A review by mike_trigg
Everywhere You Don't Belong by Gabriel Bump

3.0

I have much respect for the author and the important subject of this book. As a coming-of-age story about a poor black kid living in South Chicago, this novel provides an important, and presumably semi-autobiographical, perspective on the enormous socio-economic and racial challenges of those circumstances. I just wanted to see a more complex character in Claude, the protagonist. As empathetic as I was for him, his struggle seemed a little predictable, his path out too straight-forward, and the circumstances around the story's climax somewhat implausible. Still, an important story and one I'm glad I read.