“I was riveted by Bryan’s journey, breaking down stereotypes and becoming his own kind of superhero. This, in and of itself, is not only Bryan’s superpower but Maldonado’s as well. Loved this book!” (Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming)

“The complex emotional lives of young boys of color are portrayed through a nascent friendship.... Pushing of boundaries as an emotional response to trauma, vulnerability, and societal pressures is an overarching theme of the novel, pressing readers to consider the impetus of what is deemed ‘bad behavior'.... [Maldonado] excels at depicting realistic and authentic interactions between middle school boys. An excellent addition to libraries with fans of David Barclay Moore’s The Stars Beneath Our Feet, Jason Reynolds’s Ghost, and character-driven realistic fiction.” (School Library Journal, starred review)

“Through Bryan’s believable, emotionally honest first-person narration, Maldonado skillfully shows a boy trying to navigate parental desires and the societal expectations of his Brooklyn neighborhood while trying to figure himself out. Readers will be rooting for Bryan to make the right choices even as they understand the wrong ones.” (Kirkus Reviews)