Passage

by Khary Lazarre-White

Passage tells the story of Warrior, a young black man navigating the snowy winter streets of Harlem and Brooklyn in 1993. Warrior is surrounded by deep family love and a sustaining connection to his history, bonds that arm him as he confronts the urban forces that surround him–both supernatural and human–including some that seek his very destruction.
For Warrior and his peers, the reminders that they, as black men, aren’t meant to be fully free, are everywhere. The high schools are filled with teachers who aren’t qualified and don’t care as much about their students’ welfare as that they pass the state exams. Getting from point A to point B usually means eluding violence, and possibly death, at the hands of the “blue soldiers” and your own brothers. Making it home means accepting that you may open the door to find that someone you love did not have the same good fortune.
Warrior isn’t even safe in his own mind. He’s haunted by the spirits of ancestors and of the demons of the system of oppression. Though the story told in Passage takes place in 1993, there is a striking parallel between Warrior’s experience and the experiences of black male youth today, since nothing has really changed. Every memory in the novel is the memory of thousands of black families. Every conversation is a message both to those still in their youth and those who left their youth behind long ago. Passage is a novel for then and now.

Genres: Fiction, Young Adult, Race, Historical Fiction, African American, Black Literature, Coming Of Age

192 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2017

Reviews

[Book Riot Community]

Set in NYC in 1993, Passage is the story of Warrior, a teen trying to navigate the world and the hurdles and dangers he encounters as a young black man. Haunted by the spirits of his ancestors and the demons of oppression, it will take more than the loving support of his family to help him exist in an unfair, yet supposedly post-racial, society. This is a powerful novel that shows just how far America hasn’t come with regards to racism.

Backlist bump: The Liminal People by Ayize Jama-Everett


Tune in to our weekly podcast dedicated to all things new books, All The Books: http://bookriot.com/listen/shows/allt...

[Tiffany Tyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The hatred of our skin is strong, can make us hate ourselves, but once we come to know the strength of our blood, once we look this hatred in the eye and let it known that we will not be its creation, that it will not steal our minds, then there is nothin' that we can't survive."

Every so often I come across a book that I have to take my time with. I need to savor every single word. I need to visualize every single image. I just need to be transported and become one with the book. And, man, Passage was all of the above and then some. I can't wait for everyone else to get their hands on this book in September!!

[Jesse On Youtube · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warrior is an intelligent young man living in NYC during the 1990s - his neighborhood is ravaged by drug use, gang violence, and police oppression. He is filled with anger and questions until he begins to hear voices: the spirits of his ancestors.

A powerful exploration of black reality told through magical realism, lyrical prose, and vivid imagery.
It reminded me so much of Freshwater by Akwake Emezi for its spiritual elements and a young protagonist haunted/troubled by ancestral voices.

It was a violent, trauma-filled read, and very abstract. I highly recommend for those who enjoy books that require some additional pondering.

Themes I loved: relationship between black kids and their parents, how we are the living continuation of our ancestors, the effects of slavery and displacement on present day black American's psyches

trigger warnings:
police violence
drug use
violence against women and children
racism
slavery

[Jamal]

this was all over the place . I did not enjoy it at all

[Never Without a Book · Rating 2 out of 5]

So much was missing from this book & nothing connected. Based in the concept this could have been a page turner, but it fell short.

[kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Passage" is a short novel set in NYC in the winter of 1993. Warrior, the main character, is a highly intelligent young Black man who personifies the rage and pain of his everyday existence. He hates cops (cleverly called "blue soldiers"), school has little usefulness to him. It is not hard to imagine why, as this story lays bare much of the reasons for Warrior's nihilism. He is also fighting the demons from the past and present that threaten to take his soul, literal and figurative battles that come up in this text time and time again.

It is interesting that 1993 is the date given for this novel; it is about a year after the world saw the rage of the Los Angeles riots. Even though it is set in Black America's collective past, this story definitely could have been the present, or even the future. Despite talk of a post-racial society where things are said to be "equal" and every person can still achieve their dreams, it is quite clear that racism still exists, that the legacies of slavery still exist. Even the cover art calls your attention--it's a young Black man in profile, a hoodie covering half of his face. Echoes of the 2012 killing of Trayvon Martin are still very much alive in this novel.

