A Poor Man's Prose

by Jahid Wilson Jr, Skylr Candelaria (Editor), Hillary Wilson (Illustrator)

Seventeen-year-old Kaldur's heart has always beat in two on the page, and in the community he holds dear. Those precious to him keep him afloat in a world dedicated on seeing him drown. But when he accidentally unleashes soul magic that kills four boys, that love is tested. Kaldur's closest friends rise to the occasion and do what is necessary to protect him. When all is said and done, the bodies disposed of, they swear a blood promise to carry the weight of this secret like they do all together.

But together does not mean forever, and one year later Kaldur and his friends are still grieving the tragic car accident that turned their infamous quintet into a quartet. Worst of all, suspicion and scrutiny around the case of the missing boys has forced Kaldur's family to relocate to Georgia. Blaming himself, Kaldur attempts to use magic to resurrect their lost companion. His efforts backfire in the worst way, leading to a dangerous pact with a write fifty magic-infused poems and he will undo his friend's death. As Kaldur and his friends strategize to complete the pact, he discovers his powers connect him to a mysterious woman in his dreams, one who is aware of the deaths he has caused and sends her monstrous emissary to hunt him down.

Even as he faces supernatural conflict in the waking world and dreaming one, Kaldur's new life in Georgia is filled with the messy vibrancy of being a teenager - forming bonds in his first writing community, meeting a woman who shows him it's not about who he was, but who he can be, and leaning on the friends who still stand by his side, hundreds of miles away.

Through laughter, healing, and a love with the deepest roots, Kaldur and his loved ones -both chosen and given -push back against the forces trying to unravel them, proving that even in the face of grief, there's a reason for love, hope, and joy.

389 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 15, 2025

Reviews

[jay k. ❤︎]

a unique and imaginative story perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Elizabeth Acevedo, Dean Atta and Shaun David Hutchinson, who are all authors i love & whose works i turn to when i’m looking for great, hard hitting YA. the narrative voice is distinct, and Kaldur’s inner monologue both amused me and tugged at my heartstrings. i just wanted to reach through the page and give him a hug. this is a book full of heart, touching on themes of friendship, family, loss, grief, identity, healing, the Black experience, and the power of the written word. as an aspiring writer myself, i related so hard to Kaldur’s love for writing and his inability to return to the page for a while after his friend’s loss. there’s also many strong messages in this book, and the ending left me with so many questions. also the audiobook is exquisite. i’m so excited for what the next installment will bring, and endlessly proud of my friend for such an ambitious debut!!

[Laura (crofteereader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn’t crazy about the plot (especially that half-assed cliffhanger ending?) but I loved the cast of supportive Black teens. I loved how vulnerable Kaldur and his boys were with each other, how they ended every group call with a round of “I love you”s, how they were ride or die for each other - and how they each reflected a different Black experience despite all living in the same town and being in each other’s pockets. We got to see shades of success and failure, strength and weakness, and love and rage from each of them.

Unfortunately, the book doesn’t feel complete; even though it’s setting us up for a sequel, it doesn’t really stand on its own. It’s not a complete thought.

But I can’t wait for the boys to be in physical proximity in future books. Because their friendship is everything

[Tasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read the eARC (see review below) and couldn't wait for the audiobook to be released.
And the audiobook made me love the book even more. The emotion the narrators brought to the story was amazing. The imagry and poetry just hit different when read aloud. No notes

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4.5⭐️ (ebook)

This book had me hooked from the first page. Amazing imagry/description. I loved the unique magic system and the diverse cast of characters. I can't wait for the audiobook to be released and I'm dying for there to be a sequel.

[Sabriya Zubhuza · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story and really love the bond between the boys. My first listen through I thought for some it was one book, but realized it is not lol. There were some parts in the middle where I got a little confused, especially where this is an audio medium and I didn't have a physical book to go along with it. Someone I really need the physical book to comprehend what I'm reading/listening to. I can't wait for the next book and to see where the story goes.

[J · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a sneak peek at the sample of this on Apple books and MY GOD. I'm buying this one, I wish I could own a physical copy. The prose really bounces off the page, and we're really put into one of the biggest conflicts right away. I can't wait to have the chance to read the entire thing.