--- product_id: 109611127 title: "When I Was the Greatest" price: "2937 kr" currency: ISK in_stock: true reviews_count: 11 url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/109611127-when-i-was-the-greatest store_origin: IS region: Iceland --- # When I Was the Greatest **Price:** 2937 kr **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** When I Was the Greatest - **How much does it cost?** 2937 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/109611127-when-i-was-the-greatest) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description desertcart.com: When I Was the Greatest eBook : Reynolds, Jason, Frost, Michael: Kindle Store Review: A Terrific Tale Capturing the Energy and Despair of Being Young in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn - Ali is a kid growing up in Bed-Stuy with his strong Mom, Doris, and his younger sister, Jazz. His dad, a small time hustler sells stolen stuff out of his car (which he is living in), and the brownstone next door has disintegrated into a no-hope building for junkies and prostitutes after the long time owners have sold up and moved South (which happened a lot in Bed-Stuy in the mid 2000s when housing prices boomed, and owners who had gone through the hardest of times (Bed-Stuy = Murder City in the 80s) suddenly had golden tickets and moved away in their old age.) In his terrific Young Adult novel, Jason Reynolds captures the feel of Bed-Stuy, both the energy and the despair, all from the view of young guys whose futures may or may not have been been set in stone already. Ali is part of a loving, if complicated, family, whereas his best friend Noodles who lives next door in the junky house with his checked-out despairing mother and his brother Needles who suffers from Tourettes. Both Noodles and Needles futures look bleak, but Ali and his level headed, warm hearted take on life could perhaps be their saving grace. Following there day to day activities, in a real, non-judgmental way, Reynolds creates a vision of families surviving, and love thriving in the cracks. Ali is mentored by a local boxing coach, a Vietnam vet missing his legs, but is perhaps to kind to really fight, while Noodles is already spiraling into petty crime and an anti-social rut which can only end badly if he can’t turn around. Together with Needles they get invited to an underground party, and their preparation for it and what happens there will change all of their lives. So why are these guys called Ali, Noodles, and Needles? Well, I’m not giving that away, but I do want to give up that there is a whole, unexpected knitting subplot going on, and there is a scene where Noodles and Ali go to a knitting store over in Cobble Hill that had me rolling on the floor. Reynolds is interested in the race and class divisions that form the veins of NYC, and just as Ali is aware he is living in a world within other worlds, Reynolds shows us that, too, and in an entertaining, human way. It’s a wonderful book, and everyone should read it, regardless of age. Review: Excellent read. In depth character development that is real and it reaches the heart. - Life is sometimes hard to put into words. This author succeeded and brought the reality of each character into understandable words that reach down to a level that helps one to make sense of how other people feel and why they react to situations and people the way they do. Excellent. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | ASIN | B00DA9II7K | | Accessibility | Learn more | | Best Sellers Rank | #925,462 in Kindle Store ( See Top 100 in Kindle Store ) #39 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Disabilities #53 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Bullying (Books) #68 in Teen & Young Adult Fiction on Substance Abuse | | Customer Reviews | 4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (476) | | Edition | Reprint | | Enhanced typesetting | Enabled | | File size | 5.6 MB | | Grade level | 7 - 9 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1442459496 | | Language | English | | Page Flip | Enabled | | Print length | 252 pages | | Publication date | January 7, 2014 | | Publisher | Atheneum Books for Young Readers | | Reading age | 12 years and up | | Screen Reader | Supported | | Word Wise | Not Enabled | | X-Ray | Not Enabled | ## Images ![When I Was the Greatest - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/715ucdqI6+L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Terrific Tale Capturing the Energy and Despair of Being Young in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn *by E***W on July 12, 2014* Ali is a kid growing up in Bed-Stuy with his strong Mom, Doris, and his younger sister, Jazz. His dad, a small time hustler sells stolen stuff out of his car (which he is living in), and the brownstone next door has disintegrated into a no-hope building for junkies and prostitutes after the long time owners have sold up and moved South (which happened a lot in Bed-Stuy in the mid 2000s when housing prices boomed, and owners who had gone through the hardest of times (Bed-Stuy = Murder City in the 80s) suddenly had golden tickets and moved away in their old age.) In his terrific Young Adult novel, Jason Reynolds captures the feel of Bed-Stuy, both the energy and the despair, all from the view of young guys whose futures may or may not have been been set in stone already. Ali is part of a loving, if complicated, family, whereas his best friend Noodles who lives next door in the junky house with his checked-out despairing mother and his brother Needles who suffers from Tourettes. Both Noodles and Needles futures look bleak, but Ali and his level headed, warm hearted take on life could perhaps be their saving grace. Following there day to day activities, in a real, non-judgmental way, Reynolds creates a vision of families surviving, and love thriving in the cracks. Ali is mentored by a local boxing coach, a Vietnam vet missing his legs, but is perhaps to kind to really fight, while Noodles is already spiraling into petty crime and an anti-social rut which can only end badly if he can’t turn around. Together with Needles they get invited to an underground party, and their preparation for it and what happens there will change all of their lives. So why are these guys called Ali, Noodles, and Needles? Well, I’m not giving that away, but I do want to give up that there is a whole, unexpected knitting subplot going on, and there is a scene where Noodles and Ali go to a knitting store over in Cobble Hill that had me rolling on the floor. Reynolds is interested in the race and class divisions that form the veins of NYC, and just as Ali is aware he is living in a world within other worlds, Reynolds shows us that, too, and in an entertaining, human way. It’s a wonderful book, and everyone should read it, regardless of age. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent read. In depth character development that is real and it reaches the heart. *by D***A on February 20, 2024* Life is sometimes hard to put into words. This author succeeded and brought the reality of each character into understandable words that reach down to a level that helps one to make sense of how other people feel and why they react to situations and people the way they do. Excellent. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Read.... *by L***D on June 27, 2019* If you're looking for #ownvoices material, pick up any Jason Reynolds book. When I Was the Greatest is just a real story about three boys from Brooklyn. Also, the cover makes so much sense once you get into the story. Not at all what I was expecting. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.is/products/109611127-when-i-was-the-greatest](https://www.desertcart.is/products/109611127-when-i-was-the-greatest) --- *Product available on Desertcart Iceland* *Store origin: IS* *Last updated: 2026-04-23*