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Tyler Johnson Was Here by Jay Coles

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Tyler Johnson Was Here

Author
Jay Coles
Narrator
JaQwan J. Kelly
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Publish Date
20 March 2018
Run Time
6 hours 45 minutes
Format
Audiobook
Genre
Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Prejudice and intolerance, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Bullying, violence, abuse and peer pressure, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: siblings, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Death and bereavement, Fiction: general and literary
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What to expect

A young man searches for answers after the death of his brother at the hands of police in this striking debut novel, for readers of The Hate U Give.

When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid.

The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.

Tyler Johnson Was Here is a powerful and moving portrait of youth and family that speaks to the serious issues of today--from gun control to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Critics Review

  • An Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Book of the Year
  • "Exploring the current climate of police brutality and viral culture, this harrowing YA effort is based on its author's own experiences with tragedy and loss, a personal touch felt across every page."—Entertainment Weekly
  • "An unflinching look at police brutality and systemic racism in America."—Bustle
  • * "This well-written, fast-paced story eloquently addresses how to grieve, plan, and participate in the burial of a loved one....[A] standout debut."—School Library Journal, starred review
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  • * "Unforgettable....Coles' exploration of brotherhood, grief, friendship, and familial ties is as moving and relevant as its exploration of racism."—Booklist, starred review
  • "Coles...pens an immersive and uncompromising look at systemic police violence in the U.S., effectively dramatizing the human experience and ethical questions underpinning today's Movement for Black Lives."—Kirkus Reviews
  • "A distressing yet empowering portrait of a black teenager confronting relentless racism, brutality, and tragedy."—Publishers Weekly
  • "Clear-eyed, authentic, and heartfelt, Tyler Johnson Was Here is a captivating must-read."—Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying
  • "Jay Coles' powerful, anguished debut novel...garners worthy comparisons to 2017's award-winning The Hate U Give."—BookPage
  • "Coles's contemporary novel addresses real issues facing black teens in the U.S. today, and is a powerful story full of heart, packing a deep emotional punch."—VOYA
  • "An impactful story....Stirring and heartbreaking."—The Bulletin
  • "Uncompromising and intense, this heart-wrenching novel sends out an anguished cry for justice to all who are willing to hear."—Shelf Awareness
  • "Gripping from the very first scene, Tyler Johnson Was Here is a powerful and vulnerable immersion into the lives of people who are too rarely given a voice."—Adi Alsaid, author of Let's Get Lost and Never Always Sometimes
  • "Tyler Johnson Was Here refuses to pull its punches. Marvin's story will remake you. The careful prose, the heartbreaking story, but also the triumph of a young man in the face of an often lightless world. Jay Coles delivers the first book in what will be an illuminating career."—Scott Reintgen, author of Nyxia

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Details
Author
Jay Coles
Narrator
JaQwan J. Kelly
Duration
6 hours 45 minutes
Release Date
20 March 2018
ISBN
9781549167980
Format
Audiobook
Publisher
Hachette Audio
Genre
Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Prejudice and intolerance, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage general interest: Places and peoples, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Racism, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Bullying, violence, abuse and peer pressure, Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: siblings, Children’s / Teenage fiction: General fiction, Children’s / Teenage personal and social topics: Death and bereavement, Fiction: general and literary

Synopsis

A young man searches for answers after the death of his brother at the hands of police in this striking debut novel, for readers of The Hate U Give. When Marvin Johnson's twin, Tyler, goes to a party, Marvin decides to tag along to keep an eye on his brother. But what starts as harmless fun turns into a shooting, followed by a police raid. The next day, Tyler has gone missing, and it's up to Marvin to find him. But when Tyler is found dead, a video leaked online tells an even more chilling story: Tyler has been shot and killed by a police officer. Terrified as his mother unravels and mourning a brother who is now a hashtag, Marvin must learn what justice and freedom really mean.Tyler Johnson Was Here is a powerful and moving portrait of youth and family that speaks to the serious issues of today--from gun control to the Black Lives Matter movement.

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