The Boy in the Black Suit, by Jason Reynolds
Publication Information: New York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2015
Summary: Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom dies -- although she did, it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad can't handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own. So while Dad's snagging bottles of whiskey, Matt's snagging fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey. Crazy name, and she's been through more crazy stuff than he can imagine. Yet Lovey never cries. She's tough. Really tough. Tough in a way Matt wishes he could be. Which is maybe why he's drawn to her, and definitely why he can't seem to shake her. Because there's nothing more hopeful than finding a person who understands your loneliness -- and who can maybe even help take it away.
Author Interview:
Read-a-Likes:
Last True Love Story, by Brendon Kiely
All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds and Brendon Kiely
How It Went Down, by Kekla Magoon
Darius & Twig, by Walter Dean Myers
Mexican Whiteboy, by Matt de la Pena
Gabi, Girl in Pieces, by Isabel Quintero
When I Was the Greatest, by Jason Reynolds
Before We Go Extinct, by Karen Rivers
This Side of Home, by Renee Watson
Links of Interest:
Author website: jasonwritesbooks.com
Educator Guide: HERE
The Ocean State Libraries catalog listing contains a book profile, professional reviews, reader reviews, reading level, subject headings, and awards. Scroll down to view all the content on the page.
Classic catalog version and Encore catalog version