A review by cherithe
Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

5.0

An #ownvoices fictional tale based on the real life events of the author, this book tells the story of Tyler Johnson, a black teen murdered by a police officer. This story is a tough read, but the telling of it is engaging and easy to read. It moves quickly, told from the perspective of Tyler's twin-brother, Marvin. He's a smart teen hoping to get into MIT as the story starts, missing his incarcerated father and constantly alert to the lessons their mother has tried to impart. The story shows how constantly cognizant black people are of the people around them, of the racism around them, how inescapable it is. It's hard to say I liked the story or enjoyed reading it, but it's worth reading and very well-told.