Author: Desmond Hall
Publisher: Simon & Schuster

American Street meets Long Way Dow in this searing and gritty debut novel that takes an unflinching look at the harsh realities of gang life in Jamaica and how far a teen is willing to go for family.

This debut novel by Jamaican-born author Desmond Hall is a thriller that confronts police brutality, racism, gang culture and political deception. Bestselling author Jason Reynolds has said, “It's one of those tales that ties you up, turns you inside-out, wrings you like a wet cloth…. Hall is a hurricane of a writer.” Suffice it to say that this novel is riveting, dark, gutsy and a stark examination of both Jamaica and the kind of poverty that offers few choices for youth. It’s also a coming-of-age tale, and an inside look at gang life, which is certainly does not glamorize. The main character is super-well developed and realistic, and his choices tug at your heart-strings. The Jamaican patois (a sort of dialect) can be hard to follow, but the novel would lose a layer of richness without it. This new author is one to watch, and that’s an understatement. Highly recommended.

- P.W.