Onyx & Beyond

by Amber McBride

Onyx lives with his mother, who is showing signs of early-onset dementia. He doesn't want to bring attention to his home -- if Child Protective Services finds out, they'll put him into foster care.

As he's trying to keep his life together, the Civil Rights Movement is accelerating. Is there anywhere that's safe for a young Black boy? Maybe, if only Onyx can fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut and exploring space, where none of these challenges will follow him. In the meantime, Onyx can dream. And try to get his mom the help she needs.

Based on her own father's story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.

Genres: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Poetry, Novel In Verse, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Family

204 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Zana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I'd give Amber McBride another chance, since I gave 3 stars to one of her previous books. But Onyx & Beyond was just okay.

I wanted more references to the time period, but the Civil Rights Movement only felt like a place mat. You could transpose the main plotline into the present and it wouldn't really read any different.

Maybe this author just isn't for me...

Thank you to MacMillan Audio for the arc.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨4 stars✨

[Jaelynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5 stars.

I was crying in my car finishing this audiobook on my way to work! This is an emotionally riveting, and beautifully written book that translates gorgeously to audio, and I am so glad I took the chance to read and listen.

Onyx & Beyond follows a young black boy living in the aftermath of MLK's death and the Civil Rights movement. However, while the historical context is important to the story, most of the book focuses on Onyx's personal life, and relationship with his mother, who is suffering from early onset dementia.

The topics of this book were hard and heartbreaking to witness, but they were beautifully handled, and the way hope and love radiated through this story made it as healing as it was heartbreaking.

Thank you to Libro.fm for providing me with an ALC of this audiobook.

[Toya (thereadingchemist) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh look...another incredible but heart wrenching read from Amber McBride.

[WellReadAndRatchet · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a short and touching story of a young boy dealing with his mother’s early onset dementia. I wish it was a little bit longer so we could see a little bit more but overall I enjoyed it.

[Ags · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lovely, short novel in verse about the importance of sharing your dreams and asking for help.

I really liked the infusion of space interests, from dividing the book into sections labeled by moon phases to having repeated "facts about space" poems. Really interesting, and lots of sweet connections with a super loveable main character! The dual look at his grief losing his grandmother and losing MLK was particularly thoughtful.

Ultimately, this had a lot of interesting elements, but wasn't too cohesive. While there is a lot of cool space stuff, the theme didn't totally come together: it's about space; it's about a boy growing wings; it's about rocks? In some ways they connect, but not quite. Similarly, the pacing of the story is interesting in that the main plot happens all at once at the end of the book. There's lots of important things that come up (e.g., traveling to Washington, D.C. after the MLK assassination, another teacher starting to provide support), but these aren't seen through, or their inclusion didn't become clear to me. So, by my read, the many foci didn't get fleshed out. I think this "cohesion" or pulling together of many events/ideas could be especially important in a novel in verse. That is, of course, just my preference as a reader.

Perhaps most importantly, given that broad net of things that are sprinkled throughout, I think this would be a good companion read with a middle schooler! Lots of conversation topics: e.g., the Civil Rights Movement, youth experiencing social movements more broadly, individual-level impact of public leaders' death, dementia, space, and asking for help.

Listened on audio!

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is another stunner from Amber McBride, and this time, there's a loosely biographical connection between the protagonist and her father, which adds even more depth.

Young Onyx is experiencing some challenges. Since this novel takes place in the late '60s/early '70s, much of Onyx's life is shaped by his burgeoning awareness of the Civil Rights Movement. The ties feel organic and extremely accessible for the target audience. Onyx's homelife is where the rest of his challenge lies. His mother has early onset dementia, and since his father is somewhat involved but doesn't live with him, this really impacts Onyx emotionally and otherwise. The issue is compounded by Onyx's grandmother's passing. Onyx feels uncertain, becomes relatively withdrawn, and has to grapple with what will happen to his mother and to him if anyone learns the massive secrets he's harboring.

While Onyx's head is in the clouds (really in the stars) in some ways, he deserves any relief and dreaming he can get. He's a great character in a series of tough spots.

