Solo by Kwame Alexander is one of my favorite reads by an African American author this year. I usually don’t like reading books if the main character is a boy because I normally read books about girls. I have always found those more interesting. But, after this book, I have changed my mind and look forward to reading more books like this.

Another great thing about this book is that it is a verse novel. A verse novel is told through poems from different characters’ perspectives. Solo is an easy and fast read. Readers will have an better understanding than other books because you will be more able to picture all of the things going on in this book. Some my favorite quotes are “Don’t haiku me, I want a epic” and “If I am your heart, imagine me inside me beating, pumping, loving.”

One unique element of Solo is that some of the entries are text messages. The main character, Blade, has a dad who is a rock star, while he is also a drug addict and drinks a lot, he makes sure that he gives his son whatever he needs. Blade is 17-years-old and loves to play the guitar. He mentions that the only thing he has in common with his father is his love for music. Music helps him relax and break down his feelings into one big song. Blade lost his mother, so he thinks that is why his father is the way he is.

Blade’s life is further complicated by his girlfriend, Chapel, and family secrets that are revealed. In order to uncover these secrets, Blade travels all the way to Africa. My favorite character was Blade’s sister, Storm, because she is much like my little sister, India, when she fusses with me just like Storm fusses with Blade.

If you have family problems and are looking for an book you can relate to, then you should read Solo. Will Blade be able to uncover the secrets from his life? Will his dad, Rutherford Morrison, fix his problems alone? Some other amazing verse novels include Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson and The Crossover, also by Kwame Alexander.

I would recommend Solo to my friends, family, and teachers because this book has a lot of good closure in it for students who are adopted and may be wondering who their real parents are. This book made me think about who my real grandparents, uncles, aunts, nieces, and nephews may be because my mother is adopted, but I still love the family I have now.

I really loved the book Solo by Kwame Alexander. If I could rate this book, I would give it a 9 out of 10 because it was a great read and always kept my attention. I could hardly put the book down because it was so interesting.