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Review: Mid-Air

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Mid-Air
By Alicia D. Williams
New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2024. Fiction. 313 pages.

13-year-old Isaiah doesn't feel like he fits in anywhere. Boys at school tease him for being a Black boy who listens to rock music. His father has a job that means he's gone more than he's home. Even his best friends Drew and Darius aren't always his scene. The three boys want to break a world record and love to challenge each other to do stunts on their bikes and skateboards -- but sometimes Isaiah is too scared and makes excuses. But one terrible day, the three are trying a new stunt when Darius is hit by a car and killed. Now, Isaiah and Drew are trying to figure out how to go on after the death of their friend and it feels to Isaiah like their friendship won't survive. Isaiah, who is used to hiding parts of himself, doesn't have anyone to turn to and begins to shut down before he is sent to the country to stay with his aunt and uncle to heal. 

This book is quiet, but powerful. Isaiah's inner thoughts are believable for a young teen, and readers who have ever struggled with the loss of a loved one will relate to his processing. Seeing Isaiah find a community to rely on and heal from is empowering and heartwarming without becoming too saccharine. Good for young teens.

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