Punch Me Up To The Gods: A Memoir

Punch Me Up to the Gods is a raw, poetic, coming-of-age masterwork that introduces a powerful new talent in Brian Broome.

This gorgeous, aching, and unforgettable debut follows Brian's experiences growing up in Ohio as a dark-skinned Black boy harboring crushes on other boys.

Through his recounting of his experiences - in all their cringe-worthy, hilarious, and heartbreaking glory - Broome reveals the perpetual outsider awkwardly squirming to find his way in.

Indiscriminate sex and escalating drug use help soothe his hurt young psyche, usually to uproarious and devastating effect.

The no-nonsense mother and broken father play crucial roles in Brian's origin story, while Broome's voice in the retelling shows the true depth of vulnerability for young Black boys that is often quietly near to bursting at the seams.

Cleverly framed around Gwendolyn Brooks's poem "We Real Cool," this original and fresh voice brings an exquisite perspective to ongoing cultural conversations about Blackness in America.

Readers will be moved by Broome's swaggering sensitivity, and the book's playful, poignant, and wholly original take on coming-of-age will leave a lasting impression.