Up in Smoke

“If there was ever a time to use my words, it was now. Things needed to change in this city. No, in this country. Better yet, around the world.”No truer words were spoken in this powerful story about justice, loyalty, and the urgency of speaking up. When an innocent Black teenager is killed by a plainclothes police officer and the city of D.C. scrambles to cover it up, tensions boil over. Protests erupt, and friends find themselves on opposite sides of the peaceful vs. violent resistance debate—until one of their own is wrongfully accused, forcing them to unite.Brooks keeps it real, emotionally and socially, with twists that hit hard and loyalties that get tested at every turn. A timely and thought-provoking read that definitely sticks with you.

This is an engaging and well-rounded dual POV YA mystery! The publisher compares it to The Hate U Give, which feels right. The main characters are grappling with the issue of police brutality corruption along with other social issues in a similar way.My favorite thing about this book is how complex the characters are. Despite the fact that it’s YA, Brooks doesn’t simplify tricky moral issues to talk down to his audience. I also so appreciated how he modeled a healthy teen dating relationship without sermonizing or sacrificing romantic tension.Highly recommend!

This audiobook hooked me right from the first chapter. Up in Smoke is a fast-paced, emotional YA mystery that blends suspense with real-world issues in a way that feels raw, honest, and totally unflinching. The dual narrators bring Cooper and Monique’s voices to life with so much emotion, it felt like I was listening to real teens in a real crisis—not just characters in a story.The plot kicks off with a protest that turns deadly. A woman is killed, and Jason, Monique’s brother and Cooper’s friend, gets arrested. Cooper knows Jason didn’t do it, but he also has secrets that could put him in danger. With Monique’s help, they set out to uncover the truth—and what they find is way deeper than they ever expected.This story doesn’t shy away from heavy topics like police corruption, racism, and what it means to be a young Black teen trying to survive in a broken system. But it balances those hard truths with moments of heart, friendship, even love. Monique’s poetry adds depth, and Cooper’s quiet struggle to do the right thing makes him incredibly relatable.What really stood out to me was how real these characters felt. They mess up, they grow, they care about each other in ways that are messy and true. The pacing never slows, and the ending delivers a punch I didn’t see coming. If you want an audiobook that keeps you guessing while making you feel something, this one’s for you. I’d recommend it for teens and adults alike—especially anyone who loves a mystery with meaning. Powerful, gripping, and unforgettable.

Thank you to #netgalley for the ARC! I am always looking for books for my school book club, and this one will definitely make the cut. It's timely, engaging, and the characters are spot-on. The action, plot, and narration kept me on the edge of my seat. Our only issue might be NOT reading the whole book in a week!

UP IN SMOKE by Nick Brooks tells the story of a sister trying to clear her brother’s name. When Cooper King is convinced by his friend, Jason to join in a looting expedition during a demonstration, shots ring out and a young woman is dead. When Jason is arrested for her murder, his sister Monique decides that she needs to clear his name. She enlists Cooper’s help, but he is harbouring the secret that he was actually there when the shots were fired, although Monique believes he was long gone. Cooper is also trying to hide his attraction to his friend’s sister as this goes against the ‘bro code’. As their investigation intensifies and takes them into the underbelly of their town, they learn that they live in a world much different than they thought. I really struggled with this one. While the plot was good, I seemed to have trouble staying focused and found I was dragging myself through in places. I kept wondering how old these kids were anyway. If it said so in the beginning, I missed it. The writing was clear and concise, it just didn’t hold my attention for long periods of time. Thank you to NetGalley and MacMillan Publishing for this ARC opportunity. All opinions are my own and given voluntarily.