When I Was the Greatest

Sixteen-year-old Ali lives in Bed-Stuy, a Brooklyn neighbourhood where guns and drugs are a fact of daily life, and he and his sister Jazz, together with their friends Needles and Noodles, work hard to stay out of trouble. After they get pulled into a wild party, a violent altercation leaves one of them seriously injured and another with a dangerous target on his back. The fallout forces Ali to navigate loyalty, fear, and the harsh realities of his environment. The novel contains strong language and sexual references, making it suitable for older teen readers.