• The Boy in the Black Suit

  • By: Jason Reynolds
  • Narrated by: Corey Allen
  • Length: 7 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (227 ratings)

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The Boy in the Black Suit  By  cover art

The Boy in the Black Suit

By: Jason Reynolds
Narrated by: Corey Allen
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Publisher's summary

Just when 17-year-old Matt thinks he can't handle one more piece of terrible news, he meets a girl who’s dealt with a lot more - and who just might be able to clue him in on how to rise up when life keeps knocking him down - in this wry, gritty novel from the author of When I Was the Greatest. Matt wears a black suit every day. No, not because his mom died - although she did, and it sucks. But he wears the suit for his gig at the local funeral home, which pays way better than the Cluck Bucket, and he needs the income since his dad can’t handle the bills (or anything, really) on his own. So while Dad's snagging bottles of whiskey, Matt's snagging fifteen bucks an hour. Not bad. But everything else? Not good. Then Matt meets Lovey. She's got a crazy name, and she's been through more crazy than he can imagine. Yet Lovey never cries. She's tough. Really tough. Tough in the way Matt wishes he could be. Which is maybe why he's drawn to her, and definitely why he can't seem to shake her. Because there's nothing more hopeful than finding a person who understands your loneliness - and who can maybe even help take it away.

©2015 Jason Reynolds (P)2015 Recorded Books

What listeners say about The Boy in the Black Suit

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Engaging read about a soft black teen

Where does The Boy in the Black Suit rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This was a really cute one but i think I wanted more of him and Lovey. There aren't a ton of black couples that are mainstream in YA Contemporary and I wanted more for them. I did highly enjoy the book though.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent meta tale of love and loss!

Exploring the ups and downs of life with the main character, Matthew Miller, is a fascinating journey of chance, risk and how to with love and loss. It's a must read for youth 13 and up. Although there is some mature language is fitting to the tone and age of the characters! I can't wait to read Reynolds next piece!!

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Great Book

I loved this book, but the narrator was like listening to nails on a chalkboard.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

The narrator

The narrator makes the book even worse, the book itself is already boring and the narrator makes it even more unbearable

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Decent enough to pass the time

Decent story touched in several things but didn’t have much conclusion. I guess your to assume on this one.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

The Boy in the Black Suit.

Heartbreak and breathing afterword, put into picture telling words. Just like a snapshot from an old polaroid.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

I met Jason - I had to read one of his books

Jason came to my job, a school, which he spoke to the kids. I was enamored with his presentation and quickly fell in love with his story. He signed a copy of a book that my friend had on her bookshelf, we took a selfie, and I went on my merry way. A couple of weeks later I listened to this book and truly was hooked. I’m full transparency, it was difficult for me to get through due to my own grief from multiple deaths in my family. However, I couldn’t put the book down! I recommend you read this with an open mind and an understanding that there’s an abrupt end.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Loved it!

All the feels. Reynolds is a masterful storyteller and this one did. It disappoint. Great narrations as well!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Processing Grief

Jason did an awesome job of displaying the process of grief that Matt experienced. All to often we don’t consider how children/teens are impacted by loss.
I love how he and Love were able to forge a friendship, be supportive of one another, and teach each other about life after the loss of a love one.
Mr. Ray was just what Matt needed as well. This was a sweet love story that was wrapped in sadness.

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

A Touching Story!

I am an English Language Arts teacher picking out books for high school curriculum, so I have my students in mind. This book may be triggering to those who have experienced the death of a loved one, but at the same time, it could be a catalyst to the healing process. I love that the book is through the point of view of an African American youth, yet the topic of the book isn’t race. I have been looking for books like this. I am concerned that some students may not think there is enough “action” in the story, but I am hopeful that they will be captivated by the subject matter and the sweet romance that slowly builds about half way through. It would be interesting to pair this text with The Catcher in the Rye, since both stories have a focus on dealing with death. The Boy in the Black Suit is an example of what happens when someone goes through a somewhat unusual but healthy grieving and healing process compared to Catcher where Holden struggles for years with his grief before getting the help he needs. The audiobook narration is well done!

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