"The right story at the right time...It’s not just a narrative; it’s an experience. It’s the novel we’ve been waiting for." —The New York Times.
A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother’s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent and soon to be a major motion picture directed by Michael B. Jordan!
It’s Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren’t celebrating. They’re still reeling from his older brother’s death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. Then Lolly’s mother’s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Lolly’s always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward.
His path isn’t clear—and the pressure to join a “crew,” as his brother did, is always there. When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape—and an unexpected bridge back to the world.
David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge—of adolescence, of grief, of violence—and shows how Lolly’s inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors.
Title alpha Las estrellas bajo nuestros pies (The Stars Beneath Our Feet)
Level Spanish Middle
Pages Count 328
Topics Brothers. Lego. Harlem, New York City. Housing projects. Mothers and sons. Friendship. Gangs. Art and architecture. African Americans. Black people. Urban and city life. Spanish language materials.
Trim Size 8" x 5 1/4"
JLG Span Fall
Language Spanish
Rights type Print
Publication date 2022-01-17
JLG Release Date Jul 2022
Minimum grade 5
Maximum grade 8
Reading level Middle
Format Print
Spanish Middle (Grades 5-8)
Spanish Middle
Spanish Middle (Grades 5-8)
For Grades 5-8
Engaging fiction and nonfiction Spanish-language titles.