An all-star cast of narrators and bestselling authors come together for a summery treat. Six interlocking short stories tell of young Black love during one night of a New York City blackout. Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s compelling voice transports listeners through the five acts of “The Long Walk,” Tiffany D. Jackson’s story, which interweaves between the others to chronicle two exes reconnecting on a long walk to a Brooklyn block party. Dion Graham gives a heartfelt performance as a character who is confessing a long-held crush in Nic Stone’s “Mask Off,” and the lively banter between Bahni Turpin and A.J. Beckles in Nicola Yoon’s story of hitting it off during a ride share is a delight. Each story sparkles with the excitement and joy of falling in love, and makes for excellent listening. E.E.C. 2022 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

★ 04/26/2021

Young Black love glows throughout this collaboration by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, which follows six couples through a summer blackout in New York City. In a primary story arc, Tammi Wright is about to start her first day as the summer office assistant at the Apollo Theater’s Harlem headquarters when she runs into ex-boyfriend Kareem Murphy, who, due to an admin- istrative error, is there for the same job. Just as they are about to find out who will receive the single opening, a blackout sweeps the city, causing chaos aboveground and under. As the two reluctantly walk together back to Bed-Stuy, where Kareem is set to DJ a party after dark, they navigate their history and their love for each other. Featured between each stage of their journey are connections—some gentle, some combative, all thrilling—that feature characters falling in or professing their love across the city’s landmarks. As each teen makes their way home, this joyful collaboration brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives. Ages 13–up. Agents: (for Clayton) Molly Ker Hawn, the Bent Agency; (for Jackson) Natalie Lakosil, Bradford Literary; (for Stone) Mollie Glick, CAA; (for Thomas) the Bent Agency; (for Woodfolk) Beth Phelan, Gallt & Zacker; (for Yoon) Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (June)

"In Blackout, young Black love with all its insecurities, mistakes, emotion, honesty, and humanity makes for a lush read. Even amidst their fears, these characters are wonderfully respectful of each other's choices. You will root for them all to find their own right love at their own right time. And though it was written for young adults, Blackout is a must-read for all generations." — NPR

"Young Black love glows throughout this collaboration by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon, which follows six couples through a summer blackout in New York City... As each teen makes their way home, this joyful collaboration brings a necessary elation to stories of Black love, queer love, and alternative forms of affection, all of which are all tenderly highlighted in these narratives." — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"There’s plenty to smile, sigh, or swoon at here, and readers will happily keep the lights on to see these charming romances to the end." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

"Rich with intersectional queer representation and light with banter, humor, and even philosophy, this beautiful collaboration hits different from your typical romance novel, ultimately evoking the warmth of greater connection, community, and belonging." — Booklist (starred review)

"Readers in search of joyful stories of young Black love will adore Blackout." — Bookpage (starred review)

"Working together to deliver a fantastic mix of humor and romance, these authors offer something fun and lighthearted that is welcome during the continuing pandemic and that will bring joy long after it’s over." — Kirkus Reviews

"Each author brings an unmistakable voice to the humorous, lighthearted storytelling, affirming that Black people are not a monolith. Every character and every chapter celebrates Black culture through language, fashion and individuality." — Shelf Awareness

"Six stories of romance from six Black young adult authors set this collaborative novel apart, with the tales, all set during a (fictional) summer blackout affecting all of New York City, intertwining as the characters make their way toward a block party in Brooklyn... An easy, entertaining summer read, with each author taking advantage of the premise to write into the underserved space of Black young adult rom-com." — Horn Book Magazine

"In Blackout, young Black love with all its insecurities, mistakes, emotion, honesty, and humanity makes for a lush read. Even amidst their fears, these characters are wonderfully respectful of each other's choices. You will root for them all to find their own right love at their own right time. And though it was written for young adults, Blackout is a must-read for all generations."

"Six stories of romance from six Black young adult authors set this collaborative novel apart, with the tales, all set during a (fictional) summer blackout affecting all of New York City, intertwining as the characters make their way toward a block party in Brooklyn... An easy, entertaining summer read, with each author taking advantage of the premise to write into the underserved space of Black young adult rom-com."

"Readers in search of joyful stories of young Black love will adore Blackout."

"Rich with intersectional queer representation and light with banter, humor, and even philosophy, this beautiful collaboration hits different from your typical romance novel, ultimately evoking the warmth of greater connection, community, and belonging."