In the end, I still gave this book three stars. It wasn't because this book was bad, but because, in theory, I liked the idea of it more than its actual living form. There's a hazy mix of mysticism, magic, and spiritualism here that, in my opinion, should not have been so hazy. Reading this took massive amounts of effort, mostly due to frequent interpolations of various plot points. Clearer storytelling would have helped immensely.

I definitely recommend this book, however.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was...complex and saturated in symbolism so it was hard to follow for myself who tends to be a very practical to the point person. But it was still smooth and deep and poetic and I liked it. I will for real have to read cliff notes to fill in some gaps in my understanding lol

[Kimberley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Imagine the unnamed black man in Ralph Ellison’s “The Invisible Man” lived in an alternate universe. Imagine he’s arrived upon the same Harlem streets, minus the knowledge of how he happened to get there, but well-acquainted with the anger of the betrayal and injustice brought against him.

Khary Lazzare-White’s Warrior is Ellison’s “Invisible Man” for this generation. The only difference is Warrior understands the difficulty of system he’s fighting against and is acutely aware of how having a black body makes his ability to win within it more difficult.

We spend a great deal of time digging into Warrior’s psyche. He’s a young man of keen insight, and a lot of love for the history of his people, but he’s fallen victim to the hopelessness and despair of having endured too much heartache.

His best friend was brutally beaten and imprisoned, by the police, as he looked on horrified. His education feels insufficient and impersonal given the demands on his emotions just to show up and be present each day. A subway ride, nets looks of fear, from passengers who’ve decided skin color equals criminal intent.

The world around him has already decided his fate before he even knows who he is and it’s clear he’s being pushed to the brink of self-erasure if things continue in this way.

What we see is him moving towards that anger, desperately seeking a resolution to the pain its causing, but unsure of the choice he’ll make.

Lazarre-White’s story of Warrior could easily be any young man of today.

Full of tough imagery and powerful words of pain, despair, and, sometimes, hope, Lazarre-White paints a picture of a black youth in peril, in hope that we’ll be able to see and understand where the disconnect began, and start figuring out a way to repair what’s been broken.

[Stella · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a novel about the act of bearing witness and I would place it in line with books like Elie Wiesel’s Night. It plays on the theme of what it appears to watch, when the act of watching can simultaneously be what saves you and what kills you. It explores this power and politics of the gaze, while also weaving a lot of other references to black culture and storytelling. I especially liked the lyrical interludes and the way Lazarre-White works to position this novel within stories of revolt like Invisible Man and jeremiads like The Fire Next Time. However, the book at times was a bit too heavy-handed for my liking and verged on the melodramatic and overly sentimental in a way that seemed to make the real life atrocities that many young black people experience seem fantastical and hyperbolized. I know this was not the intent but because there was not enough of character exploration of the minor characters in this, it seemed like the abstraction of experience that is detailed in the novel rang false in some way (even though we know of the truth behind it). There was also an artificial nature to the way the characters spoke, that is not only authentic to the early 1990s, but is also artificial to the way people speak, no matter how profound and wise they are. I can of course let this go, but the lengthy monologues started to feel like lectures that seem to lack grounding.

[Peter Bedford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in Harlem in 1993 we follow Warrior a teenage black boy trying to avoid trouble and be a good citizen. He comes from a loving family, but has his demons and the weight of black history on his shoulders. He sees many violent events in his neighbourhood. The forces of evil surround him and the call of the peddlers of crack cocaine is ever present.
School is oppressive and uncaring and Warrior is already coming undone with the pull of cheap alcohol for some escape. A snowstorm has closed the city for a few days.
I liked the language, especially the dreamscape italics sections which are poetic in style and brutally honest about the trauma of black history.
There is some relief as his younger sister is optimistic and his elderly father loves his music and likes to play his bass along to John Coltrane and Miles Davis.
3 out of 5 because I didn't understand all the references, soldiers for police and perhaps wolves for the drug pushers but not sure who were the drums or eyes. Weatherman, the guy in the park, came across as more psychotic than soothsayer. The book was quite depressing.
Glad I read it though

[pamela jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent insight into the life of impoverished young black children, especially males, and the importance of familial black love and support. It takes a village to continue to raise strong independent black children today. The writing is deep and thought provoking causing one to remember our history and the struggles of our people, but it provides the answer that through hope, strength, and love one can overcome the devils raging inside and live to fight another day. Recommended to high school and college students and all those who choose to forget the struggle of our ancestors.

[Abbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was beautifully written, with such lyrical and poetic expressions. The pain and anger of the main character is heart wrenching but also completely understandable. If anyone wants to feel the bass-pumping emotion behind so much of the injustice going on in our country, this could be the book for you. It was a emotional read for me, but I'm glad to have read it.

[Daniel LaMere · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love how ambitious this novel is and that it takes on systemic racism; I think it needed a couple more drafts to really be solid. Instead it comes off as overwrought, difficult to believe, and riddled with comma errors.

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book. Contains some very needed social and racial commentary. He paints vivid pictures with his words. A bit abstract with some ideas, could have used more clarification in places, but overall worth the read.

[Jenni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5; it took a while for me to get through this- I think I’d benefit from a full reread soon to consolidate all the plot points at once

[Paul Vogelzang · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great, important book.

[Rav J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

tremendous story and read. Loved this.

[Michael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had many lyrical passages...and many others that were so full of symbolism that it was difficult for me to understand.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful Poetry

[Kipahni · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surrealist prose set in 1990’s Harlem. It focuses on a teenage boy named Warrior who battles demons in his mind and on the streets. A short read, but a heavy and deep story.

[eden · Rating 3 out of 5]

i read this for school, the end had me lost

[Andre(Read-A-Lot) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Khary Lazarre-White writes with a knowing pen. He goes inside the mind of a young Black man named Warrior and stares the down the rage, anger and frustration that today's generation are often filled with. Although the story is set in NYC in the early 90's, it is just a stand-in for what could be any city, at any time, past, present and sadly future. Warrior is a strong young man trying to out run the demons that haunt him and his dreams. Thankfully, Warrior has parents that are fully supportive and loving and have raised him with a sense and knowledge of self. So, the everyday struggle to live free and unfettered from concerns about death takes Warrior to the edge, but the passion he has for his family, living and ancestors keeps him from going over. There is a feeling of tension riding through these pages I turned ominously, often expecting the worse.

Khary has filled this book with thoughts and challenges, and most importantly a blueprint for decision making. Warrior has the fortitude and understanding that often is lacking in teenagers. The question is can he find a way to lead others out of the abyss, the role of government can be helpful but also limiting, Warrior understands that salvation must come from within. After the blue soldiers "shot a boy and.... folks decided it was time,"Warrior contemplates; "We break down these walls so that they can see what has been done to us, but what we don’t seem to understand is that they know the world being lived within these walls better than we do ourselves, because they created them. Bringing down the walls doesn’t change the lives being lived inside of ’em, it only brings the sight of the lives to those who are blind."A mix of mysticism, realism and spiritism, wrote with a vital rage and unflinching glimpses of what some are seeing daily, Warrior will expose his world to all who wish to see. A very impressive debut. Thanks to Edelweiss and Seven Stories Press. Book drops on Sept. 26, 2017 ⭐️⭐️⭐️/5️⃣

[Misse Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

RIVETING.

In Passage, we are introduced to Warrior, a young man who is living in Harlem in 1993. Warrior comes from a family of strong heritage and parents who instill in him from a very young age the concept of loyalty to blood. It is surrounded by blood, that he feels safe and free to be vulnerable. And yet, it is also the power of blood that connects him to a history laden in pain, anger, confusion, hate, and systematic oppression

Warrior in a word, is...woke. A high schooler, with the knowledge of life under his belt as if he has been here before and has seen too much, too soon, sadly.

The author does an excellent job taking us into the mind of Warrior. The heart-crushing encounter of Brotherman with the "Blue Soldiers" was as devastating to read as it is to hear about, experience, and have to recount daily even in today's society. Too many to of our young men and women are beaten to near-death or often fatally beaten/killed in our communities at the hands of the very organizations that are designed to do the opposite. I enjoyed that while the book was set in the early 1990s, it read as if it were written in context of today's society. Leaving the question in my mind, and i'm sure many who do comparative analyses of then and now, "has much really changed?"

As much as this is the story of struggle it is a story of love in abundance, across generations, knowing no bounds. And for that, I rate the book five stars. As much as I was moved to tears and felt the anger that Warrior felt, I also understand the great dilemma he faced as he strived to become a better man but to survive first.

I really enjoyed reading this book and could hardly put it down.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warrior is a teenage boy making his way through the streets of New York, and life, trailed by the spirits of his ancestors. As he navigates the snowy Brooklyn streets, he must decide if he will make peace with the spirits or allow them to drag him down.

