The Boy in the Black Suit
Jason Reynolds
Hardcover
Published January 6, 2015
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 1442459506 ISBN13: 978142459502
Rating: 4 stars
Grades 5-8
Meet Matt. He is a teenage boy, whom along with his dad is trying to recover from the death of his mother. Matt is taking the death as most teenagers would but his father is having a rather difficult time and turning to drinking as a means for soothing his pain. Matt starts a job with a local funeral home. His interest on how other's grieve their loss of the love ones helps Matt to little by little overcome the loss of his mother. With is dad in the hospital recovering from a gruesome car accident, Matt gains a mentor in Mr. Ray, the owner of the funeral. While working for Mr. Ray, Matt attends the funeral Lovey’s grandmother. He recognized Lovey from the Clucket Bucket. With similar tragedies in each of their lives would bring Lovey and Matt together but that is not the case. What is the connection between Matt’s best friend Chris and Lovey? Will this bring a wall between Lovey and Matt?
With such an ease to read, Jason Reynolds gives Matt the image of any young man that everyone knows. Everyone goes through a lost in their life, with makes this book universal. Nothing never seems to go over the head of the reader and adapted for those in grades 5-8.
Jason Reynolds is a new voice in the world of young adult fiction. His works do not only appeal to those that are of his ethnicity but those of any other race. He is the writer next door and his writing style invites anyone into a place that is familiar. Author of When I Was the Greatest, for which he was the recipient of the Coretta Scott King/John Steptoe.
Reviewed by Patrice Smith
Librarian Assistant III/ Young Adult Specialist
St. Andrews Regional Library
Charleston County Public Library
1735 North Woodmere Blvd
Charleston, SC 29407
843-766-2546 www.ccpl.org
