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Solo
Goodreads Choice Award
Nominee for Readers' Favorite Poetry (2017)When the heart gets lost, let the music find you.
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.
In reality, the only thing Blade has in common with Rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough when he’s faced with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing Chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-held family secret, one that leaves him questioning everything he thought was true. All that remains is a letter and a ticket to Ghana—both of which could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.
Blade never asked for a life of the rich and famous. In fact, he’d give anything not to be the son of Rutherford Morrison, a washed-up rock star and drug addict with delusions of a comeback. Or to no longer be part of a family known most for lost potential, failure, and tragedy. The one true light is his girlfriend, Chapel, but her parents have forbidden their relationship, assuming—like many—that Blade will become just like his father.
In reality, the only thing Blade has in common with Rutherford is the music that lives inside them. But not even the songs that flow through Blade’s soul are enough when he’s faced with two unimaginable realities: the threat of losing Chapel forever, and the revelation of a long-held family secret, one that leaves him questioning everything he thought was true. All that remains is a letter and a ticket to Ghana—both of which could bring Blade the freedom and love he’s been searching for, or leave him feeling even more adrift.
463 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 25, 2017
About the author
Kwame Alexander
75 books3,002 followersKwame Alexander is a poet, educator, and New York Times Bestselling author of 21 books, including The Crossover, which received the 2015 John Newbery Medal for the Most Distinguished Contribution to American literature for Children, the Coretta Scott King Author Award Honor, The NCTE Charlotte Huck Honor, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, and the Passaic Poetry Prize. Kwame writes for children of all ages. His other works include Surf's Up, a picture book; Booked, a middle grade novel; and He Said She Said, a YA novel.
Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.
Kwame believes that poetry can change the world, and he uses it to inspire and empower young people through his PAGE TO STAGE Writing and Publishing Program released by Scholastic. A regular speaker at colleges and conferences in the U.S., he also travels the world planting seeds of literary love (Singapore, Brazil, Italy, France, Shanghai, etc.). Recently, Alexander led a delegation of 20 writers and activists to Ghana, where they delivered books, built a library, and provided literacy professional development to 300 teachers, as a part of LEAP for Ghana, an International literacy program he co-founded.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,376 reviews
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June 16, 2018I kind of have mixed feelings on this one. I loved the writing style and the tone of the story, but I wasn't a fan of the plot or the characters. Both elements fell flat for me. I did enjoy seeing how this story wrapped up, though it did end on a rather devastating note.
August 20, 2017
Nicely written, but. Blade is every bit as self-absorbed as his parents, and never quite seems to realize that, even though it sucks that his mother is dead and his father is an addict, he's also privileged in that he has enough money to have virtually unlimited options in life and, more importantly, a family who is as loving and supportive as they are damaged. There's also a bit of a believability problem when it comes to his family secret: his family is so damn rich and famous that it strains credibility for his family secret to actually be secret until somebody within his family reveals it to him, which is all aside from the fact that there's no particular reason for it to have been a secret at all.
July 31, 2021
TW substance abuse, loss of a loved one.
This one was definitely an interesting read that went in a direction I was not expecting. I'm not sure I enjoyed how the second half of this book went. I felt like there was so much unfinished and I'm left wanting so many answers. We were leading towards a moment that was super important for Blade, but it had such a big build up and such little time spent on it when it actually happened. And we're supposed to believe Blade found closure and that's exactly what he had wanted. It felt like it was too convenient and just not authentic. Blade also has a father who is a former rock star, so a lot of things happened that seemed virtually impossible for anyone else who wasn't a millionaire. He flew to Africa at the drop of a hat, they had a tour bus with showers in Africa? Again, it just felt odd and like it didn't really fit in the story. I did enjoy the exploration fo the relationship between Blade and his dad and sister, but a lot left me wanting more.
This one was definitely an interesting read that went in a direction I was not expecting. I'm not sure I enjoyed how the second half of this book went. I felt like there was so much unfinished and I'm left wanting so many answers. We were leading towards a moment that was super important for Blade, but it had such a big build up and such little time spent on it when it actually happened. And we're supposed to believe Blade found closure and that's exactly what he had wanted. It felt like it was too convenient and just not authentic. Blade also has a father who is a former rock star, so a lot of things happened that seemed virtually impossible for anyone else who wasn't a millionaire. He flew to Africa at the drop of a hat, they had a tour bus with showers in Africa? Again, it just felt odd and like it didn't really fit in the story. I did enjoy the exploration fo the relationship between Blade and his dad and sister, but a lot left me wanting more.
June 10, 2020
This review is late HAHA. I definitely finished this two days ago.
TW: substance abuse, some parent neglect
I am so ashamed to say that this is the first time that I've ever read Kwame Alexander. I see his works a lot at my job and he's come highly recommended, but I've never read his books. Let me tell you right now. This book was really good. I had a hard time relating to Blade at times, but I think the story's focus on family, love, grief, and forgiveness was great. Blade spends a long time trying to deal with an absent father who has an addiction. You can see how that affects his relationships with his family as well as with his girlfriend Chapel. Honestly, the first half on the novel was slow and it took a little bit of time to get used to the character development, but by the time Blade makes his trip to Ghana I was fully committed.
