A Perfect Conclusion to the Track Series: Lu by Jason Reynolds

It started with Ghost and ended with Lu…  What can I say?  I absolutely loved this book!  Lu is a wonderful conclusion to Jason Reynolds’ Track Series.  The only thing I would wish for is a stand-alone book featuring the Defenders’ Team Coach Otis Brody.

Even before I knew that Lu was going to have his own book, (before I knew that Ghost was the first in a book series) I remember laughing out loud at Ghost’s description of Lu.

“A weird-looking kid, I can’t really explain what he looked like, well…  let me try.  You know how I said Mr. Charles looked like James Brown if James Brown was white?  Well, this kid looked like a white boy, if a white boy was black.  Wait.  That doesn’t make sense.  Let me start over.  His skin was white.  Like the color white.  And his hair was light brown.  But his face looked like a black person’s.  Like God forgot to put the brown in him.  Wait, is that like Mr. Charles or not?  Forget it.”

(Don’t you just love the way Jason Reynolds writes?  I do!!)

Lu is albino and although that is not the true heart of the story, it’s important because being albino is what makes Lu, Lu.  It’s the thing that sets him apart and the driving force behind his track talent.  Before every track practice and meet, Lu has a ritual to get him pumped up and ready to shine on the track.  It actually revolves around his skin…  As he rubs sunscreen over his body and face, he chants to himself:

“I am.

The man.

The guy.

The kid.

The one.

The only.

The Lu.

Lucky Lu.

Lookie Lu.

Lu the Lightening Bolt.”

He chants his mantra to himself until his skin has absorbed the sunscreen.  Then he proceeds to don his gold chains and diamond earrings and when he’s done, he’s ready to roll.  That’s Lu!  He’s got swagger!

Lu’s got swagger, and rightfully so!  He’s the best sprinter on the Defenders track team, but Coach decides to add a new event for Lu- the 110-meter hurdle.  Not wanting to let his team down, Lu starts training and it isn’t pretty.  This new event isn’t the only hurdle that Lu has to overcome.  Everything from picking the right name for his soon-to-be brother or sister to confronting a former bully, Lu’s got some choices to make and a lot of life lessons to learn.  A great coming of age story and beautifully written, Lu should be on your list of books to read now!

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