Hell of a Book by Jason Mott needs to be in every high school classroom library and on every reading list. The main character is a Black author who is traveling on his book tour to promote Hell of a Book. He is visited by the Kid, who is the ghost of a Black boy whose father was killed by police. The reader follows the author and the Kid and learns about each of their lives as the story evolves. Mott puts a face and a life to the people in the news, both victim and cop. Fans of Ghost Boys, by Jewell Parker Rhodes, for younger students will appreciate Hell of a Book for an older audience. Mott weaves a story of brutal reality, dream-like fantasy, and racial injustice in his novel. Lively and timely classroom discussions will surely grow from the study of this book.
