Invisible Son

Informationen zum Autor Kim Johnson Klappentext After spending two months in a juvenile detention center for a crime he did not commit, seventeen-year-old Andre Jackson returns home and tries to adapt to a Covid-19 world and find his missing best friend. Leseprobe 1 Don’t Speak February 27, 2020 I live in the whitest big city on the Blackest block. Simultaneously seen and unseen. I used to hate the erasure. But now, well, now I don’t mind if I stay hidden. Especially since MacLaren Youth Correctional Facility is in my literal rearview. But the longer we idle in Portland traffic, the more reality sinks in that that’s not how any of this works. Marcus tries to bury this truth with conversations on moving forward. On possibilities. But it will be as hard to shake the strike against me as it is for the windshield wipers to win their battle against this torrential downpour. Marcus’s and my coexistence in this car proves that fact. There will always be somebody to check me. To explain myself to. To keep at a distance. Which makes who I roll with matter more than ever. And I don’t mean my boy Boogie, who knows I’m more likely to be up late reading Octavia Butler or scouring through my collection of Black Panther comics than be hanging out. I mean my other so-­called friends. Correction, white friends who’ve been known to mouth off to an officer without fear. Who don’t think twice about trying to be anything they want. Meanwhile, I’m not trying to be nothing at all. Marcus hands me coffee he picked up from the first drive-­thru after we left the facility. Coffee is nasty. My stomach can’t take it, but I also can’t say no to him. I’m so close to semi-­freedom—­I’m not taking any chances. Not today. “Dre, how you really feeling about all this?” Marcus adjusts his mirror like he’ll see better. “All right.” What am I supposed to say? Living the dream riding with my probation officer? Can’t wait to get home . . . so I can still be under surveillance? I know I’m wallowing in my situation, which isn’t like me. I’m the type to kick my feet and claw my way above water—­even if it’s only with words. But staying silent seems like the best way to just get home. Besides, he’s asked this same question fifty-­eleven times. He wants something deeper ’cause he takes my silence as not caring. But he’s wrong. I do care. My life felt like it was about to be over until I got community monitoring. But even without more juvie time, I’m still twisted inside with all types of feelings. Like how I got caught up in the first place. And how bad I wanna roll down the window and let the rain drench me as I yell out, I’m free. It’s a wrap. Dunzo. Then swipe my hand below my chin with a cocky grin. But that’s not the kind of care Marcus wants. “That’s all I get? All right?” Marcus sighs, giving me a once-­over. “You hit the jackpot, Dre. The sooner you realize it, the better. Use your mind.” Marcus taps his temple like he just dropped some knowledge. “Yeah, okay.” I bounce my right foot, fighting the urge to scratch at my ankle. Don’t get me wrong, Marcus is supposedly one of the good ones. And I came up having a Black juvenile counselor who is more likely to see me as a person than a problem. That’s not how it always goes. Inside, the guys talked about all the power trips from probation counselors who were just waiting for you to fail. The fact mine’s Black and used to be a teacher, I hit the lottery. No question. But this doesn’t change that I have no choice in our situation. He says jump and I gotta say how high. “You’re close to putting this all behind you now,” Marcus says. “Just lay low. Focus on school.” I chew on the corner of my lip, holding back a response. Holding back anger to stay numb. “Come on.” He nudges me. “I know you’re excited to be going home.” I give a weak nod. His gaze studies me before h...

Product details

• Authors: Kim Johnson
• Publisher: Random House Childrens Books US
• Languages: English
• Age Recommendation: from age 14
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 27.06.2023
• EAN: 9780593482117
• ISBN: 978-0-593-48211-7
• No. of pages: 416
• Dimensions: 146 mm x 216 mm x 32 mm
• Subject: Children's and young people's books