Book: The Cost of Knowing by Brittney Morris
Read From: 5th September - 6th September 2021
Rating: 4/5 stars
Summary: 16 year old Alex lives with his younger brother Isaiah on a quiet street in Chicago. But recently their neighbours have begun calling the cops on anyone who doesn't look like their version of safe. When Alex picks up a family photo, his whole life changes: he has a vision that Isaiah might die. Alex wants to save Isaiah, but he knows the dangers of the future. How will he protect his brother when the street they grew up on doesn't feel like home anymore?
Brittney Morris I LOVE YOU! I had high hopes for her second novel after reading her debut SLAY last year, which slotted its way into my favourite books of all time. Now, after reading and loving her second book, I will never not read anything she releases in future. Her books need more hype - it's genuinely a shame that I'm not seeing them anywhere near enough on book-related social media.
Magical realism is usually a hit or miss for me, but this was definitely a hit. The concept was original and thought-provoking - if you had the chance to see the future of something or someone, would you? If you would, at what cost?
The writing in this book is so powerful, each and every sentence packs a punch and you’ll learn so much in just 300 pages. It covers a LOT - from toxic masculinity, inter generational trauma and the pressure to be a provider. It’s also written in such an accessible way. It’s a young adult book and so obviously reads like one but it’s done so well as you can either take it all at surface level OR, if you wanted to, you can really pay attention to the themes discussed and see the various ways in which Morris approaches them and how they’re reflected.
This novel is described as a 'love letter to the Black men who had to grow up too early, and for whom the task of being carefree and joyful and Black and male might seem impossible’. At one point, I picked up on the fact that Isaiah wasn’t written like a 12 year old and then I caught myself because that is exactly the point.
As I already said, I will never not read any of Morris’ future releases. It’s safe to say that she is now an auto-buy author for me and after loving her first two books I’m sure they will just keep getting better and better.