In “Up in Smoke,” Nick Brooks crafts an electrifying urban thriller that sizzles with tension from the first page to the last. Following the success of his award-winning debut “Promise Boys,” Brooks returns with another compelling mystery centered on Black youth navigating a system stacked against them. The novel masterfully blends pulse-pounding action with thoughtful social commentary, creating a reading experience that both entertains and provokes reflection.
Set against the backdrop of Washington, DC, during a sweltering summer heat wave, “Up in Smoke” follows Cooper King and Monique Simms as they investigate a murder that has landed Monique’s brother Jason behind bars. What begins as a simple act of teenage rebellion—looting during a protest—spirals into a dangerous game of cat and mouse with potentially deadly consequences. As Cooper and Monique dig deeper into the case, they uncover corruption that reaches the highest levels of power in the city.
Characters That Leap Off the Page
Brooks excels at creating authentically voiced young protagonists who feel genuine and multi-dimensional. Cooper King, our primary narrator, is remarkably relatable—a teen who makes mistakes, harbors secrets, and struggles with his moral compass. His internal conflict between loyalty to his friends and doing what’s right forms the emotional core of the novel.
Monique Simms shines as a brilliant, determined young woman whose passion for justice drives much of the story. Her poetry interspersed throughout the chapters adds depth to her character and provides powerful moments of reflection amid the fast-paced action. The dynamic between Cooper and Monique feels authentic, with their romantic tension woven naturally into the plot rather than feeling forced or distracting.
Supporting characters are equally well-drawn:
- Jason Simms, whose arrest sets the investigation in motion
- Rah Meck, the charismatic revolutionary with mysterious motives
- Rico, the conflicted informant caught between loyalty and self-preservation
- Cooper’s father, trying his best to raise his son alone after his wife’s death
Each character functions as more than just a plot device—they each have their own motivations, flaws, and strengths that make them feel like real people rather than stereotypes.
A Plot That Never Stops Burning
The narrative structure of “Up in Smoke” deserves particular praise. Brooks masterfully juggles multiple timelines and perspectives without ever confusing the reader. The story unfolds in three distinct parts—”Chaos,” “Confusion,” and “Completion”—each marking a phase in Cooper and Monique’s investigation while reflecting their emotional journey.
The pacing is exemplary, alternating between heart-pounding action sequences and quieter moments of character development. Brooks knows exactly when to accelerate and when to ease off the gas, creating a reading experience that feels like a roller coaster in the best possible way. The novel’s chapter structure, with short sections alternating between Cooper and Monique’s perspectives, keeps the pages turning rapidly.
The mystery at the center of the story is cleverly constructed, with enough red herrings to keep readers guessing without ever feeling manipulative. As Cooper and Monique piece together clues about Donna Brown’s murder, Brooks reveals information at precisely the right moments, ensuring readers stay invested in the outcome without becoming frustrated by withheld information.
Themes That Resonate
Beyond its thrilling plot, “Up in Smoke” tackles significant social issues with nuance and sensitivity:
- Justice and corruption: The novel explores how systemic corruption can undermine the justice system, particularly for young Black men.
- Identity and purpose: Cooper’s journey to discover what he’s “passionate about” forms a compelling coming-of-age subplot.
- Truth and deception: The characters constantly grapple with when to reveal truths and when to conceal them, considering the consequences of both.
- Community activism: Through characters like Rah and Monique, Brooks examines different approaches to fighting for social change.
- Family bonds: The relationships between Cooper and his father, and Monique and Jason, highlight the power of family to both support and complicate our lives.
What makes these themes particularly effective is that Brooks never lectures his readers. Instead, he embeds these ideas organically within the characters’ experiences, allowing readers to draw their own conclusions.
Prose That Crackles With Energy
Brooks’s writing style is immediate and accessible without sacrificing sophistication. His dialogue, in particular, deserves praise for its authenticity—each character has a distinct voice that feels true to their background and personality. The street vernacular never feels forced or stereotypical, instead grounding the story in its specific time and place.
The author demonstrates remarkable restraint with descriptive language, offering just enough detail to bring scenes to life without bogging down the narrative. When Cooper stands lookout during the looting scene or when Monique confronts a suspicious police officer, readers can feel the sweat, hear the sirens, and sense the tension in the air.
Monique’s poems scattered throughout the text provide a welcome counterpoint to the prose, offering poetic reflection that enhances rather than interrupts the narrative flow.
Where the Smoke Gets in Your Eyes
Despite its many strengths, “Up in Smoke” isn’t without flaws. The conspiracy at the heart of the novel occasionally veers into territory that strains credibility, particularly in how easily the teenage protagonists manage to outsmart seasoned criminals and corrupt officials. While the high stakes create tension, they sometimes undermine the otherwise realistic tone Brooks establishes.
Additionally, some plot threads feel rushed in the final act. The relationship between Cooper and Monique develops at a believable pace until the climactic confrontation, after which their romantic resolution feels somewhat accelerated. Similarly, the fallout from the investigation’s conclusion is handled with less depth than the build-up might warrant.
A few secondary characters, particularly Detective Hunter and Detective Martin, remain somewhat underdeveloped despite their importance to the plot. Given their significance to the story’s resolution, more insight into their motivations would have enriched the narrative.
A Worthy Follow-Up to “Promise Boys”
Fans of Brooks’s debut novel “Promise Boys” will find much to appreciate in “Up in Smoke.” Both works demonstrate his talent for crafting suspenseful mysteries with social significance, centered on young Black protagonists navigating complex moral dilemmas. While “Promise Boys” took place primarily within an urban charter school, “Up in Smoke” expands its scope to encompass the broader DC community, showing Brooks’s growth as a storyteller.
Readers who enjoyed the authentic youth voices and social consciousness of Angie Thomas’s “The Hate U Give” or Jason Reynolds’s “All American Boys” will find similar qualities in “Up in Smoke.” The novel also shares DNA with classic young adult mysteries like Walter Dean Myers’s “Monster” and more recent works like Tiffany D. Jackson’s “Monday’s Not Coming,” blending compelling mystery with thoughtful examination of race and justice in America.
Final Verdict: A Five-Alarm Hit
“Up in Smoke” delivers everything readers could want from a young adult thriller: engaging protagonists, a twisty mystery, authentic dialogue, and meaningful themes. Nick Brooks has crafted a novel that respects its teenage audience’s intelligence while delivering pulse-racing entertainment that will keep readers glued to the page.
The book’s greatest strength lies in how it balances entertainment with substance. Cooper and Monique’s investigation is genuinely thrilling, but it’s their moral growth and the questions they confront about justice, loyalty, and truth that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.
Despite minor flaws in pacing and some credibility stretches, “Up in Smoke” establishes Brooks as a significant voice in contemporary young adult literature. His ability to create authentic characters who grapple with real-world issues while maintaining narrative momentum marks him as an author to watch.
For readers seeking a mystery that combines heart-pounding suspense with social relevance and authentic teen voices, “Up in Smoke” is a must-read that will leave them eagerly awaiting Brooks’s next offering.
