Between Two Brothers

A Black family must come together following a tragic event in this heartrending novel by Allen (How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy). Worried about his older brother Seth’s upcoming departure for Texas A&M on an athletic scholarship, 13-year-old Isaiah Abernathy endeavors to overcome his inner “shy guy” and build self-confidence without Seth’s help. When Seth’s attending an A&M meeting results in him missing the sibling sports competition which they entered at the local rec center, the brothers have an uncharacteristic physical altercation. Following the fight, a car accident involving Seth and an 18-wheeler leaves Seth critically injured and in a medically induced coma. Desperate to apologize to Seth and believing that “I’m going to be his compass, his light in that dark place. I’m going to lead him back home,” Isaiah determines to do whatever it takes to help Seth recover. Rendered in touching prose via Isaiah’s empathetic first-person voice, this tender ode to siblinghood showcases the occasional precarity of life’s best-laid plans and emphasizes that compassion and familial support can imbue one with the strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle. Ages 8–12. (Jan.)