This book is such a speedy read/listen, and I'm amazed by how much emotion and layering McBride is able to pack into such a small space. This is another great effort from a proven author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Young Listeners for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx & Beyond is a heartbreaking and heartwarming middle grade story I can't wait to introduce to my kids. Onyx, who goes by X, is a kid with the weight of the world on his shoulders during the late 1960's early 1970's in Alexandra, Virginia. His mama sadly has early on-set dementia. With the help of his Gram, they were getting by mostly well. A year after the city was on fire as Onyx calls it (the day after MLK was killed) Gram passes and life gets a lot harder for X. A letter from CPS arrives saying they will be doing a home check soon and X fears he will be taken from his mama. A lover of rocks and space, he thinks if he can just fly to the moon he can get a rock that will save his Mama. He brainstorms ideas to make this happen as we get peeks into his journal. This story shows us what it was like in that area to be a young black boy, the power of hope and the strength of community. As a mother with kids similar in age to X, it broke my heart that a child so young had so much on his shoulders. I cried sad and happy tears with this one. It was narrated so beautifully by André Santana. The author shares at the end that this story was a collaboration of hundreds of stories her father told her about growing up during that time. It was wonderfully written and I can't wait to explore her other work. Thank you Macmillan Audio for the gifted ALC in exchange for an honest review. Pub Day is Oct. 1st.

[Carli · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. A beautiful novel in verse about a Black boy in the late 1960’s/early 1970’s. Onyx tries to cope with his mother’s early-onset dementia, his grandmother’s death, and the repercussions of Dr. MLK Jr.’s assassination, all while outwardly pretending that everything is okay. A teen can only hold it together for so long though; if he could just fly away, or be in two places at once, maybe things would be easier. Short and succinct. Hand to readers in grades 6-8.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a sweet middle grade verse novel that takes place in the early 1970s. Onyx's mother has early-onset dementia, which grew worse after his grandmother died. He's been trying to do everything himself, but someone at church has noticed and called a social worker. Onyx needs to find a way to cure his mother before the social worker's wellness check. He had a dream where his grandmother told him he could fly, and he believes if he can find a way to fly to the moon, he can find a rock that will cure his mother.

I liked this, but it could be repetitive in places, and Onyx acted a lot younger than 12. But this would be a great historical fiction pick for readers who struggle a bit with reading.

[Lauren ∥ bookedmama · Rating 3 out of 5]

First read of OLA's 2026 Children's Sequoyah Masterlist (grades 3-5).

Quick thoughts: I love a novel in verse...they pack a punch in such few words. Onyx & Beyond covers a lot of topics: Civil rights, death of a loved one, dementia, neglect due to illness, segregation, space. However I don't know that any of the topics were focused on enough to feel like they were more than footnotes in the story. I wanted more. There was quite a bit of repetition that felt overused and made Onyx seem a lot younger than 12. I'm also not sure that kids in grades 3-5 would get some of the references made if read independently.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Onyx & Beyond was a very short story with a big punch. I enjoyed seeing the world through Onyx's eyes, it was quite interesting and he brought up a lot of interesting subjects.
The characters, especially Onyx, were quite layered and the whole plot just worked.
I have to say that I wish it'd be a bit longer, so we could get to know everyone and stay in this story a bit longer but overall, I really liked this one.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Onyx and his mother live in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria, Virginia in 1968 with his Gran. He loves to collect rocks, and his Gran comments that he is her "griffin" and will come into his wings and fly. Onyx and his mother go to Washington, D.C., on April 5, and witness the protests by the Black Student Movement after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. Two years later, Gran has died, and Onyx's mother is struggling with early onset dementia. His father, who works in a bookstore has never lived with the family, is nearby, as is his Grandma Emma and several cousins. He attends a Catholic school, and is spending an increasing amount of time doing laundry, getting groceries, and caring for his mother. When he finds out that Social Services wants to do a wellness check on his, he starts to panic, and begins to collect materials to make himself wings so that he can fly. He manages to earn a little money sweeping for the local barber shop, but the church ladies notice that he is always alone. His grandfather had also suffered from early onset dementia, so Gran had wanted to keep Onyx's mother at home. As his mother's condition worsens, Onyx believes that if could steal a sliver of a rock from the museum, it might cure her, but when he attempts a heist with several friends, his father catches him. He and his mother move in with Grandma Ellen, and Onyx finally realizes the importance of reaching out to friends and family when he needs help. This is based on the author's father's story of growing up during this time.
Strengths: How gorgeous is that cover? It just begs to be put on display. We're starting to see a few more books about the 1970s, like Parson's Clouds Over California or Amos' Cookies and Milk, and since there are relatively few books with Black characters from that time period, I would love to see a lot more of these. My students don't always understand exactly how racism was shown at the time, and these texts are a good supplement to the history of the time period. Onyx's struggles to take care of his mother are heartbreaking, and the portrayal of a strong community was good to see. I'm always interested in books that are set in a very particular place, and I now sort of want to teach in George Washington Middle School; what a gorgeous piece of Art Deco architecture!
Weaknesses: Onyx's belief that he can fly, and that he would be able to break in and steal a bit of stone from a museum, makes him seem much younger than 12. I would love to see more straight forward, realistic fiction books that deal with racism in a historical context. McBride's writing is beautiful and poetic, but the complexity of text might make understanding the unfamiliar historical aspects more difficult for struggling readers.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Zoboi's My Life as an Ice Cream Sandwich or this author's Gone Wolf.

