The Shape of Dreams

The Shape of Dreams by April Reynolds Feb 3rd 2026

The Shape of Dreams by April Reynolds is a vibrant, heartbreaking, and unforgettable novel set in East Harlem in the mid-1980s, exploring grief, community, and the enduring power of hope.

Twelve-year-old Tyrone is found murdered, and Mathilda “Twin” Johnson, a neighborhood troublemaker and reluctant hero, breaks the cardinal rule: she calls the cops. Her choice ignites a chain reaction that brings unmanageable grief to Anita, Tyrone’s mother, a postal worker and army widow determined to solve her son’s murder. The neighborhood—its Mets fans, gossips, immigrant shopkeepers, and latchkey kids—is itself a living, breathing character, shaping and being shaped by the events that follow.

As Twin, Anita, and her friend Wanda navigate a community entangled in drugs, desperation, and systemic injustice, other neighborhood dreamers—a charismatic preacher, a teen singer with Whitney Houston–worthy talent, and church ladies determined to see change—fight to hold onto their visions for a better life.

In the summer of 1986, against the backdrop of the New York Mets’ banner season, this intricate, deeply human story asks: Can a community survive tragedy and systemic pressures? Can dreams shape a city? And can justice ever truly be found?

The Shape of Dreams is a richly layered tale of grief, resilience, and the unbreakable bonds of community, perfect for readers of historical fiction, social commentary, and character-driven literary fiction.