UNION

Ninth grader Tuck grapples with trauma from his past while crushing on Grace and trying to enroll co-workers in a union.

Tuck takes a job in a fast-food joint to get out of his house, where he feels shame and self-loathing. As he begins dating longtime classmate Grace, readers access glimpses into Tuck’s memories of sexual abuse from his mother’s old boyfriend. He feels unworthy of Grace’s love at first, putting off telling her his history. His background also seems to give him a sense of imposter syndrome, resulting in self-harm. When a woman named Trix approaches him at the drive-thru window and talks to him about unionizing, Tuck feels empowered and decides to recruit co-workers to fight for their rights. This brief verse novel packs a punch: The poems are concise yet robust and convey a change in tone from sobering and intense to hopeful. Trix is a mother figure of sorts, picking up on Tuck’s anxiety and helping him find counseling. Tuck’s subsequent evolution—both in his relationship with Grace and as a harbinger for advancement in work conditions—makes him a sympathetic, courageous character worthy of kudos. Other characters are primarily in the background, as the character-driven story centers Tuck. Cast members are minimally described and largely default to White.

Moving and accessible.