Two starred reviews! An “ artful and introspective ” ( BCCB , starred review ) novel in verse about a Black teen with ADHD who finds self-expression and first love during one epic summer school season, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds and On the Come Up . For the third summer in a row, Pernell is back in the classroom, facing the same struggles that have always made school seem more like a battlefield than a place of learning. This summer is different, though: he’s battling to become the Cypher King, leader of the lunchroom’s impromptu rap circles. Here, the rhythm flows and the words fly, creating a space where the wittiest and most rhythmically inclined reign supreme. Here, Pernell’s ADHD gives him an edge. But life outside the cypher isn’t as forgiving. Pernell’s English teacher has it out for him. His parents are pressuring him to see a doctor for his lack of focus. And Electra, his friend-slash-crush and the only one who truly gets him, is too busy chasing her dream internship to give him the time of day. If Pernell doesn’t pull himself together, he won’t just lose the title of Cypher King—he’ll lose his chance to graduate high school. In a world where the systems are turned against kids like him, Pernell needs to find a way to succeed with his ADHD, rather than in spite of it. * “This debut novel by playwright Goodwin is written in verse, and it’s difficult to imagine a more perfect way to tell Pernell’s story. Goodwin’s words exhibit the same flow and rhythm one would expect from a rap cypher. Put this book in the hands of readers who love Kwame Alexander’s The Door of No Return , Angie Thomas’s On the Come Up , and Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down. A beautiful example of Black joy and the gift of neurodiversity . . ." -- School Library Journal , STARRED REVIEW * "Pernell’s free verse first-person narration is always creative, sometimes chaotic, and deeply sympathetic. . . . This is a unique approach to a verse novel, both artful and introspective, which will undoubtedly resonate especially with young hip-hop heads." -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books , STARRED REVIEW “Goodwin’s YA debut is a powerful tale about figuring out how to keep it together when everyone treats you like you’re broken. Readers will empathize with Pernell’s struggles as he’s misunderstood and punished and his considerable facility with language goes unrecognized.” -- Kirkus Reviews "With verve and wit, King of the Neuro Verse is a much-needed powerful and joyful celebration of neurodiversity, creativity, and self-expression." -- Jasmine Warga, #1 New York Times Bestseller and Newbery Honor Award Winner of Other Words for Home “This YA debut . . . resonates with a relatable celebration of finding­—and advocating for­—one’s passions and oneself.” -- Publishers Weekly "Relatable, inspirational, and unique. A story about learning your strengths and moving through life to your own beat." -- India Hill Brown, NAACP Image Award–nominated author Idris Goodwin is an award-winning neurodivergent storyteller for multiple generations and the author of the picture book Your House Is Not Just a House and young adult novel King of the Neuro Verse . An accomplished playwright, breakbeat poet, content creator, and arts champion, Goodwin is recognized as a culture bearer who celebrates community values and cultivates histories with care. Idris is the author of over sixty original plays, ranging from his hip-hop–inspired breakbeat series to historical dramas to works for young audiences. A dedicated mentor to emerging writers, Goodwin serves as associate professor of dramatic writing at Arizona State University. Find him at IdrisGoodwin.com. Chapter One ONE If you’re wondering about the echo it’s because I am in a bathroom stall the one near the maintenance room at the end of the hall everyone avoids because of the flickering lights Only Brookes uses it, he’s our special education bus driver who only comes Tuesdays and Thursdays something about state budget cuts Otherwise it may as well not even be here but thank God it’s here, not that I use it like Brookes uses it But it’s where I go when I need to… when things start to… I don’t know how to describe it My father calls it going Full Bonaly he’s talking about Surya Bonaly this French ice skater she’s my dad’s favorite she spins and twirls and flips And he made that comparison, between her moves and what was happening between my ears, when I was about maybe eleven or twelve, when everything inside me seemed to be falling apart and melting into puddles and my head felt like it was Fourth of July after dark Recognize the Three Stages of Bonaly he would say, I didn’t really understand it then but today, right now, I do sort of I think I’m in stage three, Full Bonaly backflipping, breaking the rules in the face of the judges yeah, that’s it why else would I be in this stall