Between Two Brothers

October 23, 2023
A Black family must come together following a tragic event in this heartrending novel by Allen (How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy). Worried about his older brother Seth’s upcoming departure for Texas A&M on an athletic scholarship, 13-year-old Isaiah Abernathy endeavors to overcome his inner “shy guy” and build self-confidence without Seth’s help. When Seth’s attending an A&M meeting results in him missing the sibling sports competition which they entered at the local rec center, the brothers have an uncharacteristic physical altercation. Following the fight, a car accident involving Seth and an 18-wheeler leaves Seth critically injured and in a medically induced coma. Desperate to apologize to Seth and believing that “I’m going to be his compass, his light in that dark place. I’m going to lead him back home,” Isaiah determines to do whatever it takes to help Seth recover. Rendered in touching prose via Isaiah’s empathetic first-person voice, this tender ode to siblinghood showcases the occasional precarity of life’s best-laid plans and emphasizes that compassion and familial support can imbue one with the strength and resilience to overcome any obstacle. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from November 1, 2023
Some relationships cannot be broken. Black 13-year-old Isaiah Abernathy is gearing up to see Seth, his older brother and best friend, head off to Texas A&M for college in a few months, much to his dismay. Seth is one of the few people who helps Isaiah keep a check on the inner "shy guy" who makes him feel nervous in social situations. The brothers have a strong bond and always look out for each other. So, when Seth misses the sibling sports competition at the local rec center, Isaiah fumes over what feels like a deep betrayal by his beloved older brother during his time of need. The following day, the two boys get into a heated argument--but before Isaiah can apologize, he learns that Seth was in a terrible accident that's left him hospitalized in a medically induced coma. Isaiah battles his guilt and, rejecting the doctor's grim prognosis, tries to find a way to help his brother heal. This book, narrated in Isaiah's natural and inviting first-person voice, delves deeply into grief, accountability, and anxiety and shows, in an inspirational way, how strong the bonds between family members, friends, and community members can be in times of need. The book also explores with care the need for inner strength and the power of the human mind when working through trauma. A moving and uplifting exploration of sibling bonds. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

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