"The right story at the right time. . . . It&;s not just a narrative; it&;s an experience. It&;s the novel we&;ve been waiting for." &;The New York Times A boy tries to steer a safe path through the projects in Harlem in the wake of his brother&;s death in this outstanding debut novel that celebrates community and creativity. Winner of the Coretta Scott King John Steptoe Award for New Talent and soon to be a major motion picture directed by Michael B. Jordan! It&;s Christmas Eve in Harlem, but twelve-year-old Lolly Rachpaul and his mom aren&;t celebrating. They&;re still reeling from his older brother&;s death in a gang-related shooting just a few months earlier. Then Lolly&;s mother&;s girlfriend brings him a gift that will change everything: two enormous bags filled with Legos. Lolly&;s always loved Legos, and he prides himself on following the kit instructions exactly. Now, faced with a pile of building blocks and no instructions, Lolly must find his own way forward.   His path isn&;t clear&;and the pressure to join a &;crew,&; as his brother did, is always there. When Lolly and his friend are beaten up and robbed, joining a crew almost seems like the safe choice. But building a fantastical Lego city at the community center provides Lolly with an escape&;and an unexpected bridge back to the world.    David Barclay Moore paints a powerful portrait of a boy teetering on the edge&;of adolescence, of grief, of violence&;and shows how Lolly&;s inventive spirit helps him build a life with firm foundations and open doors. A New York Times Notable Book A Time Magazine Top 10 Children's Books of the Year A Boston Globe Best Children's Book of the Year Six Starred Reviews &;A fast and furious read in which we meet some amazing people, people that stay with us. David Barclay Moore is an exciting new voice. We definitely haven&;t heard the last of his brilliance.&; &;Jacqueline Woodson, Newbery Honor and National Book Award&;winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming &;The Stars Beneath Our Feet is about the weight of the world on the back of a child, and the creative tools necessary to alleviate that pressure. I found myself rooting for Lolly, and you will too.&; &;Jason Reynolds, Coretta Scott King Honor Winner for As Brave As You