“I stop myself from apologizing-because what would I even be sorry for? Existing too loud?”
― Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Ace of Spades

Niveus Private Academy has ways of making and breaking students’ careers. If you’re able to gain admittance to the school, you’ll discover the students are perfect with scholarly brilliance and wealthy families behind them. If you’re selected to be a prefect, even better. That’ll really make your college applications shine and also give you an edge at becoming valedictorian.

Devon Richards and Chiamaka Adebayo are hoping their senior year will go smoothly. With their individual selections as senior prefects, they have high hopes. A mysterious figure begins a campaign of alienation and destruction shortly after their selections. Someone going by Aces is sending anonymous text messages to the students at Niveus, revealing secrets about both Devon and Chiamaka that have power to destroy their futures (and their presents). As Aces ramps up their attacks, they become more dangerous. Devon and Chiamaka hatch a plan to out Aces, but will they be successful?

Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé has written a gorgeous debut novel. Ace of Spades grabs hold of an incredible amount of issues and shoves them at readers in ways that it is impossible to ignore. This book deals with issues of racism, bullying, homophobia, classism, and so much more. Highly recommend.

“I hate how they have the power to kill my future, kill me. They treat my Black skin like a gun or a grenade or a knife that is dangerous and lethal, when really it’s them. The guys at the top powering everything.”
― Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, Ace of Spades

This title is also available in large print, CD audiobook, and as part of our book club collection.