Claude is a Chicago youth whose 'heart is too big'. I started out viewing this favorable, as I've felt that my own son cared too much/carried too much when he was a young teen. However, I guess I was bothered by the lifestyles of those around him. What did I expect? This is the ghetto! But at some point the chapters--which could each have been separate short stories--didn't cohere enough for me, and perhaps the particular concerns of a boy are harder for me to relate to than those of a girl. I decided to put the book away and give myself a break. Maybe I'll get back to it later, I've just had a trend of heavy books lately. ( )

A welcome and needed glimpse into the life and mind of a young, black male in Chicago, Everywhere You Donā€™t Belong is set amidst historical riots and landmark events. Claude is an intelligent but conflicted youth growing up in a broken and chaotic home that makes up with love and humor what it lacks in convention. As he grows, you witness the path that shapes his tender heart, leading him into a bright future.

Bumpā€™s unique writing style lends to the raw and intense subject matter while hinting at the youthfulness of the main character and author. Highlighting a quiet soul amongst a violent background, he serves an insight into what can often be difficult to interpret amidst political and racial tension. Throughout the story, youā€™re introduced to a wide range of characters, with many temporary roles and very few permanent structures. Oddball guardians, Paul and Grandma, offer a comedic respite from the tragic routine of the South Shore, while Janice supplies a friendly and romantic relationship rife with angsty teen realism.

Reading this is an experience that will stay with me for awhile and I look forward to sharing this book with friends and readers.

Many thanks to Algonquin Books for a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions are my own. ( )

Idk, it wasn't my favorite. I just never really got into it, and there were so many random characters that it got a little confusing. I didn't really feel like there was a cohesive plot-- it was kind of just things happening, but not in the way that works for some novels. ( )

I have much respect for the author and the important subject of this book. As a coming-of-age story about a poor black kid living in South Chicago, this novel provides an important, and presumably semi-autobiographical, perspective on the enormous socio-economic and racial challenges of those circumstances. I just wanted to see a more complex character in Claude, the protagonist. As empathetic as I was for him, his struggle seemed a little predictable, his path out too straight-forward, and the circumstances around the story's climax somewhat implausible. Still, an important story and one I'm glad I read. ( )

3.35 This touching and heartbreaking debut novel about a young Black man growing up on the South Side of Chicago took a long journey through my TBR list. Read my full review here. ( )