A conversation/theme that lingers in this book is substance abuse and forgiveness. Alexander poses the conversation of whether substance abuse is just reckless behavior or whether its an actual illness. Blade finds himself attempting to figure out the answers to this question as he navigates the relationship with his father. I will say that a lot of "annoying" characteristics that individuals may find with Blade have a lot to do with trauma and pain inflicted on him from having a parent that deals with substance abuse. He doesn't process it as well as his siblings and he often comes across as negative, but it is understandable. And he does grow as a character by the time he takes his trip to Ghana. I also know that it was difficult for him to continue to rely on his passion for music when the man he had such a difficult time with was a musician. I wasn't really invested or interested in his relationship with Chapel. It didn't feel real and it was clear from the beginning that Blade was more interested in Chapel than Chapel was in Blade.
The plot for the most part was a decent pace. I think that Kwame did want to take some time to set the scene for the relationship between characters, but as I have stated before this all picks up by time that Blade makes it to Ghana. It's there that Blade is able to deal with a lot of issues and baggage he wasn't able to unload at home.
I would definitely recommend listening to this on audio. It includes original music that was written by Kwame. And the music included isn't just snippets, it's full length tracks. I'm excited to check out more of Kwame Alexander's works.
TW: substance abuse, some parent neglect
I am so ashamed to say that this is the first time that I've ever read Kwame Alexander. I see his works a lot at my job and he's come highly recommended, but I've never read his books. Let me tell you right now. This book was really good. I had a hard time relating to Blade at times, but I think the story's focus on family, love, grief, and forgiveness was great. Blade spends a long time trying to deal with an absent father who has an addiction. You can see how that affects his relationships with his family as well as with his girlfriend Chapel. Honestly, the first half on the novel was slow and it took a little bit of time to get used to the character development, but by the time Blade makes his trip to Ghana I was fully committed.
A conversation/theme that lingers in this book is substance abuse and forgiveness. Alexander poses the conversation of whether substance abuse is just reckless behavior or whether its an actual illness. Blade finds himself attempting to figure out the answers to this question as he navigates the relationship with his father. I will say that a lot of "annoying" characteristics that individuals may find with Blade have a lot to do with trauma and pain inflicted on him from having a parent that deals with substance abuse. He doesn't process it as well as his siblings and he often comes across as negative, but it is understandable. And he does grow as a character by the time he takes his trip to Ghana. I also know that it was difficult for him to continue to rely on his passion for music when the man he had such a difficult time with was a musician. I wasn't really invested or interested in his relationship with Chapel. It didn't feel real and it was clear from the beginning that Blade was more interested in Chapel than Chapel was in Blade.
The plot for the most part was a decent pace. I think that Kwame did want to take some time to set the scene for the relationship between characters, but as I have stated before this all picks up by time that Blade makes it to Ghana. It's there that Blade is able to deal with a lot of issues and baggage he wasn't able to unload at home.
I would definitely recommend listening to this on audio. It includes original music that was written by Kwame. And the music included isn't just snippets, it's full length tracks. I'm excited to check out more of Kwame Alexander's works.
August 6, 2017
Thank you to the #kidlitexchange network for the review copy of this book - all opinions are my own.
SOLO is a rip-through-the-pages, can't-put-it-down poetic YA masterpiece. Told in text messages, song lyrics and conversations in verse, it tells the story of an alcoholic and addict rock star's son. Blade has been burned by his father time after time and is still actively mourning the death of his mother years before, when he receives life-changing news that sends him on a quest across the world. This book completely blew me away and showed me a side Kwame Alexander I haven't read before, and introduced me to the work of Mary Rand Hess. The soundtrack of this book is a who's who of classic rock and roll and stuck in my head the entire time I was reading. For teen readers, this would be a great introduction to the rock classics they may have not been introduced to yet.
Required purchase for high school libraries.
SOLO is a rip-through-the-pages, can't-put-it-down poetic YA masterpiece. Told in text messages, song lyrics and conversations in verse, it tells the story of an alcoholic and addict rock star's son. Blade has been burned by his father time after time and is still actively mourning the death of his mother years before, when he receives life-changing news that sends him on a quest across the world. This book completely blew me away and showed me a side Kwame Alexander I haven't read before, and introduced me to the work of Mary Rand Hess. The soundtrack of this book is a who's who of classic rock and roll and stuck in my head the entire time I was reading. For teen readers, this would be a great introduction to the rock classics they may have not been introduced to yet.
Required purchase for high school libraries.
March 13, 2020
This was so unexpected. I still maintain my stand against novels written in verse that mainly, I am not a fan. But like this recent novel I’ve read, One by Sarah Crossan, Solo worked quite well. In fact it probably worked better for the entire theme of the story to be written in verse especially since Blade’s life story is a good narrative poetry with a good dose of tragedy and sprinkles of comedy and a little romance all combined.
Being the son of the famous rockstar-gone-wild, Rutherford, Blade seems always the butt of joke especially on social media. Every milestone, every special moment of his life, he can rely on his dad to ruin it making him hate his life so much and his family name to the point of wishing to disown his family and this is where the saying be careful what you wish for comes in because the plot took a completely unexpected turn bringing our main character to Ghana, South Africa and that’s where the story became even more interesting.
