Promise Boys

by Nick Brooks

Overview

Promise Boys is a blockbuster, dark academia mystery about three teens of color who must investigate their principal’s murder to clear their own names. This page-turning thriller is perfect for fans of Karen McManus, Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Holly Jackson.

"Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students—J.B., Ramón, and Trey—emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive . . . and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?

Find out who killed Principal Moore in Nick Brooks's murder mystery, Promise Boys—The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying.

"A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery." —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250866974
Publisher:	Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Publication date:	01/31/2023
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	20,532
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	14 - 18 Years

About the Author

Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC. He is a 2020 graduate of USC's TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin', earned him the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is currently in development for his first feature film, We Were Born Kings, with Mandalay Pictures. Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his stories are colored by his experiences with the children and families of his community. He is also the author of Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont. Follow Nick on Twitter @whoisnickbrooks and on Instagram @officialnickbrooks.
Thenickbrooks.com

Editorial Reviews

★ 12/05/2022

When the principal of venerated Washington, D.C., all-boys charter school Urban Promise Prep is found shot dead under mysterious circumstances, suspicion immediately falls on three students with less than stellar reputations: quiet but temperamental J.B., mischievous but good-natured Ramón, and perpetual troublemaker Trey, all of whom were in detention on campus when the killing took place. Though the trio claim innocence, evidence piles up: Ramón’s hairbrush is found at the scene, J.B. is inexplicably covered in the principal’s blood, and Trey publicly threatened the principal before his death. Additionally, Trey’s uncle’s gun is missing, and authorities assume that Trey stole it. The boys must work together to uncover the truth—behind the murder and Urban Promise Prep’s history—before they lose their promising futures. Dividing the narrative into several parts told from multiple POVs in nonlinear chronology, Brooks (Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont) shines a light on racial inequality in the criminal justice system and interrogates the degree to which educational institutions play a role in upholding it, particularly regarding young men of color. Brooks excels in creating protagonists worthy of applause and truly foul villains, whose presences linger long after this atmospheric read ends. Ages 14–up. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

"Thrilling, captivating, and blade-sharp. Promise Boys will stay with you long after the last page." —Karen M. McManus, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying

"I was at the edge of my seat trying to figure out if I was reading a story about boys becoming men or boys becoming killers—you will be too. A brilliant pulls-no-punches mystery with bruised hearts at its core." —Adam Silvera, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of They Both Die at the End

"I can't wait to see this expertly crafted mystery take the world over." —Nic Stone, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Dear Martin

“Nothing short of astounding. A spellbinding, propulsive mystery while simultaneously presenting a searing critique of structural injustice. I recommend it to anyone who loves books or doesn’t.” —Jeff Zentner, award-winning author of The Serpent King and In the Wild Light

"An edge-of-your-seats, street-smart, exploding-with-talent novel.” —Francisco X. Stork, author of On the Hook

* "A top-notch page-turner and deep character study . . . will grip readers, who won’t want to stop reading." —Booklist, starred review

* "Breathtakingly complex and intriguing." —Kirkus, starred review

* "Brooks excels in creating protagonists worthy of applause and truly foul villains, whose presences linger long after this atmospheric read ends." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "This cinematic thriller deftly entertains readers while leveling a sharp indictment of society's mistreatment of Black and Latinx teenage boys. A tense and urgent mystery that can help break the cycle it condemns." —Shelf Awareness, starred review

"Heartbreaking and riveting in equal measure." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Builds to an exhilarating crescendo." —Horn Book

From the Publisher

02/01/2023

Gr 9 Up—Urban Promise Prep School, an all-boys school in Washington, DC, aims to combat the challenges of urban education with structure and discipline. The so-called "Moore method," named after Principal Kenneth Moore, does not allow phones, talking, or even laughing during the school day. While outsiders may see Promise's graduation rates and think it a success, those on the inside see the cracks forming long before the novel's inciting incident—the murder of Principal Moore, who is shot after school during a basketball game. Three boys, J.B., Trey, and Ramón, who were unsupervised in detention at the time of the murder, become the prime suspects. Though each boy has his own potential motive, each claims innocence and must fight to prove it before they become victims of a system that often unfairly punishes young men of color. Brooks builds suspense in the novel through changing time lines and narrators, along with short chapters that leave readers wanting more. Despite of the quick pace, the character development is solid; readers get to know each of the three boys, as well as a compelling cast of secondary characters, well. VERDICT With social justice themes, relatable teenage protagonists, and a satisfying conclusion, this is an essential purchase for teen collections.—Mary Kamela

School Library Journal

★ 2022-11-16
When someone murders the renowned founder of an oppressively rigorous Washington, D.C., school, three students—all boys of color—emerge as prime suspects.

The police haul in a trio of Urban Promise Prep students, two Black and one Salvadoran, for questioning following the murder of Principal Kenneth Moore. For J.B. Williamson, Urban Promise’s strict rules and regulations are suffocating, but his luck seems to turn when he finally makes a tentative move forward with his crush. Jokester Trey Jackson, meanwhile, does his best to ensure his place in the big basketball game, and no one—not even his tough-as-nails Uncle T—can stop him. Ramón Zambrano dreams of one day owning a restaurant. In the meantime, he gets by hustling pupusas at school and refusing to succumb to pressure from his beloved cousin César, the feared leader of the Dioses del Humo gang. At Urban Promise, one false move can cost a college-bound future. Unfortunately, all three boys engaged in public spats with Principal Moore before his death; to clear their names, they must investigate and uncover the killer’s identity. In a masterful use of multiple points of view from both the main protagonists and secondary characters, Brooks weaves a tale of intrigue, doubt, and hearsay with ease, doling out crucial tidbits and clues. Each gradual reveal prods readers to reconsider and reassess. Featuring a sharp examination of systemic inequality in urban schools and Black and Latine boyhood, this novel delivers in spades.

Breathtakingly complex and intriguing. (Mystery. 14-18)

Kirkus Reviews