as well as why Black Lives Matter is so important for all.īest friends Noah and Walt are far from popular, but Walt is convinced junior year is their year, and he has a plan that includes wooing the girls of their dreams and becoming amazing athletes. The greatest love story yet to be.In this YA novel in verse from bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo), which Kirkus called 'lively, moving, and heartfelt' in a starred review, Noah and Walt just want to leave their geek days behind and find 'cool,' but in the process discover a lot about first loves, friendship, and embracing life. Interspersed throughout, the discovered letters and Noah’s art poetry highlight the power of physical artifacts to inspire action and provide a tie to flags’ symbolic meaning: “The one thing it should mean for everyone is freedom. Alexander and Hess (co-authors of Solo) embrace the malleability of free verse, heightening emotions with shifting styles and rhythms, and though Swing’s voice steals the show, the bantering friendship he and Noah share also shines. Things come to a head when Sam’s ex-boyfriend becomes a suspect in the flag mystery, and Sam is convinced that the accusation is racially motivated. Meanwhile, someone is peppering the town with American flags, causing tension in the community as residents speculate about the meaning of the gesture.

Noah had never planned to share the work with Sam, but then his well-meaning best friend, Walt (aka Swing), sends one of the poems to her anonymously. High school junior Noah has an unrequited crush on his friend Samantha, and when he discovers a handful of love letters from the 1960s, he is inspired to create mixed-media poetry that expresses his feelings. Despite the easy flow of verse, there is a density to this story with its multiple elements. Swing is African-American, while Noah is white. All the secondary characters are distinctive and add texture to the narrative. Noah is the narrator, but it is Swing, with his humor, irresistible charm, and optimism, who steals the spotlight.

The free verse tells a story as complex as the classic jazz music woven throughout.

Then, out of nowhere, everything changes, and the innocence of their lives is shattered as their friendship troubles are put into perspective by something far more serious. They encourage him to put his feelings on paper, but Swing forces his hand by anonymously giving his writing to Sam, causing a rift between them. At a thrift store, Noah purchases a travel bag as a birthday gift for his mother and inside he finds long-hidden love letters. Along with their various personal dramas-Swing’s new stepfather, the romantic advice Noah is receiving-someone has been planting American flags around town, leaving folks to speculate who and why. Swing is also obsessed with jazz and tries to make Noah a devotee as well. Noah and his friend Walt Disney Jones, aka Swing, are linked by a love of baseball.

Kwame alexander swing