Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Powerful novel of teen boy who transforms fear to resolve.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When THE COST OF KNOWING BEGINS, Alex, a 16-year-old African American teen is at work in an ice cream shop in the suburbs of Chicago. Ever since the accident that claimed his parents' lives, Alex has received visions about anything that touches his palms. This knowledge is a curse. He can't change the future he sees. When he attempts to prevent a calamity, it sometimes seems he caused it. His visions become disturbing: He sees that his boss is going to have to sell the business, he's going to deeply hurt his girlfriend, and worst of all, his little brother is going to die soon. Alex sets out to make his brother's time more meaningful.
Is It Any Good?
This moving and ambitious fantasy is a love letter to Black boys. In The Cost of Knowing, Brittney Morris (SLAY, a New York Times bestseller) uses the idea of being able to see the future as a metaphor for the anxiety that exists for children (particularly Black boys) forced to confront the worst realities of the adult world. The author is successful in making the main character's unusual power (seeing visions of the future about anything that touches his palms) consistent and rational throughout the story. She also covers a lot of subject matter that can benefit from more coverage: mental health in Black boys and men; a mass shooting (she explores the motivations of the shooter as well as the experiences of the victims); and how "good people" can become violent vigilantes.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of fear in The Cost of Knowing. How do you cope with fear in your life? What happens when your fears stand in the way of your dreams?
Have you ever learned something you didn't want to know? What did you do with the information?
Have you ever felt betrayed by someone you trusted?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
- Publication date : April 6, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 18
- Number of pages : 322
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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