This Thing of Ours

This powerful YA debut from Frederick Joseph follows Ossie Brown, a Black teen whose promising basketball career is cut short by an injury. Stripped of his primary identity, Ossie must navigate the social and academic landscape of his affluent, predominantly white school. He discovers a new passion and community in a writing program that celebrates marginalized authors. However, when a viral 'anti-woke' video targets his teacher and friends, Ossie is compelled to confront critical issues like racism, classism, homophobia, and book banning. The novel is a deeply heartfelt story about finding purpose, building friendships, and the immense power of words in the face of injustice, offering a rallying cry against censorship and a testament to family and romance.

The powerful and timely YA novel debut from two-time New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story--and a rallying cry against book banning. In an instant, Ossie Brown's entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie--a Black teen who doesn't come from wealth and privilege--must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he's now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students' viral "anti-woke" video puts the teacher's job, the writing program, and even Ossie's friends' safety at risk--and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.