Mid-Air

I found Mid-Air by Alicia D. Williams on a list of new books, and it caught my eye since I really liked the author's previous book Genesis Begins Again. The book description reads, "It’s the last few months of eighth grade, and Isaiah feels lost. He thought his summer was going to be him and his boys Drew and Darius, hanging out, doing wheelies, watching martial arts movies, and breaking tons of Guinness World Records before high school. But now, more and more, Drew seems to be fading from their friendship, and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows exactly why. Because Darius is…gone. A hit and run killed Darius in the midst of a record-breaking long wheelie when Isaiah should have been keeping watch, ready to warn: 'CAR!' Now, Drew can barely look at Isaiah. But Isaiah, already quaking with ache and guilt, can’t lose two friends. So, he comes up with a plan to keep Drew and him together­­­—they can spend the summer breaking records, for Darius. But Drew’s not the same Drew since Darius was killed, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in clothes, his love for rock music, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?"

This was a great book. It took me a few chapters to get into it, but then the characters and story drew me in. I loved Isaiah as a character and his journey to find confidence in himself and his interests and his path to coping with the death of his friend. I loved his trip to live with his aunt and uncle and watching him grow and thrive. This book was special too because (1) it was written in verse and (2) it had some illustrations throughout, which isn't as common in middle grade books but were a nice addition. I can't really describe what it was that made me love this book--just the characters, the journey, the messages, and the overall positive feeling I ended the book with.

Rating: * * * (3/3 = Loved it)