Solo

From the outside looking in, one would think Blaze has a nearly perfect life. It’s true he lost his mother when only nine, but his father is an incredibly famous rock star, and Blaze and his sister live in a spectacular home and have everything they ask for. He has an amazing girlfriend, Chapel, who any guy would give his right arm for. But there are a couple things that get in the way of a perfect life — Blaze’s father is a substance abuser of the first order who never manages to keep his problem under wraps, and, because of that, Chapel’s parents forbid her to see Blaze, so they have to sneak around. But when Blaze’s father has a drug-fueled episode at Blaze’s graduation and then his sister drops the news on him that he’s adopted, Blaze begins a truly epic journey to find himself.

Author Kwame Alexander has written an amazing coming-of-age novel entirely in verse that will have his teen fans and many beyond turning the pages and loving every line. Alexander’s ability to speak to his teen audience with his powerful poetry is opening minds to this art form like nothing else can.