we read a small piece of writing, being told where they are and what they are doing. An epilogue was necessary, as it would’ve shown us the boys’ perspectives. Plus, epilogues are crucial to a story. I don’t understand why authors don’t add them sometimes. I think they help us get a bigger idea of where the characters are and not have any questions left.
Besides these minor quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I’m hesitant about these types of stories, not because they can be realistic, but because sometimes they become overly political to the point where it feels like we are being lectured about certain things. And the thing is, I accept and agree that reading is political and that books are political, especially when that is their point. However, when it comes to these stories, they become repetitive: black boys being accused of murdering a white teacher. Authors want to make a big point related to social injustice, racism, and discrimination. We’ve heard it, seen it, and read it. White teacher, white cop, white parent. No matter who, they’re white. While I understand where the authors want to go with it, respectfully put, it gets very repetitive. So you could say I was worried about this becoming only about race. However, the author makes this, simply put, about the injustice of the educational system. And the thing is, the students accused aren’t accused because they’re black and brown but because they were, unfortunately, the closest suspects to the scene. Coincidentally or not, they were found to be the most prominent suspects for different reasons: J.B. spitting in Moore’s face, Trey threatening to kill Moore, and Ramón yelling at Moore for throwing out his pupusas. The author never makes it a thing to show they were accused because of their skin color. Instead, it’s easy to see that it wouldn’t have mattered if they were white or from a different country. It’s fair to say this was the case because the author is black, and presenting stories reflecting our characters is important, but there is no bias against the characters or the author. It’s just about justice trying to be served, suspects are being accused, and truths want to be found.
The social commentary concerns authority and the lack of social equity in schools and education. The situations for Ramón, J.B., and Trey are realistic but can be attributed to anyone. It shows the disgrace of authority and command, the use of power for evil greed, for a superiority complex to be fulfilled. Urban Promise Prep may seem like it has everything parents want for their children, but inside, it’s run by authoritative figures who only care about money, stats, and reputation. No resources are provided for the students, no applicable electives worthwhile for the future, no class alternatives, and no understanding of students’ issues. I questioned why no one else felt a certain way about the school (besides Ramón, J.B., and Trey) and how it maintained its reputation and galore. Upon further thought, I think that was the point: to show how afraid young teens are of speaking up. We’re constantly told to speak up when we hear something, but have we ever been taught what that means, what it entails, and how to do it? How do we know who to tell, when, and who to trust? Nick Brooks dives into the political theories of philosophy, offering commentary on the government, institutional greed, and racial disparity. Yes, it’s political because it needs to be, but it’s not only political.
For anyone worried about this because it’s YA, I’d have to say, in my defense, it never really feels YA. We know the boys are in their last year of high school and close to graduating, but there are no situations besides school that present them as having attributes to just high school. Instead, there are points about them that can apply to just about anyone. Everyone in this group felt mature for their age, never using pettiness as an excuse or making foolishness out of themselves when serious issues were present.
All three boys are distinct: J.B., a gentle giant who falls for a girl and wants to be the boy who sees her worth, a boy who wants to do and be enough to get his mother away from working too much; a boy who gets nose bleeds from anxiety, a boy who uses his size to his advantage as a means to defend himself but doesn’t like violence and fighting; a boy who is misunderstood for his size, thought to be a murderer because of the quiet presence he has. There’s Trey, who is treated like a soldier by his uncle instead of a boy with dreams of playing basketball; a boy who was too scared to call his uncle and let him know he accidentally took his gun because he was worried he would be scolded for getting to school late; a boy afraid to speak up for himself, who has a mother with substance abuse disorder, a boy who has no one to confide in. Then there’s Ramon, who wants to make enough money selling pupusas for his grandma, who doesn’t want to join the life of a gang member like his cousin, who dreams of opening his restaurant and being a chef. Brooks did a fantastic job describing, showing, and creating all three characters with distinct voices. The characterization is spot-on, and it never feels like all three boys blend in together.
