True True

By: Don P. Hooper

Narrated by: Christopher Ian Grant

Length: 9 hrs and 32 mins

Publisher's summary

In this powerful and fast-paced YA contemporary debut, a Black teen from Brooklyn struggles to fit in at his almost entirely-white Manhattan prep school, resulting in a fight and a plan for vengeance.

This is not how seventeen-year-old Gil imagined beginning his senior year—on the subway dressed in a tie and khakis headed towards Manhattan instead of his old public school in Brooklyn. Augustin Prep may only be a borough away, but the exclusive private school feels like it's a different world entirely compared to Gil's predominately Caribbean neighborhood in Brooklyn.

If it weren't for the partial scholarship, the school's robotic program and the chance for a better future, Gil wouldn't have even considered going. Then after a racist run-in with the school's golden boy on the first day ends in a fight that leaves only Gil suspended, Gil understands the truth about his new school—Augustin may pay lip service to diversity, but that isn’t the same as truly accepting him and the other Black students as equal. But Gil intends to leave his mark on Augustin anyway.

If the school isn't going to carve out a space for him, he will carve it out for himself. Using Sun Tzu’s The Art of War as his guide, Gil wages his own clandestine war against the racist administration, parents and students, and works with the other Black students to ensure their voices are finally heard. But the more enmeshed Gil becomes in school politics, the more difficult it becomes to balance not only his life at home with his friends and family, but a possible new romance with a girl he’d move mountains for. In the end, his war could cost him everything he wants the most.

©2023 Don P. Hooper (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

★ “In this compassionate debut, a love letter to Brooklyn and Caribbean culture, Hooper paints an organic portrait of a Black teenager who feels caught between two different worlds. Gil’s determination to lift up his peers often results in him disregarding his own needs and wants; through his earnest first-person POV and natural-feeling prose, Hooper presents valuable lessons on the healing power of community, forgiveness, and sharing one’s truth.” —Publisher’s Weekly, starred review

“Immersive and captivating, True True is an unflinchingly honest letter to culture, social injustices, community, and the limitless power of one’s voice. A riveting page-turner! Do yourself a favor—read this book!” —Julian Winters, bestselling and award-winning author of Right Where I Left You

Favorite read of the year!

I loved Gil and his family/friends. A great story that needed to be told!

Outstanding

Best book I’ve read this year. It captured my attention from the first minute. G.C. and his friends remind me of my own friends and his special relationship with his grandmother nearly brought me to tears. A wonderful read!!