This Thing of Ours

De: Frederick Joseph

Narrado por: Ruffin Prentiss

An instant New York Times bestseller!

The powerful and timely YA novel debut from two-time New York Times best-selling author Frederick Joseph is a deeply heartfelt story—and a rallying cry against book banning.

In an instant, Ossie Brown’s entire future is in jeopardy when a torn ACL ends his promising basketball career. Now that basketball is no longer a major part of his identity, Ossie—a Black teen who doesn’t come from wealth and privilege—must navigate his new place in the social and academic ecosystems of his affluent, predominantly white school. When a Black teacher encourages him to join her highly regarded writing program, Ossie begins to find a new purpose, buoyed by not only the rich works of literature by marginalized authors he’s now reading, but also by new friends who see him as something more than an asset to the sports program. Everything changes when some students’ viral “anti-woke” video puts the teacher’s job, the writing program, and even Ossie’s friends’ safety at risk—and Ossie must find his true voice. This unflinching novel confronts critical issues like racism and classism, the treatment of student athletes, homophobia, and book banning while weaving together a moving testament to family, romance, friendship, and the power of words.

©2025 Frederick Joseph (P)2025 Recorded Books

The ability to tell an interesting story.

I really enjoyed the overall story, and I wished it was longer because I was so invested in the characters.

Emotional story of creating change

Frederick Joseph did it again! His nonfiction books, The Black Friend (challenged and banned in school districts across multiple states), Patriarchy Blues, and Better Than We Found It: Conversations to Help Save the World, are all phenomenal, enlightening, and inspiring. His poetry collection We Alive, Beloved was also deeply moving, so of course I had to read his realistic fiction novel, This Thing of Ours. Let me tell you, I devoured this book. His masterful use of literary devices helped me feel the characters' anger, love, despair, and hope throughout the novel. I laughed, I sobbed, and I got full-body chills. It shows the honest messiness of relationships and how no one is perfect. This book is a truly magnificent work of art. As Joseph previously said when reflecting on the film Moonlight, not everything has to be for everyone; although others may enjoy the work, it doesn’t mean it was made for them. As a white woman, I can’t relate to the lived experience of these characters, historically underserved by our education system and country as a whole. What I can relate to is the emotional turmoil caused by the conservative battle to ban diverse perspectives from our schools. As a doctoral student, I have had the honor of speaking with teachers who are experiencing the effects of restrictive education policies on their teaching, their students, and themselves. I’ve spent hours reading through state policies that ban books, topics, and practices that support anything other than white cishet patriarchal ideas. I’ve seen this firsthand in higher education, as colleagues are reported, topics such as “equity” are avoided, and social justice courses are no longer offered. Joseph does a wonderful job capturing the significance of the current moment—what’s happening in our country, specifically in our schools. Without spoiling anything, because you should definitely purchase a copy of This Thing of Ours, I’ll let Joseph’s words, spoken through a character in his novel, speak for themselves:

"One of the greatest gifts of the human experience is our ability to learn from one another, to grow and evolve from perspectives different from our own. It's through this exchange of ideas that we become better neighbors, classmates, co-workers, friends, and family. It's this kind of learning that Ms. Hunt and her books were fostering. I saw it in myself and other members of the Mark Twain Creative Writing Program.”

When the government bans different perspectives in K-12 public schools and higher education, we lose the ability to broaden our worldview, think critically, and make up our own minds.

In the acknowledgement section, Joseph leaves this heartfelt message that left me in tears:

"To the young people who are forced to move like whispers through the halls, who have perfected the art of smallness so no one notices their joy, their ache—I see you. I know how love can feel like an impossible thing, like something only other people deserve but not you. Not in this body, not in this life. You think there's a code to crack, a better version of yourself you need to become, so maybe someone will finally hold you right. But listen to me: You don't need to be fixed, bent, or unbent. You don't need to shrink or soften your edges.

The world might tell you that you are too Black, too queer, too disabled, too immigrant, too strange, too loud, too hurt, too much for its liking, but I'm here to remind you: The way you exist, every glittering facet of your being, is beautiful. You, just as you are, are loved beyond the limits of this moment, beyond the sting of rejection, beyond the lonely places you've been told to hide.

You are a poem, meant not to be deciphered but felt. Let the world catch up to you:

I see you, and I love you."

This message resounds throughout This Thing of Ours—a warm hand holding yours as you fight for change.

excellent book, well read

Solid story about very relevant and timely events that are happening across educational institutions today. Performed well by the narrator,.

Real and Engaging

Rich narrative that explores real world issues, and real internal struggles, fears and triumph. Twists and turns keep the listener engaged.