Name: The Usual Suspects
ISBN: 9780062796325

Maurice Broaddus

Fans of Jason Reynolds and Sharon M. Draper will love this oh-so-honest middle grade novel from writer and educator Maurice Broaddus. Thelonius Mitchell is tired of being labeled. He's in special ed, separated from the "normal" kids at school who don't have any "issues." That's enough to make all the teachers and students look at him and his friends with a constant side-eye. (Although his disruptive antics and pranks have given him a rep too.) When a gun is found at a neighborhood hangout, Thelonius and his pals become instant suspects. Thelonius may be guilty of pulling crazy stunts at school, but a criminal? T isn't about to let that label stick.

The Usual Suspects

Fans of Jason Reynolds and Sharon M. Draper will love this oh-so-honest middle grade novel from writer and educator Maurice Broaddus. Thelonius Mitchell is tired of being labeled. He’s in special ed, separated from the “normal” kids at school who don’t have any “issues.” That’s enough to make all the teachers and students look at him and his friends with a constant side-eye. (Although his disruptive antics and pranks have given him a rep too.) When a gun is found at a neighborhood hangout, Thelonius and his pals become instant suspects. Thelonius may be guilty of pulling crazy stunts at school, but a criminal? T isn’t about to let that label stick.

Katy B

3.5 stars.

I really enjoyed this book. It's a great look at how different upbringings, home lives perceptions, and so much more can "label" a kid. It also shows how kids that people don't know how to work with get grouped together and not for the best if no one knows how to work with them or has the patience. 

This story greatly shows how actions can build up to one big event. When a gun is found near a school it's widely assumed someone from the special education classroom brought it (some kids in this room have learning obstacles while some kids are dumped here because no one knows what to do with them). The main character tries to prove their innocence while not being a snitch.

A great story everyone should read. I may round my rating up to 4 stars while I rate it 3.5 stars. The story and message are fantastic. The book is mostly a fast read, but at times in the middle it kind of drags on. The goodreads description says fans of Jason Reynolds will like this book which I agree with that statement. While Jason Reynolds can pack a punch in a the bare minimum of words, this is a little longer, which is okay, but I think a few parts could use the Reynolds knack of cutting back and going with simplicity to still pack a punch. That said, I don't know how Reynolds does it with conveying so much is so few words and pages. Also, this is the author's first book for kids so a great juvenile debut.