When the principal of Urban Promise Prep School is found murdered in his office, three students are high on the list of suspects. J.B., Trey, and Ramon attend Urban Promise Prep School. One is from the projects, one is a jock, and one has ties to the local gang. All three had run-ins with Principal Moore which resulted in detentions on the day of his murder. They form an unlikely alliance to find out who really killed Principal Moore and clear their names. Which one is guilty?
While you could look at this book as another boys of color being wrongly(?) accused of a crime, for me it went deeper than that. It was more about the assumptions we make about others based not just on skin-color, but on where you live, who your family is, what your school-rep is. These boys don't trust each other, but finally come together to solve the murder.
One thing that really bothered me, but wasn't dealt with beyond one or two lines, was the boys' interrogations. None of the boys had a lawyer or even a parent present. I felt like that somehow should have been addressed so young people would know that that should not be seen as normal. That they have the right to an attorney and shouldn't answer any questions without one, even if they didn't do anything wrong.

I just reviewed Promise Boys by Nick Brooks. #PromiseBoys #NetGalley

This was a great book. I loved all the promise boys (and their friends). The mystery ended up being a bit predictable.

Promise Boys is the story of three young men who find themselves at the intersection of an oppressive charter school, a tough neighborhood, and a murdered principal. I really liked the multiple POVs and how the mystery unfolded. This book will appeal to a wide range of readers--those who enjoy a social justice angle, those who enjoy mysteries, and those who simply enjoy an engaging and fast-paced story. I will be purchasing a copy for my classroom library!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me an e-arc of Promise Boys for review. The opinions in this review are solely my own. My actual rating is a 4.5

While I have yet to read The Hate You Give, any reference or connection to Karen McManus instantly piques my interest. So with that said, I was very interested in Promise Boys.

Set in a charter high school, three boys of color are the suspects in their principal's murder. Hmm...it must be more complicated than that...and so it is.

Set in multi POV of not only the three boys/suspects, but that select family members and friends, Nick Brooks basically wrote a masterclass in multi pov. Each voice was unique and wholly believable. I felt like any one of the characters were talking to me at any time. He encapsulated the thoughts, feelings and expressions of teenagers, and teenage boys for that matter, effortlessly.

I gobbled this book up in two days despite the very heavy themes and tones in the book. The whodunit was multilayered and my thoughts about who the killer really was changed multiple times throughout the book and I never saw the actual killer coming until the reveal.

While the ending was wrapped up too quickly for me, I thoroughly appreciated the epilogue ( I will keep this spoiler free).

Gangs, what it means to be a student of color, neighborhood, community and abuse are all themes woven throughout this novel.

I loved that characters that normally would not mesh together came together to solve the murder.

This book needs to be incorporated into classrooms and also studied in MFA programs for dialogue and multi pov.

I am honored to have been able to review Promise Boys and Nick Brooks is officially on my radar and I cannot wait to read more from him.

JB, Ramon, and Trey all attend the Urban Promise Prep School and it is strict, the older boys remember when it wasn’t quite as strict and they liked it but now there is no talking at all not between classes, not at lunch never, and if they mess up it is detention. But how does an afternoon detention turn into being suspected of murder, and how will the three prove their innocents, and who is the real killer?
This was a book that makes you think, a lot, about what ifs. They went to this school because it was supposed to save their lives, unlike so many in their neighborhoods, but with its over strictness could it push a kid to far. This was a good book with great characters. This book will enrage you and give you hope at the same time.

This book is advertised as THE HATE U GIVE meets ONE OF US IS LYING, and both of those books are two of my favorites. So naturally, PROMISE BOYS became a highly anticipated read for me, and I LOVED it. I will say the book's formatting style is a bit unorthodox at first, but by the end, it made sense as to why the story is told the way it is. I was confused for a tad, but once I understood the storytelling, I couldn't put it down.

J.B., Trey, and Ramon have nothing in common except that they are teen boys of color who all go to Urban Promise Prep and were in detention at the same time when Principal Moore was found dead on school grounds. All three of them are the main suspects because no one can confirm their exact whereabouts. The story unfolds of how each of them got detention, where they were when it happened, and everything afterwards. We meet other side characters, who fuel the story, but also add to the mystery of the elusive Principal Moore. From the community aspect, Principal Moore was a hero for troubled youth. He was the founder of the Urban Promise Prep, which has a high reputation as being the best school in DC due to high test scores and all students going to college on scholarship. However, behind closed doors, he was rude, aggressive, hostile, and selfish. The majority of students hated Urban Promise Prep, because it felt more like prison than it did school. J.B., Trey, and Ramon all had their own plans for the future, but being a murder suspect put everything on the line.

The secrets and the mystery kept me turning the page. I wanted needed to know what happened next and who really did it. If you love books with a school as the setting, add murder mystery in the mix, then this book is for you! I promise. I'm excited to see what Nick Brooks has in store for us next.

