A review by rebeccaaaaaa
Tyrell by Coe Booth

Tyrell doesn’t need relationship worries on top of everything else going on in his life right now. He’s trying to keep his seven-year-old brother out of the foster system, his mother is floundering without her husband, who is in prison, and they’ve recently been evicted. Novisha, his girlfriend, has been the best thing in Tyrell’s life. But he’s worried she’s growing apart from him, and she doesn’t understand why he hasn’t been going to school lately. And, he’s met a new girl needs him more and understands what he’s going through. At least he’s figured out how he’s going to make enough money to get a new apartment.

Tyrell’s voice is compelling, strong, and with depth. This deeply character-driven story has strong urgency. The writing is excellent, and in the story writing has a lot of power, which is effective. This book would be a great starting point for discussions of gender. Grades 8-12.