60 pages 2 hours read

Jason Mott

Hell of a Book

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2021

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Before You Read

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott intertwines the stories of a young Black boy named Soot in rural North Carolina, whose parents teach him to become invisible for safety, and an unnamed Black author on a book tour, struggling with grief, hallucinations, and memory loss. Sensitive topics in the novel include anti-Black police violence and mental illness.

Reviews & Readership

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Hell of a Book by Jason Mott has been widely praised for its innovative narrative structure and poignant exploration of race and identity. Readers appreciate Mott's blending of humor and gravity, although some find the non-linear storyline challenging. Overall, it’s hailed as a profound and timely piece, despite occasional difficulty in following the plot.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Hell of a Book?

Readers who appreciate introspective, metafictional narratives like Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison or The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz will enjoy Hell of a Book by Jason Mott. This novel combines humor, tragedy, and a profound exploration of racial identity, making it compelling for those interested in complex, thought-provoking stories.

Recommended

Reading Age

18+years

Book Details

Topics

Race / Racism

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Magical Realism

Themes

Values/Ideas: Literature

Natural World: Appearance & Reality

Identity: Race