Review | All the Noise at Once

The Good

This book is absolutely gripping! I alternated between the audiobook (which is terrific) and the hard copy because I didn’t want to stop reading. Even though I felt sure that everything would work out well in the end, I was so worried about both of these boys and the emotional rollercoaster of their story.

The stand-out feature of this story for me is the authentic autism representation in Aiden’s character. Davis (the author) presents a nuanced look at the challenges of being autistic (from overstimulation in day-to-day life to being misunderstood by one’s peers), but she also shares the disservice that well-meaning loved ones can do to autistic folks by overly sheltering them even from the consequences of their actions and how that plays out when there are neurotypical children in the family who might feel neglected by their parents.

In a similarly sensitive and objective way, this story explores racism and prejudice (particularly in a powerful conversation Aiden has with his coach) and examines the often unfair way Black children, especially Black boys can be treated in comparison to their white counterparts. Brandon’s accusation and the way Aiden tries to get to the bottom of its credibility lend an air of mystery to the story, giving readers an additional reason to be invested.

Finally, this book is truly a story about the love between brothers who have been through thick and thin together, fiercely loyal to each other, and dogged in their defense of each other. It is utterly heartwarming to read Brandon and Aiden’s relationship and the way they support each other on and off the pitch. There’s also a lot of football action for fans of YA sports stories!

Content Notes

Here are some specifics to know about the content.

Content Warnings

• Death: None.
• Alcohol/substance abuse: None.
• Sexual content: None.
• Violence: A couple of fight scenes between teen boys. Police officers brutalize Black teen boys at the scene of a crime.
• Language: Infrequent use of strong profanity.

Diversity

• Ethnic: Diverse cast featuring black and white characters.
• Sexual orientation: Two boys on the football team are in a relationship with each other.

Recommended for ages: 13+

Good for teens who like:

• Coming-of-age stories
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas
• Stories about brothers
• YA sports stories
• Books about racism
• Books about being autistic or neurodivergent

Publisher Details

Buy This Book

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