By Janae Marks
New York: Katherine Tegen Books, 2020. Fiction.
On her 12th birthday, aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a surprise letter from Marcus - her biological father who's been imprisoned for murder since before Zoe was born. Against her mother and stepfather's wishes, Zoe secretly begins writing to Marcus with the help of her maternal grandmother. As Zoe gets to know Marcus, she has a hard time believing the kind, basketball loving, R & B music listening, recipe-sharing man could actually be guilty. Zoe learns that the evidence used to convict Marcus was circumstantial and inconclusive, which prompts her to learn more about inequality in the criminal justice system and how black people like her and Marcus are more likely to be wrongfully convicted of crimes.
This incredible debut novel is perfect for facilitating conversations about racial profiling with middle grade readers. Though the subject matter may seem heavy at first, Janae Marks keeps the story age-appropriate and well-paced. Zoe is a wonderfully well-rounded character dealing with lots of twelve-year-old issues like friendship, family, doing what's right, and, of course, her dream of competing on Kids Bake Challenge. This is a powerful and hopeful story about a difficult topic, but its timely message is a great starting point for parents wanting to discuss race with their children.
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