Barbara Binns

diverse middlegrade children's fiction (black 13-y.o. in inner city Chicago deals with recently paroled older brother, racist police targeting his neighbors and friends, drug dealers and gang activity in his neighborhood, and trying to fit in with the privileged white kids and coaches on his swim team).

Life sometimes gets really messy, and there's so much happening in this book! Each character is dealing with their own issues, and I appreciated that the story keeps the complexity and doesn't simplify it for the sake of the reader. T'Shawn has a lot of heart to share for people who aren't even his friend (yet), and that was also nice to see in a world that sometimes appears to have everything going against it. More, please.… (mere)

After T’Shawn’s father died, his family was forced to live in a homeless shelter. Two years later, they’ve finally moved into a small apartment on Chicago’s South Side, and T gets an unbelievable opportunity to join a prestigious diving team at the local private swim club. He knows the costs are a lot, but he thinks his mom can swing it . . . until he finds out that his older brother, Lamont, is getting released from prison early.

.... I liked this book alright & enjoyed how the main character needed to navigate between his brother & the anger he feels towards him and the school & swim club communities where he is seen & not seen & also where the worst is often assumed.

I think I found the storytelling a little bit clunky at times.… (mere)