Overall, it was a touching, riveting story of a young man’s quest for his identity. It is a little tragic but also very hopeful and inspiring. A lot of the poetic entries are gems really and the bonus content is something I am more than grateful to the authors for, for letting me as the reader take a peek at how they brewed and concocted their magic producing this novel.
Being the son of the famous rockstar-gone-wild, Rutherford, Blade seems always the butt of joke especially on social media. Every milestone, every special moment of his life, he can rely on his dad to ruin it making him hate his life so much and his family name to the point of wishing to disown his family and this is where the saying be careful what you wish for comes in because the plot took a completely unexpected turn bringing our main character to Ghana, South Africa and that’s where the story became even more interesting.
Overall, it was a touching, riveting story of a young man’s quest for his identity. It is a little tragic but also very hopeful and inspiring. A lot of the poetic entries are gems really and the bonus content is something I am more than grateful to the authors for, for letting me as the reader take a peek at how they brewed and concocted their magic producing this novel.
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December 12, 2023I absolutely loved this book. It was so beautiful and moving, and I'm really happy I listened to the audio. Not only is Kwame an excellent writer, he's an amazing reader as well.
I really fell into this story. There was so much passion and emotion behind the words: the way music heals, the force of family, and the magic of finding oneself. I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone.
I really fell into this story. There was so much passion and emotion behind the words: the way music heals, the force of family, and the magic of finding oneself. I can't wait to recommend this book to everyone.
August 8, 2017
I think what gets me in Kwame Alexander's books is how relatable the characters are, even if their lives and interests are completely different from mine. This book, however, had characters who were so outlandish I found it hard to even want to care about them. I understand that the book is about Blade's self-discovery, but does he really need to travel halfway across the world to realize he's got a good thing at home? His sister calls him out on "first world problems" almost immediately, and things don't sink in until he's in Ghana. Oh, honey.
One more criticism: Everyone talks about how brilliant Blade's songs are, but the samples we get are pretty bland. Alexander knows how to write poetry, and there are some beautiful sections in Solo, but none of them show up as lyrics. It's kind of a let down, actually. The audiobook tries to make up for it by turning Blade's lyrics into actual songs (with guitar and everything), but they get repetitive real fast.
One more criticism: Everyone talks about how brilliant Blade's songs are, but the samples we get are pretty bland. Alexander knows how to write poetry, and there are some beautiful sections in Solo, but none of them show up as lyrics. It's kind of a let down, actually. The audiobook tries to make up for it by turning Blade's lyrics into actual songs (with guitar and everything), but they get repetitive real fast.
June 3, 2019
#mystrangereading has made it's annual switch for the summer season. I will be posting reviews here but also back on my Bookstagram ❤️📚🤗
#strangesummerreading No. 1 is Solo by Kwame Alexander ☀️☀️☀️This book--as all of Alexander's--is written completely in verse. I have come to really enjoy his writing style and very much enjoyed this book.
Blade is the son of a rockstar/drug addict who just wants to play his own music and find his own path. When a shocking family secret is revealed, Blade sets off on a journey of self Discovery and growth.
I don't want to reveal too much, but I really did enjoy Blade's journey. I struggled some with the side characters and plot decisions that Alexander made, but it was a really great story of healing, growth and finding yourself.
#strangesummerreading No. 1 is Solo by Kwame Alexander ☀️☀️☀️This book--as all of Alexander's--is written completely in verse. I have come to really enjoy his writing style and very much enjoyed this book.
Blade is the son of a rockstar/drug addict who just wants to play his own music and find his own path. When a shocking family secret is revealed, Blade sets off on a journey of self Discovery and growth.
I don't want to reveal too much, but I really did enjoy Blade's journey. I struggled some with the side characters and plot decisions that Alexander made, but it was a really great story of healing, growth and finding yourself.
September 14, 2018
I read this book for part of a YA reading challenge for the month of September. I had heard good things about Kwame Alexander and how he makes poetry accessible to younger readers, and writes appealing male characters. For me, the book was a bit too convenient between the privilege of the main character to the over the top badness of his father and the strange events that unfold, that really can unfold because of the considerable wealth. The songs at the end, well... I didn't think they were very good. I suppose they do sound like the songs a teenaged boy would write. I may just not be the right audience!
August 1, 2018
This book was all over the place, just like my feelings towards it.
I loved The Crossover, but this book seemed to be overly dramatic with the plot. I didn't connect with these characters much at all because they felt much more like caricatures instead of genuine people.
Positives & Negatives -
+ I love the way real songs are scattered throughout the book. I pulled them up and listened to them while reading and it made for a really interesting experience.
+ The idea that this is a music family fits perfectly with the verse format since it’s so lyrical.
+ I absolutely loved the little music trivia bits dropped into the story. If the story was more that and less angsty drama, I would have been happy.
- The characters are really really cartoony and stereotypical. Some of the events just seem over the top.
- The PK is literally named Chapel… and Blade & Chapel's romance is very toxic.
- Is he really going to have cell phone reception in a village so remote he had to walk 3 miles to get there and without changing his SD card to an international card?
- The plot was all over the place and didn’t flow well…. Hard to explain more than that without spoiling it, but the “conflict” changed about five different times without any real resolution.
