16 year old Starr lives in two worlds, her posh school in the suburbs and a poor neighbourhood where she was born.　Balancing the two is a full time job for her until Her friend Khalil becomes an innocent victim of a police shooting.　His death sends her life into a tailspin of emotions and the fallout in her neighbourhood becomes extreme.　This book is a powerful piece of brutally honest, raw fiction which gives rise to many questions about racial biases on both sides, black and white.　It will have you questioning society long after you finish reading it.　 Although the subject matter is shocking at times, the author also manages to weave in laugh out loud moments as she brings this colourful family to life.　Starr is a hugely distinctive, believable character.  The Source Young Adult Book Club loved this book and how it spurred them into wanting to know more about American society as well as their American peers.  They would recommend it to age 14 to adult.

Thomas was announced as the winner of the prize by Waterstones Children’s Laureate Lauren Child at a ceremony at the bookseller’s flagship shop in London yesterday 22nd March 2018.  This book is also available as an e-book on the Tipperary Libraries Catalogue.  Get borrowing!