I'm thoroughly surprised that I did not care for this book. I've really liked (or even loved) everything else that I've read by Kwame Alexander. I enjoyed Solo by the same two authors, so I'll continue to read anything by either or both of them.

This one just didn't hit it out of the park for me, pun intended.

The pacing was off. Without spoiling the book, the plot leaves off right at the climax and there isn't any time for reflection which is what this book needs. I'm okay with no resolution. That's how life works most of the time. However, this book needed a bit of time to process. Trying to gain the love interest lost my interest three of four times and I had to force myself to finish the book just to get credit for my reading challenge. Then, that ending hit - BAM. It felt like the book was trying to suddenly cram in too many huge topics that deserve the time and space to breathe and be heard.

But maybe that's just me.