Sponsored by This is Not the Jess Show by Anna Carey, published by Quirk Books.
The year is 1998 and like any other teenager Jess Flynn is just trying to survive high school. Between a crush on her childhood best friend, overprotective parents, and her sister’s worsening health, the only constant is her hometown of Swickley…until the day she discovers a mysterious device, causing her to question everything she’s ever known. As more cracks appear in Jess’s world, she faces a choice: can she live the rest of her life knowing it’s a lie or should she risk everything for the truth?
Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!
Tomorrow is Michael Bae Jordan’s birthday. Y’all know him. He’s Creed. He’s Killmonger. He’s People’s Sexiest Man Alive. He’s Lori Harvey’s latest boy toy. I’ve enjoy MBJ in everything from The Wire to Fantastic Four, but his recent role in Just Mercy as Bryan Stevenson is still top of mind and is as relevant as ever.
Just Mercy (Adapted for Young Adults): A True Story for the Fight for Justice by Bryan Stevenson
Lawyer and social justice advocate Bryan Stevenson offers a glimpse into the lives of the wrongfully imprisoned and his efforts to free them from an unjust judicial system. Stevenson works to protect the basic human rights of America’s most vulnerable population–the poor, the disabled, and the marginalized. This adaption of the critically-acclaimed bestselling memoir for young readers is a call to action and compassion in the pursuit of justice.
Proceeds from the book go toward charity to help in Bryan Stevenson’s work.
In this era where we increasingly hear phrases like “Black Lives Matter (too)” and “Defund the Police,” it is essential to see how our broken justice system and America’s original sin of slavery brought us to this place. Just Mercy does just that by highlighting some factors that led to the United States being the leader in the mass incarceration of its citizens. We spent decades executing adults (and even children) for their convicted crimes at an alarming rate. We spent decades sentencing children to die in prison for crimes they committed. Bryan Stevenson along with the other dedicated lawyers at the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI) worked tirelessly to right those wrongs for as many death-row inmates as possible. Just Mercy shares the successes and failures of that journey.
Although this book is adapted for teen readers, I can easily see adults devouring it. The words are simplified for younger readers, but the story is still powerful. I didn’t bawl my eyes out, but I was constantly on the verge of tears. Of course, there was rage at the mind-boggling injustice ingrained within America’s justice system, but there was also joy when the EJI was able to give clients some long overdue justice.
Just Mercy was named one of the best kids books to read during Black History Month by USA Today, and Kirkus Reviews called it required reading. I couldn’t agree more.
Until next time bookish friends,
Katisha
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