Promise Boys is a decent debut from Nick Brooks.

I enjoyed the structure of the book with the snippets and interviews from different people. I enjoyed the overall message and the spotlight on how discipline can be abuse especially for Black and Brown boys. I really enjoyed our three main characters, they were easy to root for and I was hooked from the beginning.

I rated this book 3 stars, because despite enjoying it there were some issues.

I wish it were paced better. We spend a lot of time establishing the mystery with multiple POVs but not enough time solving the mystery— the ending felt strung together.
I wish a lot of character dynamics were better explored instead of just outright telling us. I found it hard to believe some of the relationship developments mentioned.
Despite loving the formatting, there were times I wish we spent more moments with the main trio instead of switching POVs. The multiple switches also made it hard to follow in some moments.
There were also somethings mentioned that seemed of high importance that never came up again, which had me slightly confused.

The Urban Promise Prep School is Washington, D.C., is supposed to turn boys into men. Principal Kenneth Moore runs the place with strict rules and brutal discipline. J.B., Ramon, and Trey are all students there. Each has a different background and different aspirations for their lives. When Principal Moore is shot while the three are in detention, they become the immediate suspects in his death.

In order to save their own reputations and futures, these young men need to band together with their various allies to put all the clues together to find out who killed the principal. Each knows that he didn't do it, but at first, they aren't too sure of the others. As they explore suspects, we also learn a lot about each of the three main characters from their own words and the words of those around them.

This is a story told in multiple viewpoints. Each viewpoint gives clues to the solution to this crime. It is also told over the course of a few days. Luckily, chapter and section headings orient the reader. Once I got into the style, I enjoyed this story and was glad to get to know these three very different, but equally remarkable, young men.

Do you ever wish you could give an author a round of applause after finishing a book? That's what I wanted to do after finishing "Promise Boys."

Three boys of color at a prep school are accused of murdering their principal, and the boys now have to conduct their own investigation to figure out who the real killer is.

The story is tense and filled with intrigue. Each of the boys could be guilty based on the evidence and timing, but they quickly uncover that several other people could be guilty as well. I really wasn't sure who the murderer would be right up until the reveal because the red herrings are just so well placed. I didn't think it would be who the boys finally decided on because I figured another twist was coming.

In addition to the excellent mystery, this story also focuses on how boys of color are viewed by society, especially if they come from the "wrong" neighborhoods. One boy is a suspect because his cousin is a gang member. One is a suspect essentially because he's big and black. One is a suspect because he's a class clown who doesn't follow overly strict protocols at the school. They all struggle with how people see them, and Brooks described it so well. I was genuinely attached to each of these characters.

I am impressed.

Thanks for the gifted e-ARC! @fiercereads @whoisnickbrooks @officialnickbrooks and @coloredpagesblogtours

I can tell the author not only has experience working in education, especially charter sector. Promise Boys is a mystery that focuses on three students suspected of the murder of their school's founder and top administrator. Trey, JB, and Ramon are students who are determined to prove their innocence and be see as whole people.

This was a great read!

Fave quote:

Teachers should be allowed to no like kids.

#coloredpagestours #promiseboys #partner

Whip-smart, fast-paced, and thrilling as hell, I'm absolutely convinced this will be HUGE. And it's well deserved. This book was an amazing read I got this arc at YALLFEST this past year and it has not disappointed. This is my first 5 star read of the year and it is an amazing book.

I’ve seen a lot of descriptions calling this book a cross between The Hate U Give and One of Us is Lying and I couldn’t agree more! Promise Boys by Nick Brooks tells the story of three young men from an all boys school in DC that are under suspicion when their principal is found dead. While all the boys have reasons to be suspected, they realize they must trust each other enough to work together to find the real killer…but can they really trust each other?

Brooks weaves social commentary in seamlessly with the mystery of who wanted Principal Moore dead. I loved how the story was written from each boy’s perspective, as well as giving us outside ideas as well—from friends, family, and community. The story was fast paced and I couldn’t put it down! If you’re a fan of Angie Thomas and/or Karen McManus, pick this one up as soon as you can!

***Thank you to Henry Holt & Co. and Macmillan for the advanced copy of Promise Boys***

I have heard a lot about #PromiseBoys before its release, so I was excited to read this ARC. This book is definitely a page turner. It follows the investigation of a murder of a principal of an all-boys charter school. Immediately three boys are identified as potential suspects--all three are boys of color. The story is fast-paced with each chapter only being a few pages, each from the perspective of a different character. This format allows the reader to see a more complete picture of each of the three boys, which is key to the story: what other people think of someone is not who they may be AND what they are led to believe about themselves is not who they are. This underlying message is clear throughout the book. While adult readers may not like the "ease" with which the story wraps up, teen readers will be engaged throughout. The book is a good murder mystery but also highlights some of the ways that schools try to control students and the problematic nature of that control, which will resonate with teen readers. This is a must-purchase for school libraries. Thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the ARC.

