This book slightly reminded me of Sideways Stories from Wayside School just nowhere near as silly (or 90s) but each chapter is a student. Not all from the same school, but their lives are all connected and most of it happens in that hour after school lets out. Each chapter is a moment in a student's more complex life. I really enjoyed the lightness of this book. Not that it doesn't deal with some heavier subjects like parents with cancer and bullying and very minor theft, but besides stupid Marcus, the kids we learn about don't really have a mean bone in their body. It was refreshing.

Mock Printz review:
Augh, I can't ever deny Jason Reynolds, the man is a fantastic writer. I knew Long Way Down was going to win all the awards the other year but this one I'm not so sure. The characters are it's strongest point, because while there are many, each one is written with a back story in mind, creatively, they have their own tics and quirks to make each one memorable. Setting is second strongest and a very close contender. Heck, the whole book is based on the ten blocks around the school (most of the) characters go to. And we get to know so much about this neighborhood in just ten chapters. Third strength was the layout. The chapter beginnings with a horizontal blue line illustrating the character we were about to be introduced to (just their waist and lower though, never any faces), and put them all together and you get a whole street of the characters you meet within this book, and it holds so much action! Like a film-strip. It's wonderful.
But put it all together, and I am left with the feeling that this isn't his strongest writing. Would I recommend it to readers age 5th grade and up? In a heartbeat! Would I nominate it as a Printz winner....ehhhhhh. I'm not as confident about this one as Long Way Down. Sorry Mr. Reynolds!