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Punching the Air

By Yusef Salaam and Ibi Zoboi
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Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Punching the Air by Yusef Salaam and Ibi Zoboi is a compelling young adult novel that explores themes of identity, injustice, and resilience. The story follows Amal Shahid, a talented artist and poet wrongfully incarcerated, as he navigates the challenges of prison life. Through Amal's expression of creativity, the narrative portrays his struggle to maintain hope and carve his own path to redemption amidst an unjust system.
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Format: Paperback / softback
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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

This book may appeal to you if you appreciate powerful narratives that delve into themes of social justice, resilience, and the transformative power of art and hope. Co-written by Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five, this young adult novel provides a poignant exploration of identity and survival within the American justice system, offering a deeply moving and thought-provoking experience.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2022 YOTO CARNEGIE MEDAL

From award-winning, bestselling author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five comes a powerful YA novel in verse about a boy who is wrongfully incarcerated. Perfect for fans of the Noughts & Crosses series and The Hate U Give.

One fateful night, an altercation in a gentrifying neighbourhood escalates into tragedy. ‘Boys just being boys’ turns out to be true only when those boys are white.

Suddenly, at just sixteen years old, Amal Shahid’s bright future is upended: he is convicted of a crime he didn’t commit and sent to prison. Despair and rage almost sink him until he turns to the refuge of his words, his art. This never should have been his story. But can he change it?

With spellbinding lyricism, award-winning author Ibi Zoboi and prison reform activist Yusef Salaam tell a moving and deeply profound story about how one boy is able to maintain his humanity and fight for the truth, in a system designed to strip him of both.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Punching the Air is lauded for its profound exploration of the Black experience, blending lyricism and powerful metaphors. It depicts a young Black boy navigating systemic racism through creativity and art, offering a reflection on love and resilience. The book is celebrated for its artistic representation of overcoming adversity and the enduring power of art to heal.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780008422141

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 01 September 2020

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Harper Fire

Audience: Teenage

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 30.0mm

Width: 129.0mm

Height: 198.0mm

Weight: 350g

Pages: 400

Collections

Children's Fiction Children’s, Teenage and Educational Fiction Ibi Zoboi Young Adult Yusef Salaam

About the Author

Ibi Zoboi was born in Haiti, and holds an MFA in Writing for Children & Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her writing has been published in The New York Times Book Review, and The Rumpus, among others. She is the author of American Street, a US National Book Award finalist. She lives in Brooklyn, New York with her husband and three children. You can find her online at www.ibizoboi.net.

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