King of the Neuro Verse

by Idris Goodwin

Overview

Two starred reviews!

An “artful and introspective” (BCCB, starred review) novel in verse about a Black teen with ADHD who finds self-expression and first love during one epic summer school season, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and On the Come Up.

For the third summer in a row, Pernell is back in the classroom, facing the same struggles that have always made school seem more like a battlefield than a place of learning. This summer is different, though: he’s battling to become the Cypher King, leader of the lunchroom’s impromptu rap circles. Here, the rhythm flows and the words fly, creating a space where the wittiest and most rhythmically inclined reign supreme. Here, Pernell’s ADHD gives him an edge.

But life outside the cypher isn’t as forgiving. Pernell’s English teacher has it out for him. His parents are pressuring him to see a doctor for his lack of focus. And Electra, his friend-slash-crush and the only one who truly gets him, is too busy chasing her dream internship to give him the time of day.

If Pernell doesn’t pull himself together, he won’t just lose the title of Cypher King—he’ll lose his chance to graduate high school. In a world where the systems are turned against kids like him, Pernell needs to find a way to succeed with his ADHD, rather than in spite of it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781665973120
Publisher:	Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Publication date:	10/14/2025
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	12 - 18 Years

About the Author

Idris Goodwin is an award-winning neurodivergent storyteller for multiple generations and the author of the picture book Your House Is Not Just a House and young adult novel King of the Neuro Verse. An accomplished playwright, breakbeat poet, content creator, and arts champion, Goodwin is recognized as a culture bearer who celebrates community values and cultivates histories with care. Idris is the author of over sixty original plays, ranging from his hip-hop–inspired breakbeat series to historical dramas to works for young audiences. A dedicated mentor to emerging writers, Goodwin serves as associate professor of dramatic writing at Arizona State University. Find him at IdrisGoodwin.com.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter One ONE If you’re wondering about the echo
it’s because I am in a bathroom stall

the one near the maintenance room

at the end of the hall everyone avoids

because of the flickering lights

Only Brookes uses it, he’s our special education bus driver

who only comes Tuesdays and Thursdays

something about state budget cuts

Otherwise it may as well not even be here

but thank God it’s here,

not that I use it like Brookes uses it

But it’s where I go when I need to…

when things start to… I don’t know how to describe it

My father calls it going Full Bonaly

he’s talking about Surya Bonaly

this French ice skater

she’s my dad’s favorite

she spins and twirls and flips

And he made that comparison, between her moves

and what was happening between my ears,

when I was about maybe eleven or twelve,

when everything inside me seemed to be falling apart

and melting into puddles

and my head felt like it was Fourth of July after dark

Recognize the Three Stages of Bonaly

he would say, I didn’t really understand it then

but today, right now, I do

sort of

I think I’m in stage three, Full Bonaly

backflipping, breaking the rules in the face of the judges

yeah, that’s it

why else would I be in this stall right now

talking to the future?

Editorial Reviews

* “This debut novel by playwright Goodwin is written in verse, and it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect way to tell Pernell’s story. Goodwin’s words exhibit the same flow and rhythm one would expect from a rap cypher. Put this book in the hands of readers who love Kwame Alexander’s The Door of No Return, Angie Thomas’s On the Come Up, and Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down. A beautiful example of Black joy and the gift of neurodiversity . . ."— School Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW

* "Pernell’s free verse first-person narration is always creative, sometimes chaotic, and deeply sympathetic. . . . This is a unique approach to a verse novel, both artful and introspective, which will undoubtedly resonate especially with young hip-hop heads."— The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, STARRED REVIEW

“Goodwin’s YA debut is a powerful tale about figuring out how to keep it together when everyone treats you like you’re broken. Readers will empathize with Pernell’s struggles as he’s misunderstood and punished and his considerable facility with language goes unrecognized.”— Kirkus Reviews

"With verve and wit, King of the Neuro Verse is a much-needed powerful and joyful celebration of neurodiversity, creativity, and self-expression." — Jasmine Warga, #1 New York Times Bestseller and Newbery Honor Award Winner of Other Words for Home

“This YA debut . . . resonates with a relatable celebration of finding­—and advocating for­—one’s passions and oneself.”— Publishers Weekly

"Relatable, inspirational, and unique. A story about learning your strengths and moving through life to your own beat."— India Hill Brown, NAACP Image Award–nominated author

From the Publisher