Lolly lives in Harlem, and is grieving because his brother has recently been killed in gang related violence. Lolly struggles with anger and sadness, and his only relief is when he loses himself creating Lego structures. For Christmas his mother's partner brings him a huge bag of Legos, and he uses them to create a magnificent Lego world in an empty room in a rec center where he spends time after school. His Legos lead him to an unlikely friendship and his art gives him an anchor that helps him navigate the storms of his grief. This book got starred reviews everywhere this year. It think it is because it feels like a really authentic look at life in the projects in Harlem. In the book the social pressure for Lolly and his friends to join a gang is intense. The ones that get through it are those that have something else to cling to, like Lolly's Lego art or his friend's violin playing. I enjoyed this book and think it has a shot at he Newbery this year, but it didn't have the literary beauty of Clayton Byrd Goes Underground, and Beyond the Bright Sea. My personal favorite, I'm Just no Good at Rhyming, is probably a long shot. (294 p. 2017)
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