KING OF THE NEURO VERSE

In 1999, a neurodiverse Black teen is trying to survive another summer school merry-go-round.

Rising senior Pernell introduces himself to readers from the place he escapes to—a bathroom stall in an out-of-the-way corner of his high school, where he dictates his thoughts and feelings on a small digital recorder. For the third summer in a row, he’s in “clown college” alongside the usual suspects. In this verse novel, Pernell shares the chaos swirling inside his head—the confusion and clattering emotions. His mind doesn’t work like everyone else’s, and his well-meaning parents are so busy helping him that they aren’t truly hearing him. All Pernell wants is to become the last Cypher King of the 20th century, the rap champion of the lunchroom. He hoped this summer would be better, but he’s stuck with English teacher Ms. Harding, his academic nemesis (“imagine a Stormtrooper mixed with a wicked stepmother”). The pressure builds until it finally boils over in a major clash with Ms. Harding. Goodwin’s YA debut is a powerful tale about figuring out how to keep it together when everyone treats you like you’re broken. Readers will empathize with Pernell’s struggles as he’s misunderstood and punished and his considerable facility with language goes unrecognized. A turning point comes with a formal diagnosis of ADHD and support that helps him flourish. Period references enhance the feeling of immersion in the late-20th-century setting.

Simultaneously lyrical and discordant; finds a universal sweet spot.