Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jan 2023
304 pages
Genre: Mysteries
Publication Information
The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying in Nick Brooks's Promise Boys, a trailblazing, blockbuster YA mystery about three teen boys of color who must investigate their principal's murder to clear their own names―for fans of Jason Reynolds, Angie Thomas, and Karen McManus.
The Urban Promise Prep School vows to turn boys into men. As students, J.B., Ramón, and Trey are forced to follow the prestigious "program's" strict rules. Extreme discipline, they've been told, is what it takes to be college bound, to avoid the fates of many men in their neighborhoods. This, the Principal Moore Method, supposedly saves lives.
But when Moore ends up murdered and the cops come sniffing around, the trio emerges as the case's prime suspects. With all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. But is the true culprit hiding among them?
"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)
"Breathtakingly complex and intriguing." - Kirkus (starred review)
"A top-notch page-turner and deep character study...will grip readers, who won't want to stop reading." - Booklist (starred review)
"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
"The path to manhood has never felt more ominous than it does in Promise Boys. 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
"There's nothing like a book that manages to flawlessly thread subtle social commentary through a propulsive plot carried by complex characters. 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
This information about Promise Boys was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
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.
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