Author: Suyi Davies Okungbowa
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers

Dive into this revealing portrait of Stranger Things fan favorite Lucas Sinclair and get to know Lucas like never before. The thrilling adventure of Stranger Things continues where season three left off, with fan favorite Lucas Sinclair finally telling his own story in his own words.

Lucas has been in the fight against the evil forces in his town since the beginning, but he is tired of feeling like an outsider. When the start of high school presents Lucas with options beyond D&D and being bullied, he wonders if he can be more than invisible. After connecting with one of the few other Black students at school, Lucas starts to learn more about himself apart from his friend group. And he begins to understand himself as a Black teen in Hawkins, which feels unlike anything—in this world or any other—he’s ever experienced.

From Suyi Davies Okungbowa, contributor to the New York Times bestselling Black Boy Joy, comes an exploration of love and identity within the beloved Stranger Things universe, through the eyes of Lucas Sinclair.

A good read – and that’s coming from a huge fan of the series itself. It is nice to dive into the mind of one of the main but inconspicuous characters of the story, Lucas. And also, to read about the others since I used to watch them on Netflix.

The first-person point of view, diary-style storytelling is appropriate. Same suspense, excitement and humor are to be expected. At some point, I kind of anticipated that it would touch racial issues since the main character is of color. But I was surprised that it also tackled mental health, blending that aspect with the fictional characters. It is only fitting, since kids could be traumatized dealing with “stranger things,” as the title of the series hints. I am impressed with how the author elaborates and focuses on mental wellness in the story without losing the main message of the story. Few books can do that.

If you already watched the first part of Season 4, the plot was centered in the prequel, so a lot of the why’s and the what’s are going to be answered. Very good book from start to finish – and I am not saying this because I am a fan, but because of the quality of the material itself.

- Kevin Velayo