[dreamgirlreading · Rating 5 out of 5]

I fell in love with Amber McBride’s writing in 2023 when I first read her YA books, We Are All So Good At Smiling and Me (Moth), and this year I read her debut adult poetry collection Thick With Trouble. In every single book I’ve read by her, I’m awestruck by the way her words hit me. This historical fiction middle grade selection, Onyx & Beyond, was no different. The audiobook is a little more than two hours long but there were dozens of times I had to pause and sit in what the last sentence made me feel. She has a way of really hitting you in the heart, breaking it and holding it together all at once. This story is inspired by Amber McBride’s father, Mario McBride, and his stories and poetry. The main character, Onyx, is a young Black boy growing up between Alexandria, Virginia with his mother and Washington D.C with his father in the late 1960s, early 1970s. He is surrounded by family members that love him immensely, and he loves them right back with the same strength. When one of his grandmothers passes away, his mother’s symptoms of early onset dementia suddenly worsen, leaving Onyx to believe he has to take on the responsibilities of caretaker. Onyx is a dreamer, keeping a secret journal for his hopes and fears, while around him The Civil Rights Movement is amplifying. Martin Luther King Jr is killed right before his gran passed, leaving Onyx scared and uncertain of his place in the world. But he knows one thing, that he has to figure out how to help his mom before Child Protective Services come for their evaluation. Fueled by both of his grandmother’s interests (space and birds) and dreams, he thinks if only he could fly, he could solve his mom’s disease. He enlists his cousins assistance in his plans. This book goes so deep in such a short amount of time. I only wish it was longer so I could stay with the characters longer, but there is nothing missing. By the end of the book, Onyx learns that he doesn’t have to do it alone, that his strength lies in his community and the power passed down from his ancestors. I would recommend this to middle grade readers and adults alike. Really, I recommend all books by Amber McBride ❤️ and I can’t forget to mention that Andrè Santana is a masterful narrator, and truly cemented as one of my favorites.

[Jess Ross-Steltz · Rating 5 out of 5]

🛁 𝚁𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚎𝚠 🛁
Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride
“I think love
can create
magic.”

“& I think there are probably things
that the moon understands
that the sun never will, but I guess
they still work together.

We need them both to live.”

Synopsis: Onyx is doing everything he can to keep his mom’s early-onset dementia a secret—if CPS finds out, he could end up in foster care. Meanwhile, the Civil Rights Movement is rising around him, and safety feels out of reach for a young Black boy. Onyx dreams of escaping it all by making it to space and finding a cure that only the vastness of the unknown could hold.

I don’t think I have ever finished a book by this author and not closed its covers and pulled it to my chest in a hug.
I simply love the power of Amber McBrides writing.

This story was inspired by the author’s own family history. Her father’s upbringing inspired a powerful story about hope, survival, and growing up Black in 1960s America. Onyx is so human in his childlike nature of wanting to do whatever he can to protect his parents. Being a former anxiety-riddled kid who had no idea how to handle her big, scary emotions about losing people, I felt so connected to his character and the love he had for his mom.

The role of community and family in this story is really what brings it to its stunning conclusion. Onyx talks a lot about feeling alone, but as the story progresses, he starts to remember he isn’t alone. It just goes to show the power of community, black community specifically, and how important it is that we show up for one another.

