{"product_id":"this-thing-of-ours-frederick-joseph","title":"This Thing of Ours \/\/\/ Frederick Joseph","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAn instant\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebestseller!\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A thought-provoking exploration of storytelling dynamics in a social media–driven society.\" —\u003cem\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe powerful and timely YA novel debut from three-time\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eNew York Times\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ebest-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story—and a rallying cry against book banning.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBIO\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eFrederick Joseph\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a three-time\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ebestselling author. His books span both the adult and children’s book spaces, including\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Black Friend\u003c\/i\u003e;\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBlack Panther: Wakanda Forever, The Courage to Dream\u003c\/i\u003e;\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ePatriarchy Blues\u003c\/i\u003e; and, most recently,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eThis Thing of Ours\u003c\/i\u003e. His work has been well celebrated and recognized in many ways: being named an Amazon Editors’ pick, notable by the International Literacy Association, being selected as Best Children’s Book of the Year by Bank Street College, being a\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eBooklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eEditors’ Choice, and many, many more. He lives with his wife, Porsche, and his dog, Stokely, in New York City.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eYou can visit him online at FrederickJoseph.com or follow him on Instagram @FredTJoseph.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eREVIEWS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\"A thought-provoking exploration of storytelling dynamics in a social media–driven society.\" \u003cstrong\u003e-- \u003cem\u003eKirkus\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eReviews\u003c\/em\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores.\"\u003cstrong\u003e -- \u003cem\u003ePublishers\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eWeekly\u003c\/em\u003e (starred review)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Frederick Joseph constructs a true roller coaster of a narrative in \u003cem\u003eThis Thing of Ours\u003c\/em\u003e, painting Ossie’s complex struggles in language that is both poetic and engaging for a young adult audience. Impressively, the plot’s momentum stays strong even when dipping into the stories of the other characters. . . .Readers will be moved by the thoughtful, unexpected ways in which Joseph develops Ossie and his journey to be heard.\" \u003cstrong\u003e-- BookPage (starred review)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Readers will be inspired by how he learns to stand up against the disguised race-class fissures that have long existed in his school.\" \u003cstrong\u003e-- \u003cem\u003eBooklist\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Joseph makes his fiction debut with the powerfully empathic, deeply emboldening young adult novel \u003cem\u003eThis Thing of Ours\u003c\/em\u003e.\"\u003cstrong\u003e -- \u003cem\u003eShelf\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cem\u003eAwareness\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e[H]  \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eCandlewick Press (MA)  \/  May 06, 2025\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1.4\" H x 8.3\" L x 5.7\" W (1.0 lbs) 384 pages\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFor ages 14 and up\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Penguin Random House","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":44881919738032,"sku":"9781536233469","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0515\/3832\/9776\/files\/THISTHINGOFOURS.jpg?v=1765820925","url":"https:\/\/checkout.bembrooklyn.com\/products\/this-thing-of-ours-frederick-joseph","provider":"BEM | books \u0026 more (Online)","version":"1.0","type":"link"}