"In an NYC landscape deeply shaped by race, sixth grader Stephen struggles to speak his piece.... Maldonado pursues a story about biracial boyhood, healthy friendships, and self-discovery while gesturing toward the influence of social movements like Black Lives Matter in reshaping what accountable friendship looks like. Voiced in the creative language of NYC youth, the novel models what it means to embrace the power of self-awareness and relationships built on mutual respect. Bridges everyday racism and accountable allyship with sincerity." (Kirkus Reviews, starred review)

"Engaging, timely novel.... Though his white mother calls him 'mixed', since he's half black and half white, Stephen's beginning to realize the world now sees him as 'what they imagine or what the media teaches them to think about Black men'. In situations where Dan, who is white, is considered harmless, Stephen gets in trouble for doing the very same things - and being perceived as trouble can have dire consequences. Maldonado (Tight) paints a vivid, relatable picture of an adventurous boy learning the rewards and dangers of straying out of his lane against the backdrop of an unfair system that could see him killed or arrested for the behaviors his white peers easily engage in. The characters are warmly realistic, by turns impulsive and regretful. In relatively few words, Maldonado elucidates matters related to racial profiling, police violence against black people, and allyship, all through the eyes of a brave kid trying to figure out who he is and where he belongs." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)