The symbolism of rocks, their hardness and unbreakable nature, was so palpable in how Onyx felt throughout the story. Afraid to crack and break. I also loved that space, the moon, and the spiritual power that comes with the night sky played such a big role in depicting the childlike wonder of believing in the impossible, even in the face of sadness.

As always, I can thank Amber McBride for not only delivering a gorgeous novel in verse that brings brown kids to the forefront, but for teaching me something (thank you for saying his name: Robin Gibson). I loved this book to the edge of the universe & beyond.🌙🪐🪽📚🛁✨🖤

[Lois · Rating 5 out of 5]

This audiobook was made available for me to listen to and review by Amber McBride, Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley.

This is an important story set in the authors fathers childhood and containing loosely biographical details of his life. This serves to make the story so much more poignant and impact full.

This is set during the Civil Rights Movement, it begins in the late 60's in the Del Ray neighborhood of Alexandria and quickly moves to the early 70's. The world is being rebuilt about Onyx who lives with his mother and grandmother at the start of this story. Onyx witnesses the rise of Dr. King and his resulting assassination. Onyx's father and paternal relatives are local to him but he's always lived with his mom.
As the country is being changed, so is Onyx. His beloved grandmother has passed and his mom is struggling with early onset dementia. As if this isn't enough on its own, a helpful adult has notified Social Services about Onyx's situation. Now he's gotta find a solution and he's desperate. This is a sad but important story about the importance of family. This is my first novel by Ms. McBride but it definitely won't be my last!

This audiobook is narrated by André Santana. André's voice is perfect for this somewhat heart wrenching story. His voice conveyed a ton of emotion at very crucial points on this novels journey. Superbly handled to enhance the overall narrative.

Thank you to Amber McBride, Macmillan Audio/Macmillan Young Listeners, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

The warmth of the words of McBride, the rooting readers will do for Onyx, and the small amount of historical referencing that places it in a time period but also still reads realistically and not stuffy combine admirably- it makes me want to go back and re-listen to the audiobook again.

First, I loved Onyx's love of gems and rocks. There's learning that takes place for the reader!

Second, the language is clipped as the verse but poignant for the delivery, reminding me of Hands.

Third, the family dynamics remind me of Louder Than Hunger and And Then, Boom! to make excellent readalikes that pack the same emotional punch. For Onyx, losing his grandmother was rough and it was more rough on his mother who was already suffering and is now completely thrown off creating the complications that Onyx struggles to keep hidden regarding her early onset dementia. And his lack of extended family support keeps him running around until the jig is up.

The cadence of the story unfolds lovingly and sweetly. It's powerful in a small package. And I'm kind of sad about it but I like Onyx as a character- I'd read more in his universe!

[Amy Lorton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to @macmillan.audio for letting me listen to Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride before its publish date, October 1, 2024. The opinions about this book are my own.

Twelve-year old Onyx (nicknamed X) is getting bombarded by life, although those are my words, not his. The Civil Rights Movement is happening all around him, but closer to home he’s grieving two special family members- one due to death and one due to the changes because of Early Onset Dementia (the latter is unfortunately his mother). Onyx is an impressive, responsible, caring and lovable kid. He is interested in space and rocks, and he would do anything to save his mother.

This book is somewhat based on the author’s father’s childhood in the 1960s and 70s, and I can see middle graders up to adults liking it. I want to see the book with my eyes, as sometimes I felt like parts of it were written as a poem? Or did narrator Andre Santana make it sound like a poem?

I chose this book because I have a space-loving child and we deal with Early Onset Alzheimer’s. The blurb makes it seem like her father dealt with his mom’s dementia as a child, but the author’s note at the end makes it seem like the father’s mom is dealing with progressive dementia currently, not back then.

This audiobook will only take up 2 hours 14 minutes of your time, and that’s if you listen at 1x. It was a quick and easy listen of a life that would be tough to live.

4/5 stars
Locations: Alexandria, Virginia and Washington DC

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Novel in verse. In 1970 DC, Onyx, who is Black, has two families. His father runs a bookstore, and Onyx has a wonderful grandmother and a ton of cousins to play with. His other family used to be his other grandmother and his mother, but since his grandmother died, it's just Onyx and his mom. And since his mother has early-onset dementia, Onyx has to take care of them both, and hide the fact that his mom can't take care of him. Onyx always thought of himself (perhaps from something his grandmother said?) as a boy with wings, but he lost them when his grandmother died. He's trying to re-create them so he can fly and be a superhero and save his mother. Failing that, he's got to find another way.

