Author Profile: Neal Shusterman

Even if it's not black history month, we can still take time to appreciate and discover black authors that have been prominent in the writer's community. One man I want to introduce to you is an author I have closely followed from childhood. His heartwarming stories imitate life as art and his dystopian thrillers kept me clinging to the edge of my seat with every page. Neal Shusterman is a black, New York Times best-selling author, National Book Award for Young People’s Literature 2015 winner, Michael L. Printz Honor recipient, and writer who has been recognized by the International Reading Association, the American Library Association, and so many others.

One might think with these amazing credentials that he could be regarded as a staple household name in storytelling like Lois Lowry or Jerry Spinelli. One would even think he has several deals with big-name pictures like Universal or Paramount. Unfortunately, he still remains relatively unknown and has not released any of his works into film or television yet–despite how well they would translate from the page to screen. Nevertheless, I’m recommending him to you today because his stories have something for everyone. He has carefully established books in almost every genre and his imagery reflects real-life problems like domestic violence (Bruiser), mental illness (Challenger Deep), and existential crisis (Arc of a Scythe series).

Although I still haven't read all of his books yet (he has written over 50 books, plus a few anthologies!), I have read the majority of them and can wholeheartedly give you my top 3.

3. Bruiser

This story features a boy who shows unconditional love and a level of loyalty that is unmatched by anything I’ve ever read. The end had me screaming at the pages, wondering how the world could be so cruel to such a gentle soul while being painfully aware that such things truly exist in our reality.

All I can say is, as someone who came from a neighborhood where things may appear nicer on the surface than it truly is, the last few pages of this book tore me apart by how realistically it portrayed that feeling. I was left staring at the wall for weeks afterward.

2. The Schwa Was Here

A boy who is always noticed, a boy who is so unnoticed he is almost invisible, and a visually impaired girl form a rag-tag friendship and face the challenges of everyday life in Brooklyn, New York.

This book was at a tie with Scythe for a while but beat it out by barely an inch. There is just something warm and nostalgic about this cute group of troublemakers in a situation reminiscent of How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell.

1. Unwind

Three teenagers find themselves in a tough predicament where they will be submitted to the “unwinding” process. A process that takes every inch and cell of their bodies to be donated to the greater good.

This book is and forever will be my number one recommended book for anyone. The setting, imagery, eclectic characters, the commentary on this version of “utopia”—everything from start to finish was top-tier literary work. I have read it countless times and have loved it each and every time.

I recommend Shusterman’s books to anyone who loves being removed from their world and put in a completely different one that you may have never imagined before. His fresh ideas and use of fantasy, magic, and sci-fi elements will keep you stimulated throughout the pages.

For those who want to add his books to your book club, he provides book discussion topics and questions for almost all of his books on his website: http://www.storyman.com/

Article edited by Lola Lujan.