A young man searches for answers after the death of his brother at the hands of police in this striking debut novel, for readers of The Hate U Give.
When Marvin Johnson’s twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.
The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it’s up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.
Tyler Johnson Was Here is a powerful and moving portrait of youth and family that speaks to the serious issues of today—from gun control to the Black Lives Matter movement.
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“JaQwan Kelly’s narration turns from lighthearted to fearful and he amps up tension when an aggressive white policeman draws a gun on the innocent black teens…He expresses Marvin’s many forms of vulnerability, which change as quickly as that first scene…Speedy emotional shifts mirror the story’s fast pace as Kelly recounts Marvin’s painful journey, marked by grief, outrage, and the realization of his true beliefs and needs.”
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