Lenny Kravitz - Thinking of You
The Black Keys - When the Lights Go Out
Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues
Bob Dylan - I Was Young When I Left Home
Guns N’ Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Fela Kuta - Zombie
Don McLean - American Pie
Jimi Hendrix - The Star-Spangled Banner (Live)
U2 - With or Without You
Van Halen - Right Now
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved The Crossover, but this book seemed to be overly dramatic with the plot. I didn't connect with these characters much at all because they felt much more like caricatures instead of genuine people.
Positives & Negatives -
+ I love the way real songs are scattered throughout the book. I pulled them up and listened to them while reading and it made for a really interesting experience.
+ The idea that this is a music family fits perfectly with the verse format since it’s so lyrical.
+ I absolutely loved the little music trivia bits dropped into the story. If the story was more that and less angsty drama, I would have been happy.
- The characters are really really cartoony and stereotypical. Some of the events just seem over the top.
- The PK is literally named Chapel… and Blade & Chapel's romance is very toxic.
- Is he really going to have cell phone reception in a village so remote he had to walk 3 miles to get there and without changing his SD card to an international card?
- The plot was all over the place and didn’t flow well…. Hard to explain more than that without spoiling it, but the “conflict” changed about five different times without any real resolution.
Lenny Kravitz - Thinking of You
The Black Keys - When the Lights Go Out
Robert Johnson - Cross Road Blues
Bob Dylan - I Was Young When I Left Home
Guns N’ Roses - Welcome to the Jungle
Metallica - Enter Sandman
Fela Kuta - Zombie
Don McLean - American Pie
Jimi Hendrix - The Star-Spangled Banner (Live)
U2 - With or Without You
Van Halen - Right Now
Aretha Franklin - (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman
I received an ebook from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
March 29, 2017
Kwame Alexander has a thing, poem (or in this case lyric) packed books with particular appeal to teenage boys. That is such a wonderful thing! The boys at my school lap up his books, he writes sport so beautifully and he has such great things to say to his audience, thing like, you can be great even if you are not the greatest at this one thing, it is ok to show weakness, you don't have to be That Guy all the time - you can be you and it will be fine.
This particular book is the story of a young man who has it all, he has money, he is loved, has talent and who is the son of one of the world's most famous rockstars. He is about to graduate high school and it should be the beginning of fabulous new and exciting times at college, unfortunately the challenges in his life have become more than just annoying, his dad is living the rock and roll lifestyle to it's extreme and has used every rehab available, his sister has made the most cringeworthy record and there is plenty more to deal with, but that is ok, life is still ok, isn't it? Then love makes a fool of him and his poor hurt heart needs to heal. The next bombshell hits and he realises that there is healing to do that he can only do by himself. What he decides to do is brave and wild and will change his life forever.
It is a really good book, I liked it slightly less than The Crossover, but that was always going to be a hard act to follow. Kwame is awesome. Thank goodness for Kwame and for his making reading cool for some of the most non-readerly boys.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me access to this great book.
This particular book is the story of a young man who has it all, he has money, he is loved, has talent and who is the son of one of the world's most famous rockstars. He is about to graduate high school and it should be the beginning of fabulous new and exciting times at college, unfortunately the challenges in his life have become more than just annoying, his dad is living the rock and roll lifestyle to it's extreme and has used every rehab available, his sister has made the most cringeworthy record and there is plenty more to deal with, but that is ok, life is still ok, isn't it? Then love makes a fool of him and his poor hurt heart needs to heal. The next bombshell hits and he realises that there is healing to do that he can only do by himself. What he decides to do is brave and wild and will change his life forever.
It is a really good book, I liked it slightly less than The Crossover, but that was always going to be a hard act to follow. Kwame is awesome. Thank goodness for Kwame and for his making reading cool for some of the most non-readerly boys.
Thanks to Netgalley for giving me access to this great book.
July 12, 2019
This was my first contemporary novel in verse. And YA, no less. So, how did it go?
For me, Solo was this big on poetry:
and this big on drama:
WHAT I LIKED:
- The novel-in-verse format was unusual and intriguing in its own way. It had an interesting influence on the narrative.
- Music plays a big role in the book. I'm a music lover and a rock lover. Also, discovered some great songs that were mentioned in the book.
- It was light and easy to read. An enjoyable book, really.
- It made me curious about Ghana.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE
- So much DRAMA. Seriously.
- The characters were pretty flat, cliche and unrealistic. So was the plot. You sort of agree to nod along as if any of it is possible, but deep down... A manic pixie dream girl spouting wisdom, etc.etc. This didn't irritate me all that much, because I had a long break from YA genre.
- The poetry part was really meh, I expected better. Mostly it was just words with spaces, hardly anything poetic in the whole book.
December 12, 2017
4.5 stars. This was fantastic. I highly recommend the audio (available on hoopla) read/sung by the author.
March 24, 2018
Enjoyed this story of a young man dealing with his father’s addictions and other pressures, as well as lingering grief over his mother’s death years earlier. Blade’s family is famous and wealthy, thanks to his father’s music career, so Blade has a level of comfort and privilege in his life, giving him time and the means to travel to Ghana when a long held family secret comes to light. Blade is grieving and confused and angry when he arrives in a small town in Ghana, looking for answers. There, he becomes aware of the disparity between his life and those in the town, but Blade also begins dealing with his mental turmoil. Though Blade and his father manage to deal with a little of the pain between them, there are no neat bows on the end of this story, which I liked.
