American Street meets Long Way Down 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.