When I Was The Greatest, by Jason Reynolds

First of all, can I say that I love the cover art of this book?  There's no mistaking the shape of the gun, but it's... been yarn bombed?  What?

Everything on the cover comes into play in this quick, easy read by Jason Reynolds.  However, just because it's easily accessible does not mean it's not substantial.  Reynolds' debut novel is very impressive and he's worth watching for more things to come.

When I was the Greatest centers on Ali, 15 years old, living with his single mother and younger sister in a Brooklyn neighborhood prone to drugs and violence.  Ali, however, is a good kid.  He stays out of trouble, helps out a handicapped Vietnam vet (who in turn gives Ali boxing lessons, hence his nickname), and has a good relationship with his family.  His mother works two jobs, but doesn't put up with any foolishness.  Ali lives next door to two brothers, Needles and Noodles (the nicknames are a bit precious for this reviewer).  Their father is long gone, and their mother is often seen wearing tight, short clothes and getting into strange cars.  There's not often food at their house, so Ali's mother frequently invites them over.  Needles is a shy, quiet boy who suffers from Tourette Syndrome.  He has a violent, loud episode one evening on his front stoop, attracting the attention of the entire neighborhood.  To calm him down, Ali's mother gives Needles her knitting supplies.  By giving him something to focus on, his tics and outbursts become more manageable.

The thing I liked most about this book is that the characters all felt real.  The boys - largely good kids, but not without their flaws - get excited about the possibility to get into an exclusive party.  It's a place they are too young to be, but they have to learn that lesson the hard way, as many teens do.  It's a story about friendship and about what it means to step up and do the right thing.  Sometimes that's hard to do when your main obstacle is your best friend.

Another thing I liked about this book is that the adults also felt genuine.  Too often in YA lit, we find stories wherein teens seem to live a world of absentee parents, where - at the end of the book - the parents are like, "Wow!  I had no idea you were going through all that."  In this book, Ali takes many things upon himself, but in the end, his parents also step up and do the right thing by their children.  It was refreshing to read.

Author Jason Reynolds has another book due out in January, The Boy in the Black Suit.  I'm looking forward to his next release.