Kwame Alexander’s verse is lovely, and Blade’s poetic self is beautifully expressed.
I listened to this book, and was able to appreciate the author’s words and the rhythms of the feelings of the characters.
Kwame Alexander’s verse is lovely, and Blade’s poetic self is beautifully expressed.
I listened to this book, and was able to appreciate the author’s words and the rhythms of the feelings of the characters.
September 15, 2017
Phew. What a ride. I listened to the audiobook and, man, it's SO good. Highly recommended.
January 29, 2021
4.5/5
A brilliant novel told in verse. Blade has a complicated relationship with his rockstar father, Morrison Rutherford. But he refuses to let that come in between his other relationships. Things with his girlfriend, Chapel, seem to be going better than ever even though her parents disapprove of him and has forbidden their relationship.
A secret about Blade's parentage comes to light and leaves him questioning everything about his life. It has him scrambling for where he belongs and in a desperate attempt to find answers, Blade packs his bags and heads out to a small village of Ghana.
I loved seeing Blade fall in love with Ghana and the people there. The way he was able to find a connection with all of the people there was so sweet. This book also challenges the colonizer mindset, that the people in these villages need or want our help. I really enjoyed this novel and I love Blade's character. He was privileged as a rich kid, but he was open to learning more and taking steps outside his comfort zone.
A brilliant novel told in verse. Blade has a complicated relationship with his rockstar father, Morrison Rutherford. But he refuses to let that come in between his other relationships. Things with his girlfriend, Chapel, seem to be going better than ever even though her parents disapprove of him and has forbidden their relationship.
A secret about Blade's parentage comes to light and leaves him questioning everything about his life. It has him scrambling for where he belongs and in a desperate attempt to find answers, Blade packs his bags and heads out to a small village of Ghana.
I loved seeing Blade fall in love with Ghana and the people there. The way he was able to find a connection with all of the people there was so sweet. This book also challenges the colonizer mindset, that the people in these villages need or want our help. I really enjoyed this novel and I love Blade's character. He was privileged as a rich kid, but he was open to learning more and taking steps outside his comfort zone.
December 19, 2020
I listened to the audiobook version. I liked the story but didn't care for the author being the narrator. I felt like his voice was pleasant, but often I felt like his voice all blended together while he was narrating. So he would say a chapter title and go right into the story, but I wouldn't have known it was the title without looking. I was like, 'why is he saying a random word', then I realized he was saying the title. It just all mashed together.
That's the thing with audiobooks, and also why I don't listen to them more. Narrating is such an important part. Between keeping the reader, or listener, engaged, to having tones that split the story and keep the confusion to a minimum, it is a hard thing to do.
Let's focus on the story now.
A coming of age story of sorts. This guy, Blade, is a musician and he finds out he is adopted. It is a balancing act of what he knows and what he doesn't. The author does a great job of keeping you glued to the story. You want to know what happens.
My favorite part is the songs that are sung. So this is where I appreciate the audiobook more than print. If I read the print book, I wouldn't have heard the great songs that were in the story. I was surprised, since I've never come across such an interactive audiobook. It was delightful and added to the story immensely.
I have the next book, Swing, on audiobook as well. I so look forward to listening to it. I just hope it has songs on it too!
That's the thing with audiobooks, and also why I don't listen to them more. Narrating is such an important part. Between keeping the reader, or listener, engaged, to having tones that split the story and keep the confusion to a minimum, it is a hard thing to do.
Let's focus on the story now.
A coming of age story of sorts. This guy, Blade, is a musician and he finds out he is adopted. It is a balancing act of what he knows and what he doesn't. The author does a great job of keeping you glued to the story. You want to know what happens.
My favorite part is the songs that are sung. So this is where I appreciate the audiobook more than print. If I read the print book, I wouldn't have heard the great songs that were in the story. I was surprised, since I've never come across such an interactive audiobook. It was delightful and added to the story immensely.
I have the next book, Swing, on audiobook as well. I so look forward to listening to it. I just hope it has songs on it too!
October 3, 2017
Feelings in a few thoughts: YA book in poetic verse ¤ the writing in parts of this book were absolutely stunning, but not as much in others - made the flow of the book feel messy ¤ I feel like this book would be appealing to teenage boys - which isn't always easy to do ¤ I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first - especially when Blade arrives in Ghana ¤ really enjoyed how rock music is such a big part of the book ¤ audiobook well done - made it feel more authentic
July 8, 2017
Loved it. Prose. Poetic. Beautiful. A son. A father. Rock and Roll. Addiction. Africa. Finding home and family...
January 25, 2018
3.75/5 stars
Solo tells the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, the son of rock superstar Rutherford Morrison. He's kind of have a lot going on his hands, like trying to juggle sneaking with his girlfriend (her parents hate him) and keeping up life with his father and his many addictions. Paparazzi bombard his life one embarrassing news of his father after another, making their family a tabloid laughingstock. Blade can barely keep up, what with the turmoils of young love and family problems and then one day everything he believed in became a lie. So comes a journey of finding meaning in life and music halfway around the world. And finding happiness in unexpected places.
