LEVEL UP

The African American 13-year-old is hoping they’ll have a fresh start with his grandmother, who has a complicated relationship with his mom. Keenan uses running as an outlet to manage his emotions—it’s his “happy place.” Not long after he arrives, Grandma’s neighbor stops by: Energetic Maxine, who dresses eccentrically and has “a big Afro puff on top of her head,” immediately tries to befriend him, but Keenan isn’t ready to open up. At Central Tree Middle School, educational games allow students to earn extra credit; no one knows Keenan has red-green colorblindness, which prevents him from playing them successfully. Keenan soon notices that the other students are addicted to the app and behave strangely, showing heightened aggression or staring eerily into the distance. He finds himself in a race against time to try to figure out what’s happening before it’s too late and he loses everything again. The story moves quickly but still gives readers insights into Keenan’s insecurities about his colorblindness and his difficulty with trusting others after experiencing trauma. Hermon also explores the challenges of breaking free from abuse through his mother’s struggle to maintain distance from his father. Fast-paced and unsettling, this story skillfully blends emotional depth with mounting tension.