Kings of B'more by R. Eric Thomas

Kings of B'more

R. Eric Thomas

Penguin Young Readers Group · Hardcover · May 31, 2022

"Infused with all the joy of the best teen movies, Kings of B'more is sure to be a big hit." —BuzzFeed Two Black queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by bestselling author of Here for It, R. Eric Thomas.

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Who it’s for
For a quick, character-forward read with warmth and a little sparkle.
Genres
YA Romance - LGBTQ+, Coming of Age, Friendship for Teens
Published
Penguin Young Readers Group, May 31, 2022

About this book

"Infused with all the joy of the best teen movies, Kings of B'more is sure to be a big hit." —BuzzFeed Two Black queer best friends face their last day together with an epic journey through Baltimore in this magnetic YA debut by bestselling author of Here for It, R. Eric Thomas. A 2023 Stonewall Honor Book for Young Adult Literature With junior year starting in the fall, Harrison feels like he’s on the precipice of, well, everything.

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Standardized testing, college, and the terrifying unknowns and looming pressures of adulthood after that—it’s like the future wants to eat him alive. Which is why Harrison is grateful that he and his best friend, Linus, will face these things together. But at the end of a shift at their summer job, Linus invites Harrison to their special spot overlooking the city to deliver devastating news: He’s moving out of state at the end of the week. To keep from completely losing it—and partially inspired by a cheesy movie-night pick by his dad—Harrison plans a send-off à la Ferris Bueller’s Day Off that's worthy of his favorite person. If they won’t be having all the life-expanding experiences they thought they would, Harrison will squeeze them all into their last day together. They end up on a mini road trip, their first Pride, and a rooftop dance party, all while keeping their respective parents, who track them on a family location app, off their trail. Harrison and Linus make a pact to do all the things—big and small—they’ve been too scared to do. But nothing feels scarier than saying goodbye to someone you love.

Why It Clicks

For a quick, character-forward read with warmth and a little sparkle.

Come here for

  • R. Eric Thomas’s voice
  • queer teen romance energy

Expect

  • friendship-first dynamics
  • teen-level emotional stakes

Where it sits

YA Romance - LGBTQ+81%
Friendship for Teens71%
Coming of Age48%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA LGBTQ+
  • African American YA
  • Friendship for Teens
Authors
R. Eric Thomas
Publisher
Penguin Young Readers Group
Published
May 31, 2022
Format
Hardcover
Reading lane
YA LGBTQ+