Joined in 2023 
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Well, you’ll be getting to know them very soon. They’re currently the only thing in my way from accomplishing my current goal, and I need a means of stopping them. But they’re unpredictable, wild, and always unexpected.” He smiled coldly. “That is where you come in. You will serve as my spy.” Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Simon & Schuster Kids and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.
Fellow judge Irfan Master said the book stood out for its “craft, courage and connection”, while Yaba Badoe, also judging, said “every teenager” should read the book. The Hidden City had offered him multiple chances to be all sorts of things. A magic wielding yokai. A waiter at a hot dog restaurant. A warrior. But of all those things, Usagi had turned to the Battle Nexus. Usagi was a samurai, born and trained to fight. He had chosen to leave his old life in Japan behind, but he hadn’t turned away from fighting. That’s why he had left, actually. To find a reasonable sensei to train him. It didn’t get him anything good but a taste for fighting dirty. Nobody had wanted to take up the sad rabbit from nowhere. Nobody cared about his family name. They just didn’t want to train him. Too brash. Too arrogant. Won't ever get anywhere in life. As time went on, Usagi grew to care less about what he had been told as a child. You need a Sensei, Usagi. Psh, yeah right. Usagi grew angry, got into a few fights, and next thing he knew he was looking to become someone. He wanted his name to be known. A powerful coming-of-age story about chance encounters, injustice and how the choices that we make can completely change our future. The second YA novel from the critically acclaimed Danielle Jawando, perfect for fans of Angie Thomas, Gayle Foreman, Jennifer Niven and Nikesh Shukla. I haven’t seen this done before (it could have I just haven’t seen it) and I thought it was such a COOL CONCEPT and now, here I give you, the first chapter :) very small, but the next one will be long. A young lad, Marc, moving through the care system with no one behind him, except his most recent carer, who might not be as bad as he thinks, and also hiding more about his identity than just his living circumstances.Loved the characters and the friendship and how she dealt with the various issues and it did feel authentic so she definitely did her research about slang and how some teenagers talk! Travis Alabanza’s “vulnerable and urgent” memoir exploring genderqueer identities has won the 2023 Jhalak prize, while a coming-of-age novel by Danielle Jawando has taken the Jhalak children’s and young adult award.
Some really hard themes, but an incredibly thorough book - and the interwoven theme of all of their friendship developing throughout whilst they are having to deal with so much was really touching. You’ll gather information on the turtles. Let me know their every waking move. Who they are. What they’re planning. Anywhere they go. You’ll be my eyes.” Usagi waltzed inside, throwing finger guns at Big Mama. “Ayyy, if it isn't Big Mama!” He froze when he caught sight of someone else in the room, sitting across from Big Mama’s desk. “Oh…” I really enjoyed Danielle Jawando's recent visit to our school. Her talk was stimulating and helped deepen my insight into the themes of her book, such as racism and the justice system in the UK. I was also curious to hear about her personal writing process. I found her approachable, friendly and enjoyed meeting her after her talk.’
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So yeah I think an entirely separate book dedicated to the unfairness of the justice system would have been a better choice. Because there’s just so many elements to it and squeezing it into a book that had two other characters to worry about didn’t quite work. Yuichi Usagi had not been dealt the best hand of cards when it came to life, but he did the best with what he got. Draxum grinned, about as friendly and sharp as the blade of a katana, and outheld his hand. “So, do we have a deal, Usagi?”
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