This is such a picture of the time, since the author based some of it on family stories and memories. Onyx is in a tough position, to be sure, and while the solution to his problems is super-obvious to adults, I've read so many books about kids covering for inadequate, abusive, or ill parents that it's totally believable he would think it's all up to him. It's the known versus the unknown, and the unknown in this case is too scary for him to contemplate--losing his mother. I did wonder if he was maybe a little old to believe that paper wings might actually allow him to fly? If he were seven or eight, sure, but he's twelve and in middle school. It didn't ring quite true for me, but I could be wrong and every kid is different. Thanks to Libro.FM for a free educator copy of the audiobook.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

I first came across Amber McBride with the release of “We Are All So Good at Smiling” and loved it so much, I immediately had to find “Me (Moth)” and I now eagerly await every new release. “Onyx & Beyond” is the story of 12-year-old Onyx who is trying his best to regrow his wings after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr and burning in D.C., and then the death of his Gran, who lived with him and his mom. Since those events, Onyx’s mother has been losing her memories, and because Gran told Onyx he’d need to take care of his mama and was adamantly against institutionalization, Onyx has been carrying the secret of his mother’s dementia on his own. He’s convinced, though, if he can get his wings back and get a rock from the moon, he’ll be able to make everything right again.

This was a deeply emotional story, and I really loved Onyx and his journey and grief. I also love that we see his family and community around him, waiting for him to reach out to them for help, because they can all tell something is up even if he’s not sharing. I really liked the ending and how sweetly everything is wrapped up, like hope and possibility. This was a really good read, and had me going down many Wikipedia holes for more social context.

[Marina Marcello · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx and Beyond is a novel in verse by Amber McBride and was a Macmillan Audio pick that surprised me! I didn’t actually realize this was a novel in verse until I started listening to it and realized the short chapters with metaphorical language and an abundance of imagery must be poems!

From the synopsis: “Based on her own father's story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.” These poems paint a picture of what Alexandria, Maryland is like after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. for a young Black boy who also experiences the loss of his grandmother while his mother suffers dementia. These poems portray the world as a place where magic is possible if only the correct magical stone is found, if space can be explored for healing properties and the bittersweet realization that maybe flight is possible, but not on physical wings. Onyx spends so much time planning to help his mother and hiding her condition, it’s not until he opens up to his extended family that he finds the wings he needed were those of his community.

Overall, the story might have been about a young Black boy and his sick mother, but the message was for unity and community amongst Black Americans, who can lift each other and fly when united.

The end of this book shares a dedication to Robin Gibson, of whom I had never heard before, but who the author states was a big deal in 1970 as he was a young Black man killed at a 7-Eleven in Alexandria; he was someone all the local kids are said to have looked up to, and he died at only age 19, far too soon. The author directs readers to read about him here: https://www.nytimes.com/1970/06/07/ar...

This book was absolutely five stars, and the audiobook was narrated with audible passion by André Santana.

[Justine Korson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I cried while reading this because I was really worried about Onyx and his mom and his plan to jump out of a window to see if his wings would work. Thankfully, everything turned out well in the end of Onyx, his mom, and the rest of his family. I loved how easily his cousins agreed to help Onyx on his mission to get part of a rock from the museum because that's really what family is, breaking into a museum to steal something because it's important to someone. The format it was written in was not what I expected (poems) but I welcomed it easily. Usually stories like this aren't my cup of tea but I think because it was a MG book that was talking about some pretty heavy topics in almost this light, airy manner, I was really able to digest it well. I will look for more stories from this author in the future.

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Onyx and Beyond is written for kids and is the perfect blend of emotion and back story with a little bit of history thrown in. Onyx talks about Martin Luther King Jr and segregation and integrating schools. He talks about what it's like to be a young black kid in the DC area and he also lets you in on what his life is like.

Since his grandma died, things have been rough at home. His mom forgets a lot and mixes up her nights and days. At 12, he's trying to take care of his momma, go to school, and make everyone believe that everything is just fine. He loves rocks and stones and has big dreams. Onyx learns a lot about teamwork and leaning on the people who love you and also about himself throughout the book.

Perfect for fans of, And Then, Boom! or novels in verse, this was a super quick listen on audio and I enjoyed the narrator. Thank you to MacMillan Audio and Librofm for a copy to enjoy.

