MidAir, Alicia D. Williams
MidAir, Alicia D. Williams
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Mid-Air

Author: Alicia D. Williams

Narrator: Landon Woodson

Unabridged: 4 hr 59 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/23/2024


Synopsis

Longlisted for the National Book Award

A tender-souled boy reeling from the death of his best friend struggles to fit into a world that wants him to grow up tough and unfeeling in this stunning illustrated middle grade novel in verse “full of vulnerability and hope” (Booklist, starred review) from the Newbery Honor–winning author of Genesis Begins Again.

It’s the last few months of eighth grade, and Isaiah feels lost. He thought his summer was going to be him and his boys Drew and Darius, hanging out, doing wheelies, watching martial arts movies, and breaking tons of Guinness World Records before high school. But now, more and more, Drew seems to be fading from their friendship, and though he won’t admit it, Isaiah knows exactly why. Because Darius is…gone.

A hit and run killed Darius in the midst of a record-breaking long wheelie when Isaiah should have been keeping watch, ready to warn: “CAR!” Now, Drew can barely look at Isaiah. But Isaiah, already quaking with ache and guilt, can’t lose two friends. So, he comes up with a plan to keep Drew and him together­­­—they can spend the summer breaking records, for Darius.

But Drew’s not the same Drew since Darius was killed, and Isaiah being Isaiah isn’t enough for Drew anymore. Not his taste in clothes, his love for rock music, or his aversion to jumping off rooftops. And one day something unspeakable happens to Isaiah that makes him think Drew’s right. If only he could be less sensitive, more tough, less weird, more cool, less him, things would be easier. But how much can Isaiah keep inside until he shatters wide open?

About Alicia D. Williams

Alicia D. Williams is the author of Mid-Air, which was longlisted for the National Book Award; Genesis Begins Again, which received Newbery and Kirkus Prize honors, was a William C. Morris Award finalist, and for which she won the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe Award for New Talent; and picture books Jump at the Sun, Nani and the Lion, and The Talk, which was also a Coretta Scott King Honor book. An oral storyteller in the African American tradition, she lives in Charlotte, North Carolina.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Bookishrealm on October 15, 2024

Wow.... I'm shocked, but I'm also not shocked. Alicia D. Williams never ceases to amaze me. She is a master of her craft and also writes books that not only pack and emotional punch, but also capture the experiences of her readers. Mid-Air is unlike any other middle grade book this year. Not only is......more

Goodreads review by SH on June 07, 2024

4.5 rounded to 5 🌟 This book was stunning. Dealt with some potentially heavy themes like racism, death of a friend, etc. but did so in such a gentle and accessible way for all audiences. I loved the fact that joy was at the center of this. There was such an emphasis on all people’s, especially thos......more

Goodreads review by Joy on November 16, 2024

I didn’t know this was the same author who wrote Genesis Begins Again. I liked it. I loved that it was a novel in verse, and I felt like I was on a mountain bike trail with all the ups and downs and twists and bumps… I love how it ended, even though there are some unanswered questions (like life), I......more

Goodreads review by Savannah on April 22, 2025

A powerful book that explores growing up, processing grief, navigating family challenges, and finding identity as a person of color. Highly recommended —the story is not only impactful but beautifully written.......more

Goodreads review by Glenna on June 07, 2024

Isaiah likes skateboarding, plants and rock music, activities that set him apart from most of his peers, so he hides a good deal of his true self. His two friends, Darius and Drew are both adventurous and up for any stunt, no matter how crazy or dangerous. Isaiah tries to go along, but his friends k......more


Quotes

"Landon Woodson’s high-speed narration creates immediacy as best friends Drew, Darius, and Isaiah attempt to set a new BMX bike record...Woodson reflects Isaiah’s vulnerability and, eventually, new way of being. By the end, Woodson shows Isaiah’s healing and shift to a more mature outlook. Throughout, Woodson’s narration honors the verse structure of the story, supporting all its rhythms."