by Sapphire
First published 2011
Abdul Jones stands at his mother Precious's graveside at age nine, suddenly orphaned in a world that offers little mercy. The son of Push's protagonist must navigate from a Catholic orphanage to the streets, confronting violence and abandonment at every turn. His journey carries him from Mississippi farmland to Harlem's vibrant past, from institutional care to downtown artist spaces. Abdul battles his own dark impulses while searching for an identity he can claim. Love and hate wear similar masks in his world, making trust a dangerous gamble. Through each betrayal and small kindness, he claws his way toward adulthood. Art becomes both refuge and weapon as Abdul discovers his creative voice. His path toward the future demands confronting a brutal history he never chose. This is the story of a young man learning to fly despite broken wings.
Genres: fiction, coming-of-age, family-drama, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: coming-of-age, found-family
Setting: Mississippi, Harlem
Period: 20th-century
374 pages · Hardcover · Penguin Group (USA)
Content warnings: abuse, violence