Suicide Runners (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798989649617)

In the heart of their senior year, two best friends, Greg and Nassir, navigate the tumultuous terrain of high school life and basketball in Suicide Runners. As they gear up for their final season on the court, they face challenges far beyond the scoreboard.

Caught in the crossfire of their families' crumbling dynamics, Greg and Nassir cling to their friendship as an anchor amidst the storm. Greg's family is unraveling under the strain of a third marriage gone wrong, while Nassir grapples with the repercussions of his parents' delusion and impending divorce. Together, they seek solace and escape in the familiar rhythm of basketball and the bond they share.

As the pressures mount and the family drama tightens, Greg and Nassir take desperate measures to cope with their fractured realities. Experimenting with drugs becomes a dangerous refuge, blurring the lines between numbness and control. Their journey unfolds against the backdrop of the 2016 presidential election, adding another layer of tension to their already chaotic world.

Suicide Runners is a gripping coming-of-age tale that explores themes of race, religion, friendship, and the supposed resilience of the human spirit. Greg and Nassir are forced to confront societal biases and expectations placed upon them as they navigate the intersection of their identities as a White teenager and a Black teenager in Portland, Oregon. Through its raw portrayal of friendship, family, and the search for meaning, Suicide Runners offers a poignant reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for redemption - well, maybe.