Air by Ryan Gattis Genres: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Buy the Book • Goodreads
When 17-year-old Grey witnesses the tragic death of his mother in Colorado, he is shipped off to live with his aunt in inner-city Baltimore. Grey struggles to fit in to his new school and environment until his new friend, Akil, introduces him to the enigmatic Kurtis, the leader of a group that uses high-octane sports as a form of social activism. By challenging the police with death-defying stunts and then posting videos of them online, Kurtis, Grey, and their group become unlikely heroes in the fight against the prejudice that surrounds them.
As Kurtis takes Grey under his wing, they come up with a name, an insignia and attract more and more followers to their extreme acts. The lines between social activism and criminal behavior blur and their escalating stunts become a rallying point for the underprivileged and disenfranchised around the country, spreading like wildfire across the Internet. How far will Grey and Kurtis go to push their message, and can their fragile alliance withstand their growing power?
Air by Ryan Gattis is a fast paced, action filled story taken straight from the headlines. When a black teen is killed by a police officer, his friends, a band of BMX adrenaline junkies decide to take a stand. Thought-provoking and realistic in content, this may be great book to open up discussion on issues many teens are facing today.
