by Peter Kahn
First published 2022
Fifteen-year-old Malik knows the power of words. In the Chicago projects where he grew up, words can build you up or knock you down. When a rival gang threatens his family, Malik must find the courage to step up to the mic and defend all he holds dear. But first, he'll have to reckon with a secret that's been haunting him. In a world that's often given him reason to stay silent, can Malik find the strength to make himself heard?
Genres: fiction, african-american, coming-of-age, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, overcoming-adversity
Setting: Chicago
Period: 21st-century
176 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Workshop
Content warnings: violence