Promise Boys by Nick Brooks leads the way in Young Adults crime fiction. It is set in the North East
District of Columbia, USA, and tells of three teenage boys of colour who must clear their names
regarding the murder of their school principal. To achieve this they must set up their own investigations
before the police pin the crime on one or all of them!
J. B., Ramon and Trey all attend the “Urban Promise Prep School” whose aim is “to turn boys into good
men”. Therefore, they are expected to follow the influential “Principal Moore Method”, which has
extremely strict rules and, often brutal, discipline. These measures, they are told, have been put in place
for students to avoid the fates of many of the men in their neighbourhoods. According to Principal Moore,his method will save lives!
When Moore is brutally murdered, however, the local cops become involved, targeting the school’s
students. In doing so they soon have the trio in their sights as perpetrators of the crime.
Despite their innocence, the boys are not believed and, therefore, decide to group together to find the
real killer before they’re formally arrested. As time passes, however, they become suspicious that the
genuine offender may be concealing himself amongst them!
This wonderfully written, fast-paced and intricately composed, thrilling murder mystery highlights that,
despite all good intentions, there are still flaws in education systems, no matter how fancy.
The narrative also reveals that the majority of people cast Black and Latin teenage boys as failures and,
therefore, very rarely seek ways of giving them equal opportunities to become successful.
This is a very thought-provoking thriller with characters that will touch the heart. The intensity of the
drama is such that it will keep the reader on the edge of their seat, as the tale unfolds in a series of twists
and turns.
Promise Boys is not only a tale of cruelty and discrimination, but also a celebration of love, mate-ship and family.
Particularly suitable for fans of Angie Thomas, Jason Reynolds, and Karen McManus.
ISBN: 9781761265655
Promise Boys is available in paperback and e-book
About Nick Brooks
Nick Brooks is an author and award-winning filmmaker from Washington, DC. He is a
graduate of USC’s TV and Film Production program. His short film, Hoop Dreamin’, earned him
the George Lucas Scholar Award and was a finalist in the Forbes 30 Under 30 Film Fest. He is
currently in development for his first feature film, We Were Born Kings, with Mandalay Pictures.
Before becoming a filmmaker, Nick was an educator working with at-risk youth and many of his
stories are coloured by his experiences with the children and families of his community.
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