Book Review: The Boy in the Black Suit / Jason Reynolds

 

Matt's mother recently died from cancer. His father, in reaction to his loss, started drinking and has become a shell of a human being. Matt is left trying to figure out how to move forward. When he procures a job in a funeral home, he finds that he finds solace when he sees people dealing with the pain of loss. It isn't that he wants other people to feel pain, but that seeing people with an experience close to his own makes him feel less alone. 

Death is hard. It is hard for adults, but it is especially hard for teens because they usually do not have a lot of experience with death. This book takes that hardship and puts it down in black and white - between the covers a book - so that the reader can view it from a distance. 

For me, this book was a surprise. It has been on my "to read" list for a long time, but I just talked myself into reading it and I am glad that I did. This book on death ends in hope. 

Close your eyes and stop reading if you don't want a Spoiler....

(There is a love story in here built on survival and hope.)