- King of the Neuro Verse by Idris Goodwin
- Atheneum Books for Young Readers/Simon & Schuster
- Publication Date: October 14, 2025
- ISBN: 9781665973120
Pernell is determined to make the most of his third summer in a row at summer school by becoming this summer’s Cypher King – the leader of the summer school lunchroom informal rap circles. With tape recorder in hand, Pernell records his journey for “future listeners” through freestyling, interviews with friends and family, and stray observations. Throughout, he (and those around him) slowly begin to accept that his ADHD diagnosis which has always been treated like a “problem” might actually be what makes him who he is and his strength as a potential Cypher King.
Told through a mix of engaging freestyle verse, humorous observations, and thoughtful interactions with parents and friends, Goodwin has created a compelling protagonist that teens will either root for or relate to. Pernell’s journey to embrace his neurodiversity as a strength rather than a weakness never feels preachy or heavy-handed and takes real teen readers’ own issues with teachers and adults who might not understand seriously. Teens will no doubt appreciate that there is little attempt to lionize the burnt out English teacher who serves as Pernell’s main antagonist. The font of the book is unique and there is a lot of white space on the page which should draw in reluctant readers who are turned off by traditional text. Pernell’s relatability and sense of humor should appeal to a wide range of teens but reluctant readers who struggle with school due to undiagnosed or misunderstood neurodivergency will find this particularly resonant. While the book takes place nearly 30 years ago (right before 2000) the focus on now iconic hip hop and punk music of the late 90s will likely still appeal to most teens, but particularly readers with a fondness for nostalgia music.
A great choice for reluctant readers who enjoyed Jason Reynolds Track series or Kwame Alexander’s Booked as younger readers. This is also a lighter choice for teens who liked heavier novels in verse like Jason Reynold’s Long Way Down or Ibi Zoboi and Yusef Salaam’s Punching the Air.
–Maryanne Olson
