Looking for a new author to make you think? DeAndra Davis’s debut contemporary young adult novel, All The Noise At Once, came out on April 15th and is not to be missed. It follows high school junior Aiden Wright, who has always wanted to play football with his older brother, Brandon. Football is Aiden’s special interest, and although some teammates worry his autism will get in the way, Aiden knows the game better than anyone thanks to Brandon’s coaching and his own passion. Everything is perfect . . . until a fight breaks out over Aiden’s abilities, someone calls the cops, and Brandon is wrongly accused of assaulting an officer. In the aftermath, Aiden’s understanding of his family, friendship, Blackness, autism, and self shifts forever.
All The Noise At Once stood out to me because of its nuance. Thankfully, more authors are educating younger readers about racism and police brutality, and Davis tackles those issues adeptly. This is the first book I have read that explores Black autistic intersectionality. Davis makes readers aware that the racism and ableism that Black autistic people face creates unique challenges. For example, when Aiden is confronted by the police, he is distrusted as a Black boy almost instantly and told to stay still, but as an autistic person, he copes with distress by stimming, or moving around. These interactions are more dangerous for Aiden than he would be if he were just Black or just autistic. I believe learning about intersectionality is especially important for teenagers because it creates thoughtful adults by making them aware of more perspectives.
Furthermore, Davis creates a realistic, close knit family. Aiden is a natural narrator in his humor and relatability while giving readers an accurate representation of autistic life. His bond with Brandon is an ideal sibling relationship, but it understandably struggles under the stress of Brandon’s trial. In a subplot, Davis highlights the pressure placed on Brandon as the older sibling of a disabled child. Aiden is made aware in a healthy, compassionate way. Their parents are shown as real people with personalities, emotions, imperfections, and disagreements with their kids. That is to say, they have a basic humanity that is missing in a lot of other YA parents. I was rooting for the Wrights from the first chapter.
As Brandon’s loved ones work to prove his innocence, it is revealed that the other people involved in the case are closer to Aiden than expected. Every character is fleshed out, except for the police officer testifying against Brandon, which I find fair since he and Aiden never interact. Even the characters who are unkind to Aiden or waver on the ethics of the case are real people trying to make the right choices. This keeps the story interesting by making readers curious about all of the characters, not just Aiden.
Between a handful of Aiden’s teammates (two of whom are dating) and his new friend Isabella, Aiden’s difficult story is softened by wholesome supporting characters. In particular, Aiden’s budding romance with Isabella brings a smile to readers amid the tough topics. It is charming and wholesome to see Aiden navigate the novelty of romantic feelings, and Isabella pushes him in all the right ways, proving she is a perfect match.
Aiden’s story is set against a wealthy, predominantly white Florida town, allowing Davis to explore the false promise of safety for upper middle class Black families. This, and many other nuances of systemic racism, do not come up enough in YA literature, and I appreciate that Davis dives right in.
Davis’s writing style is very typical of YA, interspersed with notes that Aiden makes to himself about social cues and other information. Some of the football scenes bored me because I am not personally a football fan, but they certainly did reflect how much Aiden loves football.
All The Noise At Once is an eye-opening, heartwarming read, and Davis is an author to watch.