Special shoutout to the author for making Ramón a brown Salvadoran boy born in El Salvador and brought to the U.S. as a little boy. Thank you, Nick, for not making him a stereotype and instead for making him a boy with culinary dreams who loves to help his grandma make pupusas. Also, him selling pupusas at his school was so relatable because I, too, would sell snacks at my school to help my parents at their store. While César, Ramón’s cousin, was in a gang, it never came across as stereotypical to me because he’s Salvadoran, but instead, it was done because of the lack of resources César also had. It felt like he was willing to do and get better had he had the opportunity. He was willing to help Ramón fulfill his dream, no matter what it took. I also loved the addition of Salvadoran slang in this, which was all written and used correctly. The only issue I had was that the demonym for us is not El Salvadoran, but just Salvadoran—or even Salvadorian. There is no El.
As I said before, I knew who the killer was. It was pretty easy to see the hints, as they’re evident in how they acted and presented themselves, but don’t take this as a flaw. I didn’t care, and it did not affect my enjoyment. The author’s writing is entirely gripping and thrilling. I never found myself bored, wanting to skim, but instead, I wanted to spoil myself by reading ahead to see what would happen, who would find out what, and what was happening. It is a case of Whodunnit, with the three accused boys trying to clear out their names by finding out exactly who killed Principal Moore when all three boys know it wasn’t them. They don’t know if any others did, but they know they didn’t. It’s fun and engaging, and something was always happening that added to the suspicions and investigation. I never thought the author added unnecessary, useless information or scenes. Even though I was sure who the killer was, I still wanted to keep reading and find out if I was wrong. Never once did I want to stop reading. I started this on a whim, quite literally, and didn’t stop until I was done. Never have I been more thankful for no longer being a moody reader because, quite frankly, I’m never in the mood for thrillers or mystery novels. They required me to be in a certain mood for the thought processes of the investigations and how I would have to feel like I was ready to be in a story where a murder was being investigated.
The writing may not be for everyone, as the way the story unfolds isn’t your traditional way, but I guess this worked in my favor since, as I said, I don’t read this genre much. The way the story is told starts off different from other similar works. Instead of starting off the story right from the beginning, days and weeks before the murder(s), we are given different perspectives and insights from various students, teachers, and members of the community related to the three students. These insights were fascinating, and I liked how the author used them to add different insights into the boys. It shows how other people root for and defend different people, showing us it’s more than just a case of people looking a certain way and why that can apply to them murdering someone. Or isn’t, which is what I’m trying to say. No, the author shines a light on these three brown and black boys to show how just because they are related to gangs, live in poverty, are quiet, or have violent tendencies does not prove anything. That said, I have to warn anyone curious about this book that the “real story,” the investigation and everything after the murder, doesn’t start until later in the book. Before that, we’re given the insights of different people, but we also spend three different parts of the story for the three boys–the day before the murder and the day of the murder. This was fascinating, unfolding three scenes for the three boys. I think it makes the reading experience more gripping because it presents why and how Ramón, J.B., and Trey are accused.
In conclusion, I would read more from this author. I was captivated by all three boys, curious to read how they would clear the name, no matter the lack of shock at the result. I found the execution well; all characters had distinctive personalities, and the social commentary was critical but felt manageable.
The thing about the mystery and thriller genre is that I hardly read them, so I’m confident that I’m more bound to enjoy the books because of my lack of experience with these stories. You start noticing a pattern, similar storylines, and recycled characters when you read a genre so much. It may still be appealing and enjoyable, but there’s no doubt it gets tedious and tiring after reading the same thing repeatedly, with minimal changes between characters’ personalities, tropes, plot lines, social issues, and more. And so, while Promise Boys may not be the most…newest in this genre, I found myself entirely immersed in the world, wanting to find out how it would end, how justice would be served, and what the boys would do to clear their names.
