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Table of Contents
About The Book
A lot of the stuff that gives my neighborhood a bad name, I don’t really mess with. The guns and drugs and all that, not really my thing.
Nah, not his thing. Ali’s got enough going on, between school and boxing and helping out at home. His best friend Noodles, though. Now there’s a dude looking for trouble—and, somehow, it’s always Ali around to pick up the pieces. But, hey, a guy’s gotta look out for his boys, right? Besides, it’s all small potatoes; it’s not like anyone’s getting hurt.
And then there’s Needles. Needles is Noodles’s brother. He’s got a syndrome, and gets these tics and blurts out the wildest, craziest things. It’s cool, though: everyone on their street knows he doesn’t mean anything by it.
Yeah, it’s cool…until Ali and Noodles and Needles find themselves somewhere they never expected to be…somewhere they never should've been—where the people aren’t so friendly, and even less forgiving.
Product Details
- Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers (January 7, 2014)
- Length: 240 pages
- ISBN13: 9781442459496
- Grades: 7 and up
- Ages: 12 - 99
- Lexile ® 740L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®
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Raves and Reviews
*“Reynolds’s debut oozes with authenticity... The main and secondary characters are well developed; their sweetness, sassiness, and even stupidity are endearing and relatable….Reynolds is an author to watch.” – School Library Journal, Starred Review
* “Reynolds…addresses much more—race and class divisions in New York, taking ownership of one’s actions, and standing up for what’s right—without ever sounding preachy. Reynolds also upends tired stereotypes…while leaving in enough sass and grit to keep the story believable. Snappy descriptions…and a hard-won ending round out a funny and rewarding read.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review
Awards and Honors
- CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)
- ALA Best Books For Young Adults
- Georgia Peach Book Award for Teen Readers Nominee
- Kansas NEA Reading Circle List High School Title
- NYPL Best Books for Teens
- Capital Choices Noteworthy Books for Children's and Teens (DC)
- TAYSHAS Reading List (TX)
- ALA Coretta Scott King John Steptoe New Talent Award
- CBC Children's Choice Book Award Finalist
- ALA Margaret A. Edwards Award
- Cybils Award Finalist
- Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award Nominee
- Louisiana Teen Readers' Choice Award Nominee
- In the Margins Top Ten List
- James Cook Book Award Honor (OH)
Resources and Downloads
High Resolution Images
- Book Cover Image (jpg): When I Was the Greatest eBook 9781442459496
- Author Photo (jpg): Jason Reynolds Photograph (c) Adedayo "Dayo" Kosoko(0.1 MB)
Any use of an author photo must include its respective photo credit