THE PROBLEM WITH THE OTHER SIDE

New Jersey teens fall in love while managing their sisters’ opposing presidential campaigns.

In this novel told in alternating points of view, Ulysses Gates, who is Black, and Sallie Walls, who is White, describe the events leading up to a school shooting on inauguration day. While acting in a school play, the two bond over their love of the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly and slowly begin a romantic relationship. Sallie has had a crush on Uly since their English class the previous year; Uly, on the other hand, is surprised he even likes Sallie because he has never been attracted to White girls and had misinterpreted her behavior, believing her to be racist. When Sallie’s sister, Leona, begins campaigning for president on a platform calling for an end to school busing from neighboring communities that are predominantly of color, Uly’s sister, Regina, decides to run against her, call out the coded racist language Leona is using, and advocate for students of color. A third candidate enters the field—a White athlete with a divisive past—and the race escalates dangerously. Uly and Sallie are well-crafted characters; the interracial relationship is portrayed with honesty and humor, and their love is palpable. With excellent pacing, Ivery explores the impact White supremacy and patriarchal norms have on our lives and the dangers of not holding people accountable.

A timely exploration of the state of American politics.