[Christiana Doucette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx is dealing with so much. Soon after driving through the city in the wake of MLK Jr.'s assassination, his grandmother who cares for him and his mother (who is dealing with early onset dementia) dies. This year he's determined to keep himself and his mother safe. And that means keeping under the radar at his private school, and finding ways to keep anyone else from finding out just how much his mama has deteriorated. Onyx decides he's going to build himself wings to get a magic moon rock to heal his mom. But the only way that can possibly happen is with the help of others. And that means dancing around why he needs their help to keep his mom safe.

A beautifully crafted novel-in-verse with a great wings and rocks image system. I appreciated the historical elements the author wrote so beautifully, and the tie to her own family history.

[Glenna Coleman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his mother and Gran until his Gran is Gone. Besides figuring out why someone killed Martin Luther King, Jr. and why the United States does not have equality, Onyx needs to figure out why his wings disappeared when his Gran died and how to get them back so he can save his mother from her early-onset dementia. This novel in verse is an ode to the ways a child may shoulder more of a burden than can be carried alone, and the ways in which family and community can come around to help. With the help of his family and community, Onyx is once more able to dream in ways that his mother was afraid to and his grandparents were not able to. I loved the book from start to finish, and wonder when, as McBride wondered in her verse, we adults will do our job and stop expecting children to fix the world's problems.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A MG novel in verse inspired by @ambsmcbride own family.
🪐
Set in the late ‘60’s, early ‘70’s, we meet tween Onyx during the Civil Rights Movement as he struggles with finding his way in school, losing his grandmother and dealing with his own mother who has onset dementia. Onyx becomes withdrawn and lives a lot in his own head until finally some help arrives.
✨
This was such a beautiful poetry novel that dealt with one boy’s fears and how he copes with them. I loved the author’s note at the end about the personal connection she has with this story. This book releases October 1. Thank you @macmillan.audio for this ALC. All opinions are my own.

CW: grandparent death, dementia, abandonment, racism, assassination, religious bigotry


3.5 ⭐️

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was amazing. Moving story, original voice, and beautifully lyrical and poetic writing (and shout out to narrator André Santana, who really made that lyricism work -- I rarely listen to an audiobook without feeling like I'm missing out slightly by not "actually reading" the physical book, but this was one of those times where I knew right away that the narration was actually adding something that I would have missed on my own). Amber McBride has achieved something special, writing a book about a child and in the voice of a child that nevertheless did not feel at all juvenile to me. It could totally be shelved as YA or probably even middle grade fiction, but I read and enjoyed it without any kind of caveat or disclaimer.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set mostly in the 1970 Washington D.C. area, Onyx is a 12 year old black boy whose mother has early onset dementia. He and his mother live with Gram, but when Gram dies, his mother's disease seems to get rapidly worse. Onyx is a highly imaginative child who believes in magic and has convinced himself that he just has to find the magic within himself in order to cure his mother. This is a novel in verse, so it reads quite quickly. My only issue is that I think Onyx comes off as a bit younger than 12. Young readers may identify with Onyx's feelings of responsibility to solve a problem without the actual knowledge required to do so. Review from e-galley.

[Abbigail · Rating 3 out of 5]

This novel in verse follows a young boy in Alexandria as his grandmother passes away and his mother's early on-set dementia progresses. I thought the writing of this book was beautiful and the plot was sort of unique (the mother's illness), but as far as the plot went, I found myself just kind of bored most of the time. It makes it hard for me to imagine who I might recommend this book to; definitely to kids who like novels in verse. But the historical fiction angle felt like a sidenote and didn't have a lot of depth to attract historical fiction readers. Maybe a good readalike for Other Words for Home.

Thank you to Netgalley for the advance reader copy of this book!

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Onyx is a rock boy. He loves collecting rocks and believes in the power of them. He also loves space and the planets. And he loves his mom and grandma. They all live together in an apartment in Arlington, VA, just across the Potomac from Washington D.C. After his grandmother dies, life becomes increasingly difficult for the 12yo. His mother has early onset dementia and without his grandmother to help, Onyx has to juggle a lot of struggles to keep them afloat and keep the welfare check people away from their door. It's an awful lot for one young boy to handle on his own.

A beautiful, amazing story in verse about the power of families.