We Are Not Broken

About We Are Not Broken

We Are Not Broken is a young adult memoir by George M. Johnson, published in January 2023 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. Where Johnson's debut, All Boys Aren't Blue, told their own story, this book widens the lens: it follows George and three other Black boys — their brother Rasul and their cousins Phillip and Christian — as they grow up together in Plainfield, New Jersey, under the watchful eye of their grandmother, Nanny.

The book is told across four voices, each chapter shifting perspective so readers can understand each young man's interior life separately. Johnson weaves together scenes of childhood joy, family conflict, community bonds, and the specific pressures that Black boys face in America — from the criminal justice system to school discipline to the quiet violence of low expectations. The grandmother at the center of the story becomes both an anchor and a complicated figure: fierce in her love, shaped by her own generational wounds.

Themes and Why It Matters

At its core, We Are Not Broken is a book about Black boyhood and survival — not just physical survival, but the preservation of identity, tenderness, and humanity in an environment that often asks Black boys to harden themselves. Johnson explores how family systems, even loving ones, can pass down trauma alongside strength.

The book speaks directly to young readers who may feel broken by their circumstances — by poverty, violence, absent parents, or systems that consistently fail them. Johnson's message is embedded in the title: whatever has happened to you does not define your worth. The multi-voice structure allows readers of different temperaments and backgrounds to find a point of entry, making it unusually accessible for classroom use.

Educators have used We Are Not Broken to open conversations about Black masculinity, intergenerational trauma, the foster care and juvenile justice systems, and what community means when institutions fail. The book creates space for discussions that are rarely possible with more conventional YA titles.

Why It Has Been Banned

We Are Not Broken is among the newer titles to face restriction in school districts. In the Katy Independent School District in Texas, the book has been banned by restriction — meaning access has been limited rather than the book being removed outright, but students face barriers to reaching it through school libraries and classroom collections.

The pattern is familiar: a book by George M. Johnson, addressing the lives of Black and queer young people with honesty and care, draws challenges from groups opposed to LGBTQ+ content and frank portrayals of race in schools. Advocates argue that restricting this book removes one of the few titles that speaks directly to the experiences of Black boys who may be navigating complex home environments, family trauma, or questions about identity — the students who most need to see their lives reflected in what they read.