Solo

Kwame Alexander

Publication Date: July 25, 2017

Started Reading: September 17, 2017 Finished Reading: September 17, 2017

Solo, a YA novel in poetic verse, tells the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, whose life is bombarded with scathing tabloids and a father struggling with just about every addiction under the sun—including a desperate desire to make a comeback. Haunted by memories of his mother and his family’s ruin, Blade’s only hope is in the forbidden love of his girlfriend. But when he discovers a deeply protected family secret, Blade sets out on a journey across the globe that will change everything he thought to be true. –Goodreads

Genre

Solo is a realistic fiction book written in verse style. It is realistic in that 17 year Blade Morrison could exist in real life. He goes to Africa, a real country, and experiences “normal” things that other teenagers do as well.

Overall Review

Kwame Alexander did not disappoint in his newest novel. I loved the story line of self-discovery and the importance of family. The music tie-ins were really great too. I gave this book five stars because of the great character development, the thoughtful use of music (which made me want to make a soundtrack, and still might), and how Kwame made me want to keep reading. I finished this book in a day because every poem left me hanging and I had to read the next!

Theme

I learned that family is important and that no matter what a family member does, you still have to support and love them. Sometimes it can be tough love, but you should never give up on them. I also learned that you have to embark on a journey by yourself to discover who you truly are and who you want to be.

Recommended Reading Age

This book is for 12 years and up. There is some mature content and the poetry/verse style can be difficult to follow at times.

Comparison

Kwame Alexander is one of my favorite authors. He has also written Crossover and Booked. All three of these books feature male characters who face difficult situations in their family. They must rise to the occassion, sometimes alone, to discover who they are and how they will deal with what is going on in their life. All of these books are very motivational and readers can learn a lot from his writings.