This novel was a lyrical and unique melding of modern narrative and ancient myth. At once, Warrior is someone you might pass on the street and simultaneously hear of in a story passed down through ages. Lazare-White’s narrative style is beautifully crafted. The juxtaposition of warmth and cold, of soldier and warrior, and of love and rage were masterfully yet subtly woven through the narrative. Two things took away something for me: I did find myself getting a little lost in some of the longer or more mystic threads, and I struggled to connect with Warrior’s anger. However, on the other hand, I think that was the point. I have never been a black teenage boy, but I felt like I was on a beautiful tour of Warrior’s mind, even if I didn’t always understand. The anger was there, even if neither Warrior nor I knew exactly why.

As a high school teacher, I know so many teenage boys who are drawn to ancient mythology. This novel would allow them see themselves reflected in Warrior, the character, where they often are not reflected in literature. They connect with the raw emotion present in myth and I just know they would devour this unique combination of myth and modernism. If I had all the money in the world, I would buy an entire class set of this novel.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a phenomenal novella, which explores how a black teenager navigates urban spaces. This exploration is done with the backdrop of a city blanketed in snow, a meteorological representation of the whiteness that controls the city and controls the movements of its residents of color. Passage unfurls in two parts, the interruption of Warrior's daily routine and the reflections in his mind, which often turn mythical. This seriously gave me chills.

"The Blues is when you leave your apartment and don't even know if you'll make it back. The Blues is when you can't look your own brothers in the eye 'cause you might cross the line between looking and staring, and then they might kill you. .The Blues is when you can't look your own sisters in the eye 'cause they don't know if you flirting or if you want to rape them. The Blues is when your generation is dying in the streets and your prophets are being killed in your mind. The Blues is watching a genocide occur and not knowing when roll call will reach your name. The Blues is when you have been conditioned not to even dream. The Blues is that I am one of the Blues and still wouldn't change my color for the very power of God... Instead, I just stand here and speak the Blues."

[Dave B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Passage was a uniquely different urban story that attempts to cross thread a supernatural folktale with a young adult urban tale of the ‘day-in-the-life’ experience for the protagonist named Warrior. This story was full of potential and developed a character very similar to Midnight created by Sister Souljah. Warrior is a very serious young man that holds the burdens of his culture and race on his shoulders. Ultimately this leads to several complications but few resolutions. The only issue I have with this story is the disjointed intersection of a spiritual being named 'Claw' and the lack of context for this spiritual battle. I am sure the author could have flushed out his thoughts and ideology with another fifty pages but the reader is left to connect the emotional struggle of manhood in America as an African American dwelling in the inner cities. On a positive note this book sparks my desire to understand the passages of manhood and the associated trappings of our society.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a powerful book, but in some aspects the way parts are written it weakens. The book is almost dream like with the inner life so prominent. There are moments where you cannot be sure of what is reality. Normally I'm not one for the magical realism type book and usually don't finis reading the book if it going in that direction. So this one at least had me continuing it, finishing the book.

Reminded me of several Native American/First People's books that I've read where the ancestor spirits are around and perceptible to those who listen.

Not sure why the author had chosen 1993 for the setting. It could really have been at any time, although maybe because of certain drug usage at the time. Again, that part could be something else and work just as well.


Book rating: 3.5

I received a free copy of this book at a library conference. I was not required to write a review, but felt like it and, of course, the above opinions are my own.

[Stacey D · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book!

[Ingrid Allyse · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay Ahem...
I would just like to say, without One single doubt in My mind, body, and soul... that The Passage is the best book I have ever read to date. The book is mesmerizing, memorable, lovable, unbelievably true, historical, commendable, beautiful, and not for everybody. The book, however, is for Everyone and has so much to offer and teach other’s’ and touches me deeply because I was going through my own Passage when the book found me in the City of Newburgh, New York. The book really wants people to be united and to see enough through themselves that they can find each other, and to me the book deserves Five Stars. Warrior, Midnight Blue, Warrior’s Dad, mom, and sister, Brotherman, Weatherman, Cowboy, Warrior’s girl, and everyone in the book are all reflections of society and ourselves... I don’t have enough words to express how beautiful the book is and I’m very appreciative of KHARY LAZAREE~WHITE for making this book.. I always wonder if the book is based off of a true story or if Warrior is really out there still, and I hope He is because I feel very attached to Warrior and the story. I love the book very much and my memory stammers, but my soul is a witness.