"There’s plenty to smile, sigh, or swoon at here, and readers will happily keep the lights on to see these charming romances to the end."

"Each author brings an unmistakable voice to the humorous, lighthearted storytelling, affirming that Black people are not a monolith. Every character and every chapter celebrates Black culture through language, fashion and individuality."

★ 02/01/2022

Gr 8 Up—This collection of short stories by six acclaimed YA authors—Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon—explores what happens when teens experience a blackout during a heat wave in New York City. While all of the stories feature different characters and story lines, they are interwoven as the teens head to the same block party and are tangentially connected to characters from the other stories. Each of these love stories is unique and features romantic tropes that are well loved: the meet-cute, the enemies to lovers, the second chance romance, the friends to lovers, and more. The stories are a celebration of what it is like to fall in love and to find yourself in unexpected places. This collection is also a love letter to New York City, exploring not only well-recognized landmarks but also the life beat of the different neighborhoods. While the authors are well-known, the voices of the narrators for each story will also be familiar to audiobook fans as many are YA alums and include Joniece Abbott-Pratt, Dion Graham, Imani Parks, Jordan Cobb, Shayna Small, A.J. Beckles, and Bahni Turpin. Having different narrators voice each story truly makes them feel like individual stories and makes each set of characters unique. All characters are Black, with some identifying as queer. VERDICT A must-buy for all audiobook and print collections and a great recommendation for fans of romance and realistic fiction.—Courtney Pentland

★ 07/01/2021

Gr 9 Up—A New York City blackout sets the stage for romance and self-realization in this compilation of intertwining stories by well-known Black YA authors: Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon. Various friends and couples are on their way to a block party in Brooklyn when a blackout hits the city. Tammi is struggling as she and her ex-boyfriend Kareem arrive at an internship that they have each accepted, but there is only one spot. As they walk from Harlem to the party in Brooklyn, tales of their family and friends are interspersed as new relationships begin and others come to an end. Each story is told by a different writer, with Tammi and Kareem's story as the thread that binds them together. Hetero and queer couples are represented without "coming out" being the overall theme; the collection is ultimately about love and the journey to find it. Each of the authors is strong on their own, but together they are incredible. All characters are BIPOC. VERDICT A celebration of love in all its forms. A must-have for all young adult collections.—Ashley Leffel, Griffin M.S., Frisco, TX

An all-star cast of narrators and bestselling authors come together for a summery treat. Six interlocking short stories tell of young Black love during one night of a New York City blackout. Joniece Abbott-Pratt’s compelling voice transports listeners through the five acts of “The Long Walk,” Tiffany D. Jackson’s story, which interweaves between the others to chronicle two exes reconnecting on a long walk to a Brooklyn block party. Dion Graham gives a heartfelt performance as a character who is confessing a long-held crush in Nic Stone’s “Mask Off,” and the lively banter between Bahni Turpin and A.J. Beckles in Nicola Yoon’s story of hitting it off during a ride share is a delight. Each story sparkles with the excitement and joy of falling in love, and makes for excellent listening. E.E.C. 2022 Audies Winner © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine

2021-04-27
Six authors collaborate to create an interwoven story set during a blackout.

Unbearably hot temperatures in New York City cause a sudden blackout, simultaneously throwing plans into chaos and creating unexpected opportunities. Contributor Clayton, who is joined by YA superstars Jackson, Stone, Thomas, Woodfolk, and Yoon, was inspired by Covid-19 and the “metaphorical blackout” it has created for the world to initiate this project that embraces a wide spectrum of Blackness and sexuality. The characters’ final destination is a block party in Brooklyn with Jackson’s “The Long Walk,” a story about reconnecting exes told in five acts, serving as the overarching mechanism to connect the narratives. Stone and Woodfolk contribute queer love stories in “Mask Off” and “Made To Fit” respectively. Thomas’ “No Sleep ’Til Brooklyn” begins as a love triangle, progresses to a love quadrangle—and in the end is about self-love and discovery. Clayton’s story, “All the Great Love Stories…and Dust,” is set in the New York Public Library’s main branch and centers on best friends who may become something more. Yoon’s piece completes the novel with strangers finding love in a ride-share car in “Seymour and Grace.” Working together to deliver a fantastic mix of humor and romance, these authors offer something fun and lighthearted that is welcome during the continuing pandemic and that will bring joy long after it’s over.

A celebration of Black teen love and the magic of possibility. (Fiction. 14-18)