Light It Up

Starred review from August 5, 2019
Coretta Scott King Honoree Magoon’s stand-alone follow-up to How It Went Down catches up with the residents of the Underhill neighborhood after another incident: a white police officer shoots a 13-year-old black girl, Shae Tatum, in the back as she is heading home. Multiple points of view follow the killing’s aftermath through the eyes of Shae’s devastated friends and family, the daughter of the officer who shot the girl, the shooting’s sole witness, the residents left grieving in the aftermath, and the black man whose PR job burdens him with ensuring the police department comes through the incident unscathed. When the grand jury verdict comes back, the residents of Underhill pull together, emerging stronger and more determined than ever. Not for the faint of heart, this fearless and realistic account of a police shooting challenges readers to think about these all-too-common events from every perspective. The novel doesn’t shy away from the ugly and foundational role racism plays in American life, policing, and media coverage, nor does it neglect to examine black America’s strength in the face of adversity. Like How It Went Down, this gritty, emotional tale will leave readers gutted and compelled to stand against flawed systems. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ginger Knowlton, Curtis Brown Ltd.

An exceptional group of narrators is on display in a story that focuses on the shooting of a 13-year-old African-American girl by a white police officer, and the aftermath of the incident. The story's characters are diverse, and listeners will have a hard time believing there are only 10 narrators. As many of them deliver multiple parts, it sounds like a fully acted drama. Korey Jackson is the standout with his performance as "the Witness." This character's perspective is written in the second person, and Jackson uses his talent to make the listener feel every bit of the man's fear, pain, trepidation, and disgust. Listeners can't help but feel as if they themselves are the character--just as the author intended. A.R.F. � AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine