This book is a fierce, angry love letter to all the black men who are oppressed and chained by the systemic racism inherent to America. It cries out for something more. To change the world and make things better... or at least save a loved one from all the senseless violence and meaningless abuse.

I've had this one on my TBR for a while and finally sat down to read it as part of the Hugo shortlist. We follow Kevin, a young man born during the Rodney King riots, as he grows up and gets dragged into gang life and then into prison. His sister seems to have awakened heightened mental powers, and this causes a rift between her and their mother. His sister ultimately only wants to protect her baby brother and make him safe. But how can she do that when he is trapped under layers and layers of booted feet and tomes of law written by the oppressors?

I felt her love and anger as I read this. In his afterword, Onyebuchi thanks N.K. Jemisin for showing him love that has room for anger. He captures that emotion in this story. I will reread this one again and again.

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Reread November 2021 for book club. My feelings haven't changed. My anger that flares up as the characters see systemic injustice has grown, stoked and nurtured by continued systemic oppression in my own country. This is a book that you should experience. And then use that experience to effect change in your neighborhood, your city, your state, your country.