This Thing of Ours

When a career-ending injury jeopardizes his college prospects, a teenage athlete rethinks his future. Arriving back at Braxton Academy for senior year, Ossie Brown—formerly “the six-five basketball star” of his school—is now “just another Black kid” from south Yonkers, ghosted by his teammates and dumped by his girlfriend for his on-court nemesis. Lacking the grades to secure college financial aid, Ossie joins a competitive creative writing program led by passionate Ms. Hunt, whose curriculum embraces “diverse perspectives.” The assignments allow Ossie to cultivate relationships with classmates Luis, who is gay, and Naima, who might be more than just a friend. After Ms. Hunt is fired following accusations of using “reverse racism” to promote a “woke agenda,” and Luis and Naima’s safety is jeopardized, Ossie must choose whether to fight back by finding his own voice, no matter the cost—or do nothing and let his world crumble. Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph (Better Than We Found It) unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores. Ages 14–up. (May)