Book Review: IA B.O.S.S.

IA B.O.S.S.

This book continues right where the first one left off. After Naz outsmarted the gang desperately trying to recruit him, he settles into life in the endless ghetto that he frustratingly calls home. With his new friend Artie and notoriety from nearly defeating the Chess Master at the festival, he finds everything at school changing. No longer is he the invisible kid with his head down, but now is struggling as he becomes one of the most popular kids in school.

Pressured from his new friends and the coach, Naz joins the basketball team without knowing how to play. But he soon discovers that his repressed memories include the game and he quickly becomes a star player. Using his special abilities, he works with his teammates toward the coveted, undefeated season.

To his surprise, this newfound attention also includes the eye of the mystery girl that he had met by the drinking fountain. His emotions are all a flutter as they meet again and she gives him her phone number. They soon become text buddies, exploring their budding relationship. This book perfectly captures the innocent, early teenage romance of middle school. Every parent that reads it will reminisce on days past. And every kid who reads it will completely understand his feelings and experiences.

Just as Naz is adjusting to his new life, the danger of the gang he outsmarted soon returns. Things escalate as a student at his school mysteriously dies. The officials claim it’s a suicide, but Naz knows better. He knows that it was murder. He sets out to investigate and find out the truth. But the deeper he digs, the more danger he is in. Soon, Naz realizes that the only thing that can protect him is to master his special powers.

This wonderful book will tug at your emotions. I laughed out loud. I cried and had to set the book down to compose myself. The characters are so real and the story so compelling that it will keep you reading page after page. I highly recommend this book to all middle grade and young adult readers.

To find out more about author John Darryl Winston and the IA series, visit his website at http://www.johndarrylwinston.com/

Written by Benjamin Ellefson, who is an avid reader and author of the children’s book The Land without Color. Learn more at http://www.benjaminellefson.com/Land-without-Color/