Jabari Jumps

How it reads

Jabari Jumps is young adult (children's picture book, specifically), and its dominant mood is hopeful. Whatever it puts its people through, it believes things can get better. The pace is moderate — neither a page-turner nor a slow burn — so it holds up whether you read it in long sittings or short ones.

It's set in a suburban setting, in the present day, told in the third person, staying close to one character. Its central concerns are coming of age, survival and friendship. In weight it's light and escapist — easy to fall into.

It stands alone, so there's nothing else you need to read first or after. The ending resolves happily. At 32 pages it's a single-sitting book. It's moderately known: read by plenty of people, but not a household name.