Solo by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess is a New York Times
bestseller! Kirkus Reviews said Solo is, "A contemporary hero's
journey, brilliantly told." Through the story of a young Black man
searching for answers about his life, Solo empowers, engages, and
encourages teenagers to move from heartache to healing, burden to
blessings, depression to deliverance, and trials to triumphs.
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he'd give
anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star
and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of
a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy, including
the loss of his mother. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel,
but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming Blade will
become just like his father.
In reality, the only thing Blade and Rutherford have in common is the
music that lives inside them. And songwriting is all Blade has left
after Rutherford, while drunk, crashes his high school graduation speech
and effectively rips Chapel away forever. But when a long-held family
secret comes to light, the music disappears. In its place is a letter,
one that could bring Blade the freedom and love he's been searching for,
or leave him feeling even more adrift.
Solo:
If you enjoy Solo, check out Swing by Kwame Alexander and Mary
Rand Hess.
