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Solo
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  Fiction:  Realistic, In Verse, Music, Family

“Life is a mountain, Youngblood. Nobody said the climb was gonna be easy.

You gotta choose your route.

Get your gear.

Breathe.

Clear your mind.

And enjoy the journey”

Kwame Alexander, Solo

Title:  Solo

By: Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander Talks about Writing Solo

Watch/Listen to Original Song Written for the Book

Book Group Leader:

Goodreads:  4 stars

Amazon: 4 ½ Stars

Ms. Smith’s Review:  5 Stars GREAT read for kids who are into music and who like a good "journey of self-discovery" tale. All children have issues with their parents, but Blade's father is over the top as a famous musician that has spent more time touring and in rehab than with his children. When Blade finds out he is adopted, he travels to Ghana to find his birth mother and himself. While it was a tad predictable, especially towards the end of the story, it was sweet and filled with hope. I especially LOVED the chapter sections that related Blades mood to various songs. As one of our summer reads this year, I plan on rereading it and playing each song as they appear in the books.

Awards/Honors: Green Mountain Book Award Nominee (GMBA) 2018/19, Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Poetry, Star reviews in Booklist, Kirkus Review

Review:  School Library Journal (8/1/2017)

VERDICT Hand to music lovers, reluctant readers, fans of spoken word poetry, those who appreciate Alexander's work, or anyone seeking a tale of self-discovery.

Gr 7 Up-Blade Morrison is on shaky ground. The death of his mother years ago still haunts him, and he's continually disappointed by his father Rutherford, a rock legend who has long grappled with drug and alcohol addiction. Rutherford's humiliating behavior at Blade's high school graduation, Blade's older sister Storm's revelation of a devastating family secret, and his girlfriend Chapel's betrayal send the teenager reeling. Looking for answers, he heads to Ghana, where he begins to heal. This novel in verse reverberates with the energy of spoken word poetry. Alexander and Hess have a knack for making ordinary language seem lyrical, and the narrative is conveyed through dialogue, text messages, and news reports as well as through Blade's terse, first-person, present-tense musings. References to rock and roll songs and artists as varied as Lenny Kravitz, Guns N' Roses, and Stevie Nicks give the book an infectious rhythm. Though the writing is at times slightly unpolished, it perfectly captures the teenage voice. Blade is all highs and lows, veering sharply from the intoxicating embrace of first love and lust to feelings of heartbreak and alienation. Some conflicts are wrapped up too neatly and others are forgotten entirely, but the authentic character development and tone will strike a chord with young adult.