As You Walk On By

 

My Thoughts:

Theo Jamal Wright is a good kid at heart, promise. However, he does not seem to say and do the right thing. But in this cute take on Breakfast Club with an odd assortment of kids hiding out in a bedroom at a raging party, the relationships made in the bedroom is great as long as the party lasts. However, what makes this story so sweet is the way Theo has to make things right in order to continue the progress they all made on that one night. Where the jock character in Breakfast Club talks about the fact that when they get back to school it will be like before, Theo knows he has to grow and face some truths about himself in order to reach out to his new friends that he has hurt. 

Theo is infuriating. I wanted to yell at him to stop so many times, but stick with him. He is worth the investment, at least the other in his life that stick with him think so. 

This is a great read for queer kids, non queer kids, misfits popular kids that feel like imposters, the ones that are silently suffering even if everyone thinks their life is so perfect. Don’t walk on by for this one. 

From the Publisher:

Seventeen-year-old Theo Wright has it all figured out. His plan (well, more like his dad's plan) is a foolproof strategy that involves exceling at his magnet school, getting scouted by college recruiters, and going to Duke on athletic scholarship. But for now, all Theo wants is a perfect prom night. After his best friend Jay dares Theo to prompose to his crush at Chloe Campbell's party, Theo's ready to throw caution to the wind and take his chances.

But when the promposal goes epically wrong, Theo seeks refuge in an empty bedroom while the party rages on downstairs. Having an existential crisis about who he really is with and without his so-called best friend wasn't on tonight's agenda. Though, as the night goes on, Theo finds he's not as alone as he thinks when, one by one, new classmates join him to avoid who they're supposed be outside the bedroom door. Among them, a familiar acquaintance, a quiet outsider, an old friend, and a new flame . . .

Publishing Information:

Author: Julian Winters. 

Publisher: Viking Books for Young Readers (January 17, 2023)