When I was the Greatest by Jason Reynolds

This story has unique characters that are shaped by the pressures of living in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood. The novel delivers a powerful message about the bonds between family and friends and what happens when they seem broken. This novel minimizes the typical idea of living in a tough neighbourhood, sex, violence, and drugs but instead focuses on dependability and support of those considered family. This story had both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, as the three young men form a seemingly real friendship.