Isaac is at a crossroads in his young life. Growing up in Missouri, the son of a caustic, hard-driving father, he was conditioned to suppress his artistic pursuits and physical desires, notions that didn’t align with a traditional view of masculinity. But now, in late ’80s Chicago, Isaac has finally carved out a life of his own. He is sensitive and tenderhearted and has built up the courage to seek out a community. Yet just as he begins to embrace who he is, two social catalysts—the AIDS crisis and Rodney King’s attack—collectively extinguish his hard-earned joy.

At a therapist’s encouragement, Isaac begins to write down his story. In the process, he taps into a creative energy that will send him on a journey back to his family, his ancestral home in Arkansas and the inherited trauma of the nation’s dark past. But a surprise discovery will either unlock the truths he’s seeking or threaten to derail the life he’s fought so hard to claim.

This book contains scenes depicting sexual assault and mentions of child abuse and domestic abuse.

If you read Don’t Cry for Me, you know that Daniel Black’s writing is visceral, vulnerable, and deeply touching. His expertise shines once again in Isaac’s Song. I was captivated by this novel from prose to plot, and I felt embedded in the story as I grieved, laughed, and cried alongside its characters.

After his father passes away, Isaac goes to therapy and writes down his life story to unpack his complicated relationship with his dad. He begins with his earliest memory and takes us through the difficulties and triumphs of growing up as a gay Black boy in Missouri. Isaac grapples with sexuality, race, and ancestry on his own terms when he moves to Chicago. As he embraces the healing nature of creative expression, Isaac reframes his understanding of his family and of himself.

As we ring in the new year, many of us will take time to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. I have always turned to books, especially coming-of-age novels, for inspiration, comfort, and guidance in my own self-discovery. That is why I highly recommend Isaac’s Song for a contemplative, raw, and moving start to your 2025.