Nick Brooks is an award-winning author and filmmaker from Washington, DC. In 2022 he published his first middle grade novel, NOTHING INTERESTING EVER HAPPENS TO ETHAN FAIRMONT, the first book in a three book series. His first YA novel, PROMISE BOYS debuted January 2023 and has already been deemed a much-anticipated read of 2023 by Buzzfeed, Seventeen and Forbes. It was also a 2023 Boston Globe–Horn Book award honoree.

Truly a multi-hyphenate, Nick is also a rapper known by the moniker, Ben Kenobe, and has composed music for films such as NETFLIX's, THEY CLONED TYRONE, and HBO's, THE CYPHER.

The prestigious Urban Promise Prep school might look pristine on the outside, but deadly secrets lurk within. When the principal ends up murdered on school premises and the cops come sniffing around, a trio of students—J.B., Ramón, and Trey—emerge as the prime suspects. They had the means, they had the motive . . . and they may have had the murder weapon. But with all three maintaining their innocence, they must band together to track down the real killer before they are arrested. Or is the true culprit hiding among them?

Find out who killed Principal Moore in Nick Brooks's murder mystery, Promise Boys—The Hate U Give meets One of Us Is Lying.

Hugh “H. D.” Hunter is a storyteller, teaching artist, and community organizer from Atlanta, Georgia. He’s the author of two self-published books, the Futureland trilogy, and Something Like Right, as well as the winner of several indie book awards for multicultural fiction. Hugh is committed to stories about Black kids and their many expansive worlds.

Zay’s ma always said his mouth would get him in trouble. Sure enough, it got him into his first and only fight in his junior year of high school. Expelled from his district, Zay’s only hope for redemption is to transfer to Broadlawn Alternative School and complete the year.

Zay isn’t thrilled about the disgusting school lunch and classroom trailers at Broadlawn, and boarding with his aunt Mel and her live-in boyfriend isn’t the greatest. But he’d rather be there than in the city dealing with his estranged father, his overbearing mother, and the fallout from his fight. Besides, Broadlawn has Feven, the beautiful new student Zay is starting to get to know—and fall for.

Still, first love is rarely a fairy tale, and as Zay’s time in Broadlawn comes to an end, he learns that shaping yourself within a new place is a lot harder than letting it shape you.

A tender contemplation of first love, broken families, and healing generational trauma by an incredible voice in young adult fiction.

NICK BROOKS and H.D. HUNTER in conversation with Karis McPherson, BEYOND BOUNDARIES PANEL 14