ALL THE NOISE AT ONCE by DeAndra Davis
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I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher in order to write this review.
The publisher’s summary
In this compelling, moving story that “beautifully tackles race, social justice, and disability” (School Library Journal, starred review), a Black, autistic teen tries to figure out what happened the night his older brother was unjustly arrested.
All Aiden has ever wanted to do was play football just like his star quarterback brother, Brandon. An overstimulation meltdown gets in the way of Aiden making the team during summer tryouts, but when the school year starts and a spot unexpectedly needs to be filled, he finally gets a chance to play the game he loves.
However, not every player is happy about the new addition to the team, wary of how Aiden’s autism will present itself on game day. Tensions rise. A fight breaks out. Cops are called.
Brandon interferes on behalf of his brother, but is arrested by the very same cops who, just hours earlier, were chanting his name from the bleachers. When he’s wrongly charged for felony assault on an officer, everything Brandon has worked for starts to slip away, and the brothers’ relationship is tested. As Brandon’s trial inches closer, Aiden is desperate to figure out what really happened that night. Can he clear his brother’s name in time?
My recommendation
Davis’s prose shimmers while her keen ear for character voices lends a deep credibility to her broad cast of teens. I highlighted quote after quote from Aidan because every aspect of his self-reflection mirrored my autistic experiences with authenticity and often humor. In fact, one of the great strengths of this book are the pockets of humor, joy, and normal teenaged life as the characters navigate a horrifying and all-too-common trauma. Davis also highlights the intersectionality that puts Aidan (and by extension his brother) at a greater risk for police brutality due to the dual prejudices against autistic people and Black people. There are no easy answers for Aidan, Brandon, or their friends, but moments of growth and failed growth on the part of both teens and adults paint their Florida community in realistic yet hopeful tones. This is not a book to miss!
Susan the Librarian 