{"product_id":"this-thing-of-ours-9781536253146","title":"This Thing of Ours","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"Both heartening and heartbreaking, this richly layered, sensitive YA fiction debut from Joseph unflinchingly confronts systemic racism, classism, and homophobia via a powerful story of self-discovery and social justice that aims, shoots, and scores.\" --\u003ci\u003ePublishers Weekly \u003c\/i\u003e(starred review)\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn an instant, Ossie Brown's entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie--a Black teen who doesn't come from wealth and privilege--must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he's now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students' viral \"anti-woke\" video puts the teacher's job, the writing program, and even Ossie's friends' safety at risk--and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Candlewick Press (MA)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/12\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781536253146\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 384\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.81lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAccelerated Reader Quiz #\/Name: \u003c\/b\u003e555661 \/ This Thing of Ours\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReading Level:\u003c\/b\u003e 5.6 \/ \u003cb\u003eInterest Level:\u003c\/b\u003e Upper Grade \/ \u003cb\u003ePoint Value:\u003c\/b\u003e 17\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Frederick Joseph","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52360494022837,"sku":"9781536253146","price":11.04,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_b6472229-9dd9-4fd8-98ad-fda6c2f71342.jpg?v=1773721218","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/this-thing-of-ours-9781536253146","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}