Skilled vocal performances from more than a dozen narrators immerse listeners in a schoolyard murder mystery involving race, wealth, and power. When the dictatorial principal of the all-boys Promise Preparatory School is shot, three students are pegged for the murder. But J.B., Trey, and Ramón are innocent--and determined to prove it. With the help of J.B.'s girlfriend, a future lawyer, and Ramón's family, several secrets that exist within Promise's halls are uncovered. While the three core narrators--Alfred Vines, Christopher Hampton, and Renier Cortes--each bring emotion and depth to boys on the brink, the ensemble works together to fully draw listeners into the story's tense atmosphere. A.A.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 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.)

A 2024 Odyssey Award for Excellence in Audiobook Production for Young Adults

A 2024 Texas Library Association TAYSHAS Top Ten Book Selection

A 2023 Amazon Best Book of the Year So Far

A 2023 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award Honoree

A New York Public Library & Kirkus Best Book of 2023

A Project LIT Community Book Club Pick

"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

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

Skilled vocal performances from more than a dozen narrators immerse listeners in a schoolyard murder mystery involving race, wealth, and power. When the dictatorial principal of the all-boys Promise Preparatory School is shot, three students are pegged for the murder. But J.B., Trey, and Ramón are innocent--and determined to prove it. With the help of J.B.'s girlfriend, a future lawyer, and Ramón's family, several secrets that exist within Promise's halls are uncovered. While the three core narrators--Alfred Vines, Christopher Hampton, and Renier Cortes--each bring emotion and depth to boys on the brink, the ensemble works together to fully draw listeners into the story's tense atmosphere. A.A.H. © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine

★ 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)