Boy 2.0
Win "Coal" Keegan has just landed in his latest foster home, with a big, noisy, slightly nosy family named the McKays. They seem eager to welcome Coal, but he's wary of trusting them. So, he doesn't tell them that he went for a walk with chalk in his pocket to cover a nearby street with his art. He doesn't tell them that a neighbor found Coal drawing, pulled a gun on him, and fired it. He doesn't tell them the police chased him. And he definitely doesn't tell them that when everything went down, Coal somehow turned invisible.
But he did.
Now he has to figure out how. Is he a superhero? Some kind of mutant? A science experiment? Is that why he has no family of his own? As Coal searches for answers and slowly learns to control his invisibility, he turns to the McKay kids and friends both new and old for help. But they soon discover they're not the only ones looking for a Black boy with superpowers, and the situation is far stranger--and more dangerous--than they ever could have expected.
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Tracey Baptiste blends heart wrenching realism with unpredictable science fiction, to create an unputdownable tale about a boy's quest to find the truth about his family and his power. Baptiste cleverly tackles real-world issues in a story filled with easter eggs and plot twists that are sobering, eye-opening, and downright irresistible.--Kwame Alexander, Newbery Medal-winning author of The Crossover and The Door of No Return
Captivating. Innovative. Original. Perfection. Tracey Baptiste is a masterful storyteller. Once again she's given us compelling characters and an unforgettable story about the magic and miracle of family, friendship and legacy. --Renee Watson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Black Girl You Are Atlas and Piecing Me Together
Propulsive and dazzling from the very first page, Boy 2.0 is as ingenious as it is impossible to put down. An astonishing book.--Anne Ursu, National Book Award longlisted author of Not Quite a Ghost
"A thrilling superhero origin story.... Friendships new and old bring the perfect amount of levity and humor to a highly suspenseful story. Although this is a superhero tale, Baptiste beautifully weaves in a variety of significant topics like racial justice, science, and mindfulness... hopefully the origin story here paves the way for future adventures.
VERDICT This is sure to be a hit with fans of the X-Men franchise, but Baptiste's inclusion of real-world topics is the story's true superpower."--School Library Journal, starred review
"A Black boy has no reason to trust anyone and a lot to learn about himself.... The novel thoughtfully illustrates some of the harsh realities of being a uniquely vulnerable, dark-skinned boy in a world that refuses to see you and the resulting anxiety that can occur. Luckily Coal is surrounded by people who give him the support he needs in ways that are heartwarming and impressive, and they ultimately lead to a positive place. An experiment in grace and care that's as hopeful as it is imaginative."
--Kirkus Reviews
"Baptiste combines common issues of identity and finding a home with an sf spin, ultimately presenting an absorbing plot. Her characters are thoughtfully multidimensional, from Coal to his supportive foster family to Door, the good-natured and irrepressibly funny best friend. Baptiste neatly contrasts Coal's sense of social invisibility to his actual invisibility, all of which leads him to finding his place in the world."--Booklist
