Chapel is Blade’s girlfriend and the daughter of a Christian reverend. Shocked and desperate for answers, Blade searches for his biological mother and discovers that she is a missionary named Lucy living in Ghana, Africa.īefore Blade departs on a journey to find Lucy, he decides to tattoo the name Chapel onto his bicep. In the heat of their argument, Storm reveals that Blade was adopted. The pair reaches a breaking point after Rutherford reprimands Blade for failing to defend Storm against criticism from her ex-boyfriend Van DeWish. This resentment intensifies when Rutherford upstages Blade during his high-school commencement speech.

After witnessing Rutherford continuously relapse despite countless bouts of rehab, Blade doubts that Rutherford will ever achieve sobriety and struggle to forgive him for the toll his addiction has taken on Blade and his sister, Storm. As the son of an internationally famous rock star named Rutherford, Blade struggles to escape the toxic influence of his narcissistic father. The story is told from the first-person narrative perspective of 17-year-old Blade Morrison: Hollywood and Africa.

Written entirely in verse, Alexander’s novel is divided into two parts that reflect its primary settings. This segment aired on October 19, 2017.The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Alexander, Kwame. Republished with permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Copyright © 2017 by Kwame Alexander and Mary Rand Hess. Midnight can be so cruel.Įxcerpted from the book SOLO by Kwame Alexander, with Mary Rand Hess. Rutherford may not have much time left before That almost sent him to a rock-star reunion with Most recently he’s managed three DUIs, and a drug until now.Įight years ago, he was arrested for reckless Morrison continued to have an illustrious solo career, Hard Rock to America with the release of their triple. His band, The Great Whatever, is credited with Rutherford Morrison has kept rock alive for twenty-five When I ask her, Where is this all going, then? Here are two songs from the 'Solo ' audiobook, performed by Randy Preston: Book Excerpt: ' Solo'

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Here & Now's Robin Young speaks with Alexander ( about the book, his first young adult fiction novel, co-authored by Mary Rand Hess. Kwame Alexander has had great success with his poetry books for children, but his latest book is for teens. ' Solo' tells the story of a high school senior trying to figure out love, life's purpose and his place in his family. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR) This article is more than 5 years old.

Solo by kwame alexander