This is a YA story, told in a somewhat poetic-verse, text messages, and song lyrics. At first, I didn't like it because it felt like the author is trying to make the story seem a lot more special, extraordinary than what it really is: just a privileged teenager whining about everything wrong in his life. You see, the writing style struck me somewhere between Michael Faudet's and Lang Leav's style. The whining sounded like Faudet, just a lot more innocent and not perverted in any way. And the more profound and lovesick parts reminded me of Leav.
The protagonist was kind of annoying to me, at least until 40% through. Blade's a bit self-absorbed, lost in his so-called "end of the world problems" and never seems to realize that he's acting like a jerk more often than he could admit. He's also super privileged, thanks to his father's rock and roll stardom. And although he declares that he despises everything about his father, he can't make up his mind about the comforts it brings to his life. Like when his girlfriend was upset, he offered to take her shopping in his father's Maserati.
Hmm...I'm just glad his old friend Robert took him on that and called out his bullshit: let me get this straight. You're living up in Hollywood Hills with a pool and tennis court, and a lady to clean your underwear and cook you tacos on Tuesdays, and you're living in hell. You got first world problems, Youngblood."
And still, Blade shoved a wad of hundreds of dollars in his friend's trumpet case even after he said he don't do charity. *facepalms*
He can't own up to his actions and gets upset when people call him out. Like when his sister Storm said, "I'm sick of his holier-than-thou-we're-all-bad-and-he's-a-saint attitude. He benefits from our lifestyle, and pisses on us." And Blade never said sorry after bursting on his father and sister, and making them crazy worried after he busted out. Dude, you're sick.
I'm probably making it sound way worse than how it really is. I'm sorry, I just really have a low tolerance for whiny-ass characters. PLEASE DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE IT GOT BETTER! THANK HEAVENS!
My favorite bit has got to be Confession:
Everybody loves music, Blade. Music is story.
It is the language of love and happiness.
Me and love have not gotten along too well; happiness is
a foreign country, and my passport has
expired.
Blade quickly matured before my eyes. He's thrust upon a life-changing journey where he got to make new friends, repair his relationship with his family, see life in a different light, and the disproportionate correlation of money and happiness.
Now I liked it way more than I thought I would.
But why only 3.75 stars? That must be because there were so many rock and roll/music references for my taste. If you're well versed in those, then I think you'll like this even more. Also, I wished there was was more. Not enough of an ooomph for me to give it a higher rating. But it's good.
Solo tells the story of seventeen-year-old Blade Morrison, the son of rock superstar Rutherford Morrison. He's kind of have a lot going on his hands, like trying to juggle sneaking with his girlfriend (her parents hate him) and keeping up life with his father and his many addictions. Paparazzi bombard his life one embarrassing news of his father after another, making their family a tabloid laughingstock. Blade can barely keep up, what with the turmoils of young love and family problems and then one day everything he believed in became a lie. So comes a journey of finding meaning in life and music halfway around the world. And finding happiness in unexpected places.
This is a YA story, told in a somewhat poetic-verse, text messages, and song lyrics. At first, I didn't like it because it felt like the author is trying to make the story seem a lot more special, extraordinary than what it really is: just a privileged teenager whining about everything wrong in his life. You see, the writing style struck me somewhere between Michael Faudet's and Lang Leav's style. The whining sounded like Faudet, just a lot more innocent and not perverted in any way. And the more profound and lovesick parts reminded me of Leav.
The protagonist was kind of annoying to me, at least until 40% through. Blade's a bit self-absorbed, lost in his so-called "end of the world problems" and never seems to realize that he's acting like a jerk more often than he could admit. He's also super privileged, thanks to his father's rock and roll stardom. And although he declares that he despises everything about his father, he can't make up his mind about the comforts it brings to his life. Like when his girlfriend was upset, he offered to take her shopping in his father's Maserati.
Hmm...I'm just glad his old friend Robert took him on that and called out his bullshit: let me get this straight. You're living up in Hollywood Hills with a pool and tennis court, and a lady to clean your underwear and cook you tacos on Tuesdays, and you're living in hell. You got first world problems, Youngblood."
And still, Blade shoved a wad of hundreds of dollars in his friend's trumpet case even after he said he don't do charity. *facepalms*
He can't own up to his actions and gets upset when people call him out. Like when his sister Storm said, "I'm sick of his holier-than-thou-we're-all-bad-and-he's-a-saint attitude. He benefits from our lifestyle, and pisses on us." And Blade never said sorry after bursting on his father and sister, and making them crazy worried after he busted out. Dude, you're sick.
I'm probably making it sound way worse than how it really is. I'm sorry, I just really have a low tolerance for whiny-ass characters. PLEASE DON'T BE DISCOURAGED BECAUSE IT GOT BETTER! THANK HEAVENS!
My favorite bit has got to be Confession:
Everybody loves music, Blade. Music is story.
It is the language of love and happiness.
Me and love have not gotten along too well; happiness is
a foreign country, and my passport has
expired.
Blade quickly matured before my eyes. He's thrust upon a life-changing journey where he got to make new friends, repair his relationship with his family, see life in a different light, and the disproportionate correlation of money and happiness.
Now I liked it way more than I thought I would.
But why only 3.75 stars? That must be because there were so many rock and roll/music references for my taste. If you're well versed in those, then I think you'll like this even more. Also, I wished there was was more. Not enough of an ooomph for me to give it a higher rating. But it's good.
