Solo (B&N Exclusive Edition)

by Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess

Overview

From award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander, with Mary Rand Hess, comes Solo, a YA novel written in poetic verse. Solo tells the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, who knows the life of a rock star isn’t really about the glitz and glamour. All the new cars and money in the world can’t make up for the scathing tabloid covers or the fact that his father is struggling with just about every addiction under the sun—including a desperate desire to make a comeback and regain his former fame. Haunted by memories of his mother—who died when Blade was nine—and the ruin his father’s washed-up legacy and life have brought to the family, Blade is left to figure out life on his own. But, he’s not all alone: He’s got the friendship of a jazz-musician mentor, Robert; the secret love of a girlfriend, Chapel; and his music. All may not be well in the Morrison home, but things are looking up for Blade, until he discovers a deeply protected family secret—one that further threatens his relationship with his family and has him questioning his own identity. Thrown into a tailspin, Blade decides the only way he will understand his past and begin his future is to find out the truth behind the music and himself. He soon sets out on a journey that will change everything he thought to be true. His quest lands him in Ghana, stuck in a village just shy of where answers to the secret can be found. There, Blade discovers a friendship he couldn’t have imagined, a people founded in family and community, and a reconciliation he never expected.

With his signature intricacy, intimacy, and poetic style, Kwame Alexander explores what it means to finally come home.

Solo features a stunning dust jacket with embossing and gloss.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780310628484
Publisher:	Blink
Publication date:	08/01/2017
Edition description:	B&N Exclusive Edition
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.10(h) x 1.70(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times bestselling author of 24 books, including THE CROSSOVER, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include HE SAID SHE SAID, a YA novel; BOOKED, a middle grade novel; and several picture books, including SURF’S UP, ANIMAL ARK, and OUT OF WONDER. Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his non-fiction debut, THE PLAYBOOK, and his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.

Mary Rand Hess has been writing and editing professionally for over twenty years. She writes everything from poetry, novels, and picture books, to screenplays and teleplays. Her work has been published in several regional, national, and international publications. In addition, she has had the privilege of running an independent publishing company, while working with award-winning, high profile figures in the literary, sports, and entertainment industries. She is the co-author of the picture book, ANIMAL ARK (National Geographic), with Kwame Alexander and Deanna Nikaido. She is also the author of THE DAY I MET THE NUTS, and the GABE AND FRIENDS series. Over the years, Mary has been a Stephen Minister, and has taught creative writing, drama, art, and Sunday school. In her spare time, she loves to compose on the piano, listen to copious amounts of music, read, create mixed media art, and spend time with family and friends. She can't imagine a world without stories, poetry, and rock and roll.

Editorial Reviews

Blade Morrison begins his story by disclosing, “I am / the wretched son / of a poor / rich man.” Master storytellers and poets Alexander (The Crossover, 2014) and Hess (The Day I Met the Nuts, 2009) have joined forces to pen a rhythmic, impassioned ode to family, identity, and the history of rock and roll. The only things 17-year-old Blade can count on as the wealthy but neglected son of famously erratic rock god Rutherford Morrison are his soulful guitar ballads and his girlfriend, Chapel. When Rutherford disappoints Blade one time too many and they end up fighting, Blade’s sister reveals a long-guarded family secret. Suddenly the music leaves him; when Chapel is no longer there to anchor him either, Blade sets out to discover more about his own past. A mix tape of classic rock hits guides him from Los Angeles all the way to the small village of Konko, Ghana, where a delay in his journey brings him unexpected fulfillment. Scattered throughout the novel in verse are some of Blade’s original rock ballads, though every poem feels like a song, pulsing with Alexander’s signature lyrical style. Blade ends up finding much more than what he expects: self-discovery, community, and a deeper understanding of what family means.
HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Alexander has a history of appealing to teens of all sorts, and a Newbery to his name; don’t expect this collaboration to stay on shelves long.

Booklist

'A rhythmic, impassioned ode to family, identity, and the history of rock and roll.'

starred review Booklist

'A gorgeously lyrical and passionate meditation on family and identity. Solo is Kwame Alexander at his finest.'

Nicola Yoon

Two Starred view from Media Break!
The 17-year-old son of a troubled rock star is determined to find his own way in life and love.
On the verge of adulthood, Blade Morrison wants to leave his father’s bad-boy reputation for drug-and-alcohol–induced antics and his sister’s edgy lifestyle behind. The death of his mother 10 years ago left them all without an anchor. Named for the black superhero, Blade shares his family’s connection to music but resents the paparazzi that prevent him from having an open relationship with the girl that he loves. However, there is one secret even Blade is unaware of, and when his sister reveals the truth of his heritage during a bitter fight, Blade is stunned. When he finally gains some measure of equilibrium, he decides to investigate, embarking on a search that will lead him to a small, remote village in Ghana. Along the way, he meets people with a sense of purpose, especially Joy, a young Ghanaian who helps him despite her suspicions of Americans. This rich novel in verse is full of the music that forms its core. In addition to Alexander and co-author Hess’ skilled use of language, references to classic rock songs abound. Secondary characters add texture to the story: does his girlfriend have real feelings for Blade? Is there more to his father than his inability to stay clean and sober? At the center is Blade, fully realized and achingly real in his pain and confusion.
A contemporary hero’s journey, brilliantly told. (Verse fiction. 14-adult)

Media Break

'From the lyric verse to the driving beat of the storytelling, this book is music, and beautiful music.'

New York Times bestselling author of The You IR Ellen Hopkins

'From the lyric verse to the driving beat of the storytelling, this book is music, and beautiful music.'

New York Times bestselling author of The You I&rsq Ellen Hopkins