Books like Punching the Air by Ibi Aanu Zoboi
Amal Shahid, a talented poet from Brooklyn, finds his promising city‑school career derailed when a nighttime confrontation in a gentrifying neighborhood spirals into tragedy. Convicted of an uncommitted crime, Amal faces the harsh realities of prison and a biased legal system. Amid despair, he turns to his poetry as both refuge and resistance, striving to preserve his humanity and prove his innocence. The book blends raw verse with a critique of prejudice, racism, and the criminal justice system, offering a powerful young‑adult narrative about resilience and truth.
First publish date: 2020
Genre: Young Adult Fiction/YA Contemporary Fiction
Authors: Ibi Aanu Zoboi
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