New York Times
bestselling authors Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess (Solo) tell a
lyrical story about hope, courage, and love that will speak to anyone
who’s struggled to find their voice. And the surprise ending shines
a spotlight on the issues related to our current social divide,
challenging perspectives and inspiring everyone to make their voice
heard.
When America is not
so beautiful, or right, or just, it can be hard to know what to do.
Best friends Walt and Noah decide to use their voices to grow more
good in the world, but first they’ve got to find cool.
Walt is convinced
junior year is their year, and he has a plan to help them woo the
girls of their dreams and become amazing athletes. Never mind that he
and Noah failed to make the high school baseball team yet again, and
Noah’s love interest since third grade, Sam, has him firmly in the
friend zone. Noah soon finds himself navigating the worlds of jazz,
batting cages, the strange advice of Walt’s Dairy Queen-employed
cousin, as well as Walt’s “Hug Life” mentality. Status quo
seems inevitable until Noah stumbles on a stash of old love letters.
Each page contains the words he’s always wanted to say to Sam, and
he begins secretly creating artwork using the lines that speak his
heart. But when his private artwork becomes public, Noah has a
decision to make: continue his life in the dugout and possibly lose
the girl forever, or take a swing and finally speak out?
At the same time,
numerous American flags are being left around town. While some think
it’s a harmless prank and others see it as a form of peaceful
protest, Noah can’t shake the feeling something bigger is happening
to his community. Especially after he witnesses events that hint
divides and prejudices run deeper than he realized.
As the personal and
social tensions increase around them, Noah and Walt must decide what
is really true when it comes to love, friendship, sacrifice, and
fate.
