Common Sense Media Review
By Lucinda Dyer
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gripping murder mystery with a social justice message.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
UP IN SMOKE begins with a decision. After promising his father he wouldn't, Cooper agrees to accompany Jason, his friend and big brother figure, to a large protest against the recent killing of a 14-year-old boy named Samir by D.C. police. But Cooper won't be a protester, he'll be serving as a lookout as Jason and his friends, Rico and Skull Face, use the crowds as cover for looting a high-end boutique. They split up after the robbery, and just when Cooper thinks he's gotten safely away, there's the sound of gunshots. A woman has been murdered, and police soon release video of four masked suspects: Jason, Rico, Skull Face, and a now terrified Cooper. After an anonymous tip, Jason is arrested and charged with murder. Jason's sister Monique is certain he's innocent and asks Cooper to help her find the real killer. Once they learn the victim's identity (Melissa Davis), Monique and Cooper find her address and head over to her house, where they find an open window. A search of the house reveals that Melissa isn't her real name, and inside a small box they take from her house is a police badge. The more they investigate, the more complicated things become. What did Jason mean when he told Monique to "follow the phoenix"? Could Melissa and Jason have known each other, and how does a charismatic Black activist name Rah Meck fit into the puzzle they're trying to piece together? Cooper and Monique will uncover double agents, confidential informants, and police corruption before a dangerous face-off reveals the real killer.
Is It Any Good?
This terrific mystery seamlessly weaves together a shocking murder and a sweet romance with a strong, thought-provoking storyline about racial injustice. The lives of the teens in Up in Smoke provide readers with some serious questions to think about and discuss. Should you continue to be friends with someone who's going down a wrong path? How can you support a friend who's become depressed? Would you be brave enough to speak out publicly against an injustice? Could you forgive a friend who lied to you about something important? Put this in the hands of teens who like their mysteries and romance steeped in the issues of the day.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the conflict between loyalty and making good choices in Up in Smoke. If your best friend asked you to do something you knew was wrong, how would you respond?
The determination shown by Cooper and Monique in trying to prove Jason's innocence leads them to make some rash and even unlawful decisions. Is there a line that shouldn't be crossed when trying to help someone?
What do you think sends a more inspiring message about social justice and activism: a nonfiction book about a person or event, or a novel with relatable characters who stand up against racial injustice?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Mystery
- Topics : Activism
- Character Strengths : Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Henry Holt & Company, Inc.
- Publication date : May 6, 2025
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 14 - 17
- Number of pages : 256
- Available on : Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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