When I Was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

Source of book: Audiobook from the library

 

We have enjoyed Jason Reynolds books before. As Brave as You was a fun adventure where humor and a light touch belied some pretty heavy themes. Ain’t Burned All the Bright was a wonderful poem (and illustrations by Jason Griffin) musing on Covid and social justice. Just a great book - I highly recommend getting it and reading it in a single take. 

When I was the Greatest is also a kids book, but in a totally different vein than As Brave as You. While the latter is rural and nostalgic, When I was the Greatest is set in modern Brooklyn, and is a good bit more gritty and contemporary. What ties the two together is the way that Reynolds combines serious topics with laugh-out-loud humor. He really is a great writer, with the kind of light touch that can send a message without preaching. 

 

Fifteen year old Ali lives with his mother and his little sister, Jazz, in Brooklyn. His mom works two jobs to support the family - his dad, unfortunately, makes his living through, um, legally questionable means. When he was just shoplifting and re-selling, that was one thing. But when he turned to armed robber, he ended up in prison for a bit. He is out now, but mom has had enough, so he is out. 

 

Ali is a good student, and keeps out of trouble - avoiding guns and drugs and the like - and spends his time learning to box from an old guy in the neighborhood. Not that Ali wants to fight. He actually has ended up chickening out of actual bouts on occasion - he’s just not an aggressive kid at all. 

 

Enter two brothers, who move in next door. Their mom is probably turning tricks to support the family, and no one wants to say what happened to dad. Noodles (these are all nicknames, by the way…except Jazz) is the younger brother. He is a bit of a trouble maker, and is definitely rash and impulsive. But Ali likes hanging with him. Needles, the older brother, is a bit different. He has Tourette’s Syndrome, which makes him break out in obscenities occasionally, and go berzerk when he is overstressed. Ali’s mom, a social worker, teaches him to knit - hence “Needles” - as a way of coping. Which works pretty well. 

 

Things go wrong, though, when Noodles’ not-quite-girlfriend mentions that she is working the door at a party by Maurice - aka “Mo Mo.” Now, these parties are renowned for all kinds of beautiful and rich people coming - indeed, Mo Mo makes his living putting the parties together. 

 

Ali and Noodles talk her into letting them in. She agrees only if they agree to bring Needles too. Probably because he is the most sensible of the bunch. 

 

But, things go wrong, and Ali ends up having to fight some actual hoods to save Needles, which puts a bounty on his head. 

 

How this all gets resolved is an interesting question, which I will not spoil. 

 

The book looks at stuff like the urge to be cool, the problems that arise in honor culture, the effects of chronic poverty, friendship, and of course disabilities. As with all good books, the characters and relationships are complex. Even the “shady” sorts are nuanced - they exist in a different world from the white middle class. Love is complicated too. A person may be an unsuitable partner - or friend - and yet be loved. Family in particular is complicated. 

 

And did I mention this book is really funny too? 

 

The audiobook was read by J. B. Adkins, who did a good job. 

 

If you haven’t discovered Jason Reynolds yet, I recommend giving him a try. His writing and characters are excellent, and the stories compelling. And funny.