When I Was the Greatest

Jason Reynolds' 'When I Was the Greatest' is a powerful young adult novel set in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, following 16-year-old Ali. He and his sister, Jazz, along with their friends Needles and Noodles, work hard to avoid the neighborhood's pervasive issues of guns and drugs. However, a fateful decision to attend a party leads to a violent incident, leaving one friend injured and another in grave danger. The book explores themes of loyalty, family, friendship, and the difficult choices young people face in challenging urban environments. Parents should be aware that the narrative contains profanity and sexual references, as well as depictions of violence and peril, making it suitable for mature young adult readers aged 12 and up.

Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, but he and his sister, Jazz, and their neighbors, Needles and Noodles, stay out of trouble until they go to the wrong party, where one gets badly hurt and another leaves with a target on his back. Sixteen-year-old Ali lives in a Brooklyn neighborhood known for guns and drugs, where he manages to stay out of trouble until going to the wrong party. The plot contains profanity and sexual references.