“The Boy in the Black Suit” by Jason Reynolds

For a novel about the death of a parent, this one is both gentle and sweet, rather than overwhelmingly sad.  Matt is suffering – falling asleep each night listening to the same song over and over, eating take-out rather than cook a meal, dealing with his father’s spiral down to a very dark place.  But the story is not dark.  Matt has a spirit which draws you to him.  There is something very uplifting about this young man.  He has strength and determination and a support system in the form of an interesting neighbor and a good friend.  The suit Matt wears for his job at an area funeral home is symbolic.  It is like the structure and formality holding him together when he would rather fall apart – but this is not a young man to let go.  He is seeking something, he doesn’t know what, to align this loss with his life as a whole.  A fast read, the voices here are real and compelling.  And it is not depressing.  This is more of a tale about coming out of the dark than going in.  Definitely worth the read.