November 12, 2017
Blade Morrison dislikes his life. In fact, it's pretty much safe to say he hates it. As soon as he graduates HS, he can't wait to leave his family behind. Coming from a "rockstar" family, including his father struggling to stay sober, & a sister who's trying to follow in her parent's footsteps, Blade would do anything to get away from them. Enter convenient plot lines! Blade finds out that *gasp* he's adopted. His wish has been granted, now all he needs is to sever the ties with his girlfriend, Chapel, which isn't really a problem anyways considering the fact she's seeing another guy. Now Blade is free to head off to Ghana (don't forget there's no planning to this; just running off & not thinking about anything) to track down his biological mother.
It's difficult to enjoy books with characters that are so self-absorbed (his sister even mentions the privileges Blade holds but he refuses to see it)- I guess in some sense I can feel a *twinge* of empathy for him since there's a small part of me that understands wanting to stay away from a parent fighting addiction. But still. The whole of this book is just ridiculous & it takes Blade going halfway across the world just so he can see the grass isn't always greener on the other side? Seriously!?! Thankfully, it was a fast read.
It's clear Alexander can pen poetry & I enjoyed the soundtrack/musical facts incorporated, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to overlook my loathing for the Morrisons. Also, for a verse novel, the pacing is a bit inconsistent. Rapid, then slow (I felt a chunk of 30- 40 pages dealing with Blade & Chapel's relationship could have been cut out entirely & no substance would have been lost), then rapid in going to Ghana, finding his mother, then realizing he's got a pretty good life back home. BOR-ING. I hope his other books are better.
It's difficult to enjoy books with characters that are so self-absorbed (his sister even mentions the privileges Blade holds but he refuses to see it)- I guess in some sense I can feel a *twinge* of empathy for him since there's a small part of me that understands wanting to stay away from a parent fighting addiction. But still. The whole of this book is just ridiculous & it takes Blade going halfway across the world just so he can see the grass isn't always greener on the other side? Seriously!?! Thankfully, it was a fast read.
It's clear Alexander can pen poetry & I enjoyed the soundtrack/musical facts incorporated, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to overlook my loathing for the Morrisons. Also, for a verse novel, the pacing is a bit inconsistent. Rapid, then slow (I felt a chunk of 30- 40 pages dealing with Blade & Chapel's relationship could have been cut out entirely & no substance would have been lost), then rapid in going to Ghana, finding his mother, then realizing he's got a pretty good life back home. BOR-ING. I hope his other books are better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2017
Blade Morrison has reached a pivotal point in his life. He's graduating from high school, about to turn eighteen and has his whole life in front of him But with a famous father who is always in the media and a girlfriend whose parents can't stand you, it's hard to find your place. When Blade discovers something about his past, it will change his future forever. Set on two continents, inspired by rock and roll, and written in poetic verse Solo is one of the best books I have read this year.
Thank you to Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess, and Blink YA for the opportunity to read and review this book and be a part of the Solo Launch Team.
This is the first book I have read by Kwame Alexander or Mary Rand Hess and I have already picked up another at the library. This book was built on a love of music. Every character has a connection to music in some way shape or form.
Blade is yourtypical teenage boy, but for the fact that he has a famous father, Rutherford Morrison who is a rock and roll star who has fallen from grace. Often in the media because of an incident involving drugs or alcohol, Blade is tired of being there to pick up pieces that eventually fall apart again. After the loss of his mother Sunny, the family was never the same. When Blade discovers something about his past and given a letter his mother wrote to him for his 18th birthday, he sets out on a quest to find out where he really belongs.
Full of love, loss, addiction and music, Solo, although written for the YA crowd is a book people of all ages can enjoy.
Thank you to Kwame Alexander, Mary Rand Hess, and Blink YA for the opportunity to read and review this book and be a part of the Solo Launch Team.
This is the first book I have read by Kwame Alexander or Mary Rand Hess and I have already picked up another at the library. This book was built on a love of music. Every character has a connection to music in some way shape or form.
Blade is yourtypical teenage boy, but for the fact that he has a famous father, Rutherford Morrison who is a rock and roll star who has fallen from grace. Often in the media because of an incident involving drugs or alcohol, Blade is tired of being there to pick up pieces that eventually fall apart again. After the loss of his mother Sunny, the family was never the same. When Blade discovers something about his past and given a letter his mother wrote to him for his 18th birthday, he sets out on a quest to find out where he really belongs.
Full of love, loss, addiction and music, Solo, although written for the YA crowd is a book people of all ages can enjoy.
April 11, 2019
What a wonderful book! I’m going to send this to my nephew for sure!!! I thoroughly enjoyed the story and how love once lost can be found. I also loved that the young lad took a trip and it was one that he will always remember; travel is essential if you were to ask my opinion for all to experience, if even only once. This book is a great addition to any library and a ray of hope to all those who are lost in the world.
Best Quote: “why go on a journey when there is no destination.” My soul felt this. 💚💚💚
Best Quote: “why go on a journey when there is no destination.” My soul felt this. 💚💚💚
December 22, 2017
Kwame Alexander sure does have a way with words. This book was much different then what I thought it would be, and I am SO glad that I read it.
