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 Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, 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? This exquisitely taut thriller shines a glaring light on how the system too often condemns Black and Latinx teen boys to failure before they’ve even had a chance at success.
Book Genres Detective Story, Realistic Fiction, Thriller
Canadian Rights Yes
Dewey F
Title alpha Promise Boys
Level Hi-Lo Mature
Pages Count 304
Topics Mystery. Murder. Schools. African Americans. Hispanic Americans. Prep schools. Point of view.
Trim Size 9" x 6"
JLG Span Spring
Language English
Rights type Print
Publication date 2023-01-30
JLG Release Date Mar 2023
Minimum grade 9
Maximum grade 12
Reading level High
Format Print
Hi-Lo Mature (Grades 9-12)
Hi-Lo Mature
Hi-Lo Mature (Grades 9-12)
For Grades 9-12
Entertaining, age-appropriate topics combined with short chapters and simple sentences make the 12 books in this category interesting and accessible to teens who struggle to read. These selections may include mature situations and content most suitable for older teens.