The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Penguin Putnam Inc
Publishing:23rd Sep '25
£15.99
This title is due to be published on 23rd September, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom who many have wondered if he was super-human. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play senior school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own. Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice. Until he says that he might not play football anymore. Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought. In that moment, Henson’s town is divided into two chaotic sides when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can’t see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain people who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness. Derrick Barnes’s groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America’s strange obsession with the Black body, relegated to labour or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, it shows how much has changed over centuries. . . and, at the same time, how little.
★ "Barnes has masterfully crafted a story that's grounded in history and has fantastical elements woven into it. Henson is an irresistible lead surrounded by a strong supporting cast, and his story sheds light on the reality of racial dynamics. Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"You've never read a book like this. Derrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him—allegory, folktales, and classics—to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human. You won't be the same after reading it."
—Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal
“With humor, honesty and a touch of magic, Derrick Barnes gives a powerfully told tale of self discovery and community, a delightful ode to boyhood, manhood, sonhood, fatherhood and the blues.”
—Sabaa Tahir, National Book Award-winning author of All My Rage
"Derrick Barnes has been one of greatest writers in the nation for a while, but this book cements him as one of the most genius storytellers the world has ever witnessed. The skill, mystery, and propelling prose here are absolutely once in a generation."
—Kiese Laymon, Carnegie Medal-winning author of Heavy: An American Memoir
"A breathtaking story—one that moved me to tears, laughter, and reflection. With vibrant prose, unflinching honesty, and love that sings on every page, Derrick Barnes has given us a gift that is equal parts powerful, necessary, and hopeful. Through the eyes of Henson—a character you will cheer for, cry for, and want to hold tenderly—we explore what it means to grow up Black in America: the joy, the pain, the dreams, and the weight of simply existing. This novel is another powerful offering from a writer whose heart beats fiercely for a better world, and whose voice we desperately need in the ongoing conversation about who we are, where we've been, and where we must go next."
—Frederick Joseph, New York Times bestselling author of This Thing of Ours
ISBN: 9781984836755
Dimensions: 210mm x 140mm x 17mm
Weight: 377g
272 pages