Blade is not exactly the average teenager but his experiences definitely have a familiar tone. As he matures in age and mind he discovers that not everything revolves around him and his small world.
Blade is not exactly the average teenager but his experiences definitely have a familiar tone. As he matures in age and mind he discovers that not everything revolves around him and his small world.
June 21, 2023
This was an interesting take on family dynamics.
There is how substance abuse of one member can be so differently perceived by the others and I enjoyed that.
There is also a side story with travel that was highly enjoyable, but I can't say much without spoiling, so I will just say...
This is a short, enjoyable book. One character is trying to find themselves among the family drama.
Do the audio. The narration is fabulous and the songs get sung to you beautifully.
I do wish there was a bit more to the ending, but that may be a me problem and not the book.
There is how substance abuse of one member can be so differently perceived by the others and I enjoyed that.
There is also a side story with travel that was highly enjoyable, but I can't say much without spoiling, so I will just say...
This is a short, enjoyable book. One character is trying to find themselves among the family drama.
Do the audio. The narration is fabulous and the songs get sung to you beautifully.
I do wish there was a bit more to the ending, but that may be a me problem and not the book.
October 23, 2017
If you're looking to learn how to effectively narrate through verse, Kwame Alexander is your man. His writing style is like no other and you can hear his voice through the words on the page.
This wasn't my favorite story line, and I found myself getting frustrated with Blade's dramatic character quite often throughout the book. Kwame's writing is what pushed the story along, though.
This wasn't my favorite story line, and I found myself getting frustrated with Blade's dramatic character quite often throughout the book. Kwame's writing is what pushed the story along, though.
January 27, 2018
4.5 Stars
Kwame Alexander can write a novel in verse better than anyone. He has those gut-punching moments interspersed with comedy and his characters are incredibly relatable.
Kwame Alexander can write a novel in verse better than anyone. He has those gut-punching moments interspersed with comedy and his characters are incredibly relatable.
March 26, 2021
My daughter had to read this book for her honor's ELA class, so I thought I'd dive in and join her. Kwame Alexander is always an author that pushes the boundaries and delivers messages in unexpected ways. For Solo, he tells the story by texts, music, and beautifully written prose. The whole story sings! I am glad I listened to the audio because we also get to hear the music that Blade sings throughout and it's powerful and makes his character more relatable.
Blade is a teenager who seems to have found love with his girl, Chapel. Unfortunately because of his status and because of his father, Chapel's family does not approve of him. But Blade also is dealing with figuring out who he is. What most all teenagers deal with. Finding oneself. Figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. When Blade gets some unexpected and surprising news about his past, that leads him on a journey to really figure out who he is.
This is a book of music and a journey to find oneself and I really enjoyed it. I found that Blade, even though he didn't want to be like his dad, was more like him that he wanted to be. He made rash decisions without really thinking about how those actions would affect those around him. He learned more about himself, his past and his father on his trip abroad than his previous years and I loved that part the most. That trip was life changing. It just ended too quickly and abruptly. I wanted more from Blade because he was just beginning to understand himself and his place in the world.
Kwame Alexander, keep writing for this next generation. Your words and the way you tell your stories are unique. I'm glad I got to experience this story with my daughter. I think any age could appreciate this book and the music included. Powerful and beautifully told.
Blade is a teenager who seems to have found love with his girl, Chapel. Unfortunately because of his status and because of his father, Chapel's family does not approve of him. But Blade also is dealing with figuring out who he is. What most all teenagers deal with. Finding oneself. Figuring out who they are and where they fit in the world. When Blade gets some unexpected and surprising news about his past, that leads him on a journey to really figure out who he is.
This is a book of music and a journey to find oneself and I really enjoyed it. I found that Blade, even though he didn't want to be like his dad, was more like him that he wanted to be. He made rash decisions without really thinking about how those actions would affect those around him. He learned more about himself, his past and his father on his trip abroad than his previous years and I loved that part the most. That trip was life changing. It just ended too quickly and abruptly. I wanted more from Blade because he was just beginning to understand himself and his place in the world.
Kwame Alexander, keep writing for this next generation. Your words and the way you tell your stories are unique. I'm glad I got to experience this story with my daughter. I think any age could appreciate this book and the music included. Powerful and beautifully told.
August 13, 2018
I couldn't give this book less than 4 stars . It was beautiful. Although it isn't my type of books but the writing style was so good. I had to keep reading.
I liked Blade and storm. I liked the feeling of family here. All the problems here was real for many people.I liked how the author represented each of them smoothly.
Robert was a wonderful character. I liked him a lot . All the wisdom in this book was so good.Joy's character was unique.I think I need to read about persons like her.
Blade description of Ghana was beautiful.I really wanted to go to the places he visited.
The audiobook is impressive. I think I like the story more because of the audiobook.I liked the songs inside the book.That is rare for me .
I liked Blade and storm. I liked the feeling of family here. All the problems here was real for many people.I liked how the author represented each of them smoothly.
Robert was a wonderful character. I liked him a lot . All the wisdom in this book was so good.Joy's character was unique.I think I need to read about persons like her.
Blade description of Ghana was beautiful.I really wanted to go to the places he visited.
The audiobook is impressive. I think I like the story more because of the audiobook.I liked the songs inside the book.That is rare for me .
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