A review by jencolumb0
As You Walk on By by Julian Winters

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

I picked this up, initially, because I heard Mr. Winters speak on a panel held by a local bookstore and liked what I heard. This is a super solid coming-of-age story about integrity that also has central lessons about inequalities that Black - and, particularly queer Black people - continue to face in the US, that pretty much every white and/or hetero person in the country could stand to read. The last 100 pages or so reminded me of Netflix’s Heartstopper, so plenty of warm-fuzzies to go along with the stuff everyone needs to hear. (And points for the solid bi rep.)

The drug/alcohol elements in this book struck me as somewhat unrealistic for modern day (and could possibly serve as a sticking point for some parents). However, upon further inspection, this element  could actually be a low-key homage to early aughts teen sleaze to accompany the low-key love letter to 90s Black TV and film that’s baked into this book as well. While I don’t think it adds anything substantive to the book, it also doesn’t lend much (other than demonstrating responsibility through unwavering use of DDs . . . which is not the only avenue to the Driving While Black teaching moment for the reader) . . . which is why I bring it up as an unnecessarily polarizing element in a book that needs to get in as many white and/or hetero hands as possible. 
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