 | Cost of knowing Author: Morris, Brittney | |
| Price: $10.65 | ||
Summary:
Sixteen-year-old Alex Rufus's curse of seeing the future distracts him from being and doing his best, but when he sees his little brother Isaiah's imminent death, he races against time, death, and circumstances to save him.
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: UG Reading Level: 5.00 Points: 13.0 Quiz: 512985 |
Full Text Reviews:
Booklist - 03/01/2021 Morris’ moving novel addresses the burden young Black boys experience in a world that has deemed them criminal. Ever since the car accident that killed his parents, 16-year-old Alex Rufus has had prophetic powers that are more of an annoyance than a blessing. With each touch of a person or object, Alex is able to see a few seconds into the future, depending on how often he has touched the object. It isn’t until he accidentally sees his younger brother’s death that he realizes he hasn’t been the best older brother. This thoughtful, character-rich novel is alternatingly joyous and heartbreaking as Alex acknowledges all of his previous traumas, while also allowing himself to be more vulnerable with his younger brother. Morris (SLAY, 2019) explores many aspects of Alex’s life that may distract from the emotional central story, but every detail is important in understanding how Alex moves in the world and how the world views him. A great pick for fans of Nic Stone’s Dear Martin (2017) or Kim Johnson’s This Is My America (2020). - Copyright 2021 Booklist.
School Library Journal - 03/01/2021 Gr 8 Up—After a tragic accident that left him and his brother orphaned, Alex Rufus sees visions of the future connected to items that he touches—from a mundane object being used over and over to the tragic preview of his best friend's death. Alex avoids physical contact as often as possible but knows that once he sees a vision it can't be changed no matter what he does. He has developed methods of coping, but when he sees the death of his younger brother, Isaiah, in a vision, he knows he must do something to try to break this curse of knowledge. As Alex gets to know his brother better in his last days, he learns that Isaiah also carries a curse: being able to relive the past of their ancestors. Passed down from father to son, over hundreds of years, this is their family's long-held secret. Alex and Isaiah must face who they are and what they fear most in order to break their curses. The story is rich with magical elements in the form of generational trauma that Black families carry with them, and the real danger of existing while being Black in America. The brothers face racism from their white neighbors despite "good intentions." The story is important, timely, and gives representation in a novel that is about both Black joy and pain. VERDICT Readers who are looking for books like Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give and Nic Stone's Dear Martin will gravitate towards this book. An important addition to every young adult collection.—Erica Coonelly, Monroe Township M.S., NJ - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