"All these boys talk tough. Give them a little love and watch them melt. They're children. Everyone seems to always forget that. No matter their size. No matter their skin color. No matter their attitude."*

This novel was so good y'all. I won an earc from yallfest and I'm so glad because Promise Boys was one of my must anticipated reads if 2023.

I loved the promise boys : Trey, Ramón and JB. They were all unique characters and before I was a quarter into the book I was fiercely devoted to them. These boys represent the absolutely real Black and brown boys that are shoved into tight boxes all over America. What can you be when everyone expects you to fail in the end, regardless of who you are or how you live? The pressure on American boys of color is astronomical.

"As a Black man, you get no benefit of the doubt. You have to be on the right side of everything... This place is too hard for a Black man."*
"That's the sad part. Too many kids with too much potential fall to the pressure of the system."*
"In this world, everyone already thinks I'm guilty. But what's new? In this world it feels like I always have guilty painted on my back. This time it's just written in blood."*

*will check with finished work to confirm quotations

Promise Boys is a great whodunnit as well as a unvarnished look at the world of charter schools in urban communities that serve mostly black and brown students.

On the day of the murder, JB, Trey and Ramon are in detention. Trey is missing the basketball game he should be playing in, showing the scouts what he can do. JB is missing his first date with Keyana, his dream girl. Ramon is still mourning the loss of his pupusas and the income that they would have brought to help pay his cousin's bail. Try goes to the bathroom, and when he doesn't come back, the School Resource Officer, Reggie, who is running detention, goes to find him. Then they all hear the shot.

The principal, Mr. Moore, is dead, and everyone thinks it's one of the boys - JB, Trey or Ramon. All had their reasons to hate Principal Moore. But are there others who have a reason to kill him?

The picture of the charter school is not a positive one. Evidently, the school started strong and the students were happy. But when results weren't happening fast enough, the administration started enacting more strict rules, until the present day, when students can't speak or smile or even go to the bathroom without permission. They have to walk on a blue line between classes, and earn demerits for minor infractions, like not having your hands locked behind your back while walking down the hall.

This is a wonderfully written book, a great mystery, and an insightful commentary on urban charter schools. Thank you to Netgalley for the advance copy of this book.

The Urban Promise Prep School is an institution that aims to turn boys into men through strict rules and discipline. J.B., Ramón, and Trey are students at the school and are taught that this strict regimen is necessary to be successful in college and avoid the same fate as many of the men in their neighborhoods. However, when the school's principal, Moore, is murdered, J.B., Ramón, and Trey become the main suspects in the investigation. Despite maintaining their innocence, they must work together to find the real killer before they are arrested. As they try to solve the mystery, they must consider the possibility that the killer could be one of their own.

This story is told through multiple points of view and includes commentary from other characters, which made it difficult to keep everyone straight at times. Additionally, the voices of J.B., Ramon, and Trey seemed too similar, making it hard to distinguish between them as individual characters.

That being said, the mystery of the murdered principal was intriguing and exciting, with every new development throwing suspicion onto someone else. Additionally, examining the inner workings of the Urban Promise Prep School, an institution operating under a seemingly innocent facade that inordinately seeks to control and suppress BIPOC boys, was both heartbreaking and rage-inducing. While the story had its flaws, I still found it to be a compelling read and would recommend it.

I absolutely adored the mixed media that showed the multitude of ways that we fail black and brown boys, even ways in which we often fail them when we have good intentions. And to keep me on the edge of my seat and have a sweet romance all at once? Brilliant work

Karen McManus + the hate u give/ Jason Reynolds. Yes please. I love a good prep school murder and this did not disappoint. Ya murder mysteries can be a bit cliche, and this was no different, but I loved it none the less. It's a niche of ya that I adore. Most ya prep school mysteries are northeast white school privilege schools, so this did offer a different perspective in that regard, downtown DC, Racial diversity. Etc.

Urban Promise Prep was supposed to be a stellar educational institution, instead it turned into an institute of oppression, where the principal wounded all he came in contact with, until he was murdered. Brooks lays out the plot in such a way that the stringent rules build and has those who were once asking if they were criminals or crazy realize that they were, in fact, simply human. Told in multiple perspectives from the students, their friends, family, school personnel and police, Brooks gives a well rounded picture of the situation and literally had me cheering the Promise Boys on by the climax and shouting “YEAH!” . A well done YA mystery with plenty of details, suspects and an underlying message of uniting for justice, don’t miss Promise Boys in the new year.

Promise Boys was a great read. The story moves quickly, keeps the reader guessing, includes diversity issues (which public and school libraries are prioritizing in their purchases this year), I read it in a day, and wanted to pass it along to another reader. It will be an easy book talk success. The cover put me off, but I am glad the description of the book sold it to me. A winner!