[Review] The Boy in the Black Suit by Jason Reynolds

Title: The Boy In The Black Suit

Author: Jason Reynolds [Blog | Twitter]

Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers, an imprint of Simon and Schuster

Genre: Young Adult Fiction - Contemporary, Romance

Release Date: January 6, 2015

Source: ARC provided by the publisher, opinions are honest and my own. – review policy here.

Just when seventeen-year-old Matt thinks he can’t handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl who’s dealt with a lot more—and who just might be able to clue him in on how to rise up when life keeps knocking him down—in this wry, gritty novel from the author of When I Was the Greatest.

Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom died—although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad can’t handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own. So while Dad’s snagging bottles of whiskey, Matt’s snagging fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey. She’s got a crazy name, and she’s been through more crazy than he can imagine. Yet Lovey never cries. She’s tough. Really tough. Tough in the way Matt wishes he could be. Which is maybe why he’s drawn to her, and definitely why he can’t seem to shake her. Because there’s nothing more hopeful than finding a person who understands your loneliness—and who can maybe even help take it away. – via Goodreads

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Brooklyn at my door
Once again we are at Brooklyn's door with robust characters whose shoes fit perfectly. While reading I felt like I was floating through the prose as Matt laid his mother to rest and he began his funeral parlor job all the way to the last page. Reynolds is able to balance Matt's grieving with his growth into exploring first love, responsibilities and his future.

Capturing deep culture and characters
I really love how Bedford-Stuyvesant jumps off the page while Reynolds seduces the reader with the neighborhood's reality and still brings in the romanticism of the city. Each character is accounted for in a memorable way from those who are receiving their going home ceremonies to the town drunk to the sandwich guy at the corner bodega. Each person stuck with me as much as they stuck with Matt.

I really, really dislike the first part of this synopsis. 
Matt is dealing with loss versus life knocking him down. His family lives in a brownstone, and money is not plentiful but Matt's doing okay minus the passing of his mom. If anything he's in need of parental leadership. I'm also not sold on the idea that Lovey is dealing with "more" and I definitely do not feel that her role is to save him. If anything I think their connection lies in the ability to accept loss and that grieving his done in different ways for different people. The best of friends are those that don't judge.

Awaiting more from Jason Reynolds
Reynolds stories are great for young adults and adults alike. His ability to blend rich, authentic stories with cultural competency and make them equally touching is beyond me. Luckily, I get to add Reynolds to my auto-buy list. Can't wait for the next read!

4 Stars –  Once again Jason lulls me away with his storytelling and amazing character development.