I will start by saying what didn’t work for me, which isn’t my usual: I thought the ending needed a little more depth. While I knew who the killer was, I believe a little more context used to let the readers know how the ending came to be would have sufficed. From how I saw it, it was missing some development. It felt like we needed to accept and move on from how the ending came to be. In addition, I would have loved to see an epilogue to see where the three boys were. We know what happened, but we don’t see it, and instead, we read a small piece of writing, being told where they are and what they are doing. An epilogue was necessary, as it would’ve shown us the boys’ perspectives. Plus, epilogues are crucial to a story. I don’t understand why authors don’t add them sometimes. I think they help us get a bigger idea of where the characters are and not have any questions left.
Besides these minor quibbles, I thoroughly enjoyed this.
I’m hesitant about these types of stories, not because they can be realistic, but because sometimes they become overly political to the point where it feels like we are being lectured about certain things. And the thing is, I accept and agree that reading is political and that books are political, especially when that is their point. However, when it comes to these stories, they become repetitive: black boys being accused of murdering a white teacher. Authors want to make a big point related to social injustice, racism, and discrimination. We’ve heard it, seen it, and read it. White teacher, white cop, white parent. No matter who, they’re white. While I understand where the authors want to go with it, respectfully put, it gets very repetitive. So you could say I was worried about this becoming only about race. However, the author makes this, simply put, about the injustice of the educational system. And the thing is, the students accused aren’t accused because they’re black and brown but because they were, unfortunately, the closest suspects to the scene. Coincidentally or not, they were found to be the most prominent suspects for different reasons: J.B. spitting in Moore’s face, Trey threatening to kill Moore, and Ramón yelling at Moore for throwing out his pupusas. The author never makes it a thing to show they were accused because of their skin color. Instead, it’s easy to see that it wouldn’t have mattered if they were white or from a different country. It’s fair to say this was the case because the author is black, and presenting stories reflecting our characters is important, but there is no bias against the characters or the author. It’s just about justice trying to be served, suspects are being accused, and truths want to be found.
The social commentary concerns authority and the lack of social equity in schools and education. The situations for Ramón, J.B., and Trey are realistic but can be attributed to anyone. It shows the disgrace of authority and command, the use of power for evil greed, for a superiority complex to be fulfilled. Urban Promise Prep may seem like it has everything parents want for their children, but inside, it’s run by authoritative figures who only care about money, stats, and reputation. No resources are provided for the students, no applicable electives worthwhile for the future, no class alternatives, and no understanding of students’ issues. I questioned why no one else felt a certain way about the school (besides Ramón, J.B., and Trey) and how it maintained its reputation and galore. Upon further thought, I think that was the point: to show how afraid young teens are of speaking up. We’re constantly told to speak up when we hear something, but have we ever been taught what that means, what it entails, and how to do it? How do we know who to tell, when, and who to trust? Nick Brooks dives into the political theories of philosophy, offering commentary on the government, institutional greed, and racial disparity. Yes, it’s political because it needs to be, but it’s not only political.
For anyone worried about this because it’s YA, I’d have to say, in my defense, it never really feels YA. We know the boys are in their last year of high school and close to graduating, but there are no situations besides school that present them as having attributes to just high school. Instead, there are points about them that can apply to just about anyone. Everyone in this group felt mature for their age, never using pettiness as an excuse or making foolishness out of themselves when serious issues were present.
All three boys are distinct: J.B., a gentle giant who falls for a girl and wants to be the boy who sees her worth, a boy who wants to do and be enough to get his mother away from working too much; a boy who gets nose bleeds from anxiety, a boy who uses his size to his advantage as a means to defend himself but doesn’t like violence and fighting; a boy who is misunderstood for his size, thought to be a murderer because of the quiet presence he has. There’s Trey, who is treated like a soldier by his uncle instead of a boy with dreams of playing basketball; a boy who was too scared to call his uncle and let him know he accidentally took his gun because he was worried he would be scolded for getting to school late; a boy afraid to speak up for himself, who has a mother with substance abuse disorder, a boy who has no one to confide in. Then there’s Ramon, who wants to make enough money selling pupusas for his grandma, who doesn’t want to join the life of a gang member like his cousin, who dreams of opening his restaurant and being a chef. Brooks did a fantastic job describing, showing, and creating all three characters with distinct voices. The characterization is spot-on, and it never feels like all three boys blend in together.
Special shoutout to the author for making Ramón a brown Salvadoran boy born in El Salvador and brought to the U.S. as a little boy. Thank you, Nick, for not making him a stereotype and instead for making him a boy with culinary dreams who loves to help his grandma make pupusas. Also, him selling pupusas at his school was so relatable because I, too, would sell snacks at my school to help my parents at their store. While César, Ramón’s cousin, was in a gang, it never came across as stereotypical to me because he’s Salvadoran, but instead, it was done because of the lack of resources César also had. It felt like he was willing to do and get better had he had the opportunity. He was willing to help Ramón fulfill his dream, no matter what it took. I also loved the addition of Salvadoran slang in this, which was all written and used correctly. The only issue I had was that the demonym for us is not El Salvadoran, but just Salvadoran—or even Salvadorian. There is no El.
As I said before, I knew who the killer was. It was pretty easy to see the hints, as they’re evident in how they acted and presented themselves, but don’t take this as a flaw. I didn’t care, and it did not affect my enjoyment. The author’s writing is entirely gripping and thrilling. I never found myself bored, wanting to skim, but instead, I wanted to spoil myself by reading ahead to see what would happen, who would find out what, and what was happening. It is a case of Whodunnit, with the three accused boys trying to clear out their names by finding out exactly who killed Principal Moore when all three boys know it wasn’t them. They don’t know if any others did, but they know they didn’t. It’s fun and engaging, and something was always happening that added to the suspicions and investigation. I never thought the author added unnecessary, useless information or scenes. Even though I was sure who the killer was, I still wanted to keep reading and find out if I was wrong. Never once did I want to stop reading. I started this on a whim, quite literally, and didn’t stop until I was done. Never have I been more thankful for no longer being a moody reader because, quite frankly, I’m never in the mood for thrillers or mystery novels. They required me to be in a certain mood for the thought processes of the investigations and how I would have to feel like I was ready to be in a story where a murder was being investigated.
The writing may not be for everyone, as the way the story unfolds isn’t your traditional way, but I guess this worked in my favor since, as I said, I don’t read this genre much. The way the story is told starts off different from other similar works. Instead of starting off the story right from the beginning, days and weeks before the murder(s), we are given different perspectives and insights from various students, teachers, and members of the community related to the three students. These insights were fascinating, and I liked how the author used them to add different insights into the boys. It shows how other people root for and defend different people, showing us it’s more than just a case of people looking a certain way and why that can apply to them murdering someone. Or isn’t, which is what I’m trying to say. No, the author shines a light on these three brown and black boys to show how just because they are related to gangs, live in poverty, are quiet, or have violent tendencies does not prove anything. That said, I have to warn anyone curious about this book that the “real story,” the investigation and everything after the murder, doesn’t start until later in the book. Before that, we’re given the insights of different people, but we also spend three different parts of the story for the three boys–the day before the murder and the day of the murder. This was fascinating, unfolding three scenes for the three boys. I think it makes the reading experience more gripping because it presents why and how Ramón, J.B., and Trey are accused.
In conclusion, I would read more from this author. I was captivated by all three boys, curious to read how they would clear the name, no matter the lack of shock at the result. I found the execution well; all characters had distinctive personalities, and the social commentary was critical but felt manageable.
madalynrogers122's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
ashleyj_reads's review
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
crunkbsnappin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
bamboo_zled's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
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
ljm1028's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
prettypious's review against another edition
4.0
Great YA thriller, indictment of charter schools was accurate and applaudable; closer to Tiffany Jackson than Jason reynolds or angie Thomas though
hpocket's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-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
A must read. A book I will probably read again and again.
keyari's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Audiobook: 5✨(Narrated by: Alfred Vines, Anthony Lopez, Brad Sanders, Christopher Hampton, Eliana Marianes, Hannah Church, Henrietta Zoutomou, Jamie Lincoln Smith, Maria Liatis, Renier Cortes, Suehyla El-Attar & Xenia Willacey