Reviews with content warning for Racial slurs - From the Desk of Zoe Washington

I really liked this middle grade read. It has rich details, interesting characters, and age appropriate conflict between friends that’s totally believable. I loved Zoe’s character. The mixture of the storylines with her baking passion, friendship with Trevor, and the letters to Marcus were perfectly interwoven. Each was shown equal attention and this book covered a lot of topics really well in my opinion.

I felt like this book handled the topic of systemic racism and wrongful conviction in a really age-appropriate way that offers an opportunity for young readers to learn and understand what it would be like to be in Zoe’s situation. The narrative style brings you along while letting you get inside Zoe’s head and it’s so well written.

I really enjoyed reading this as an adult and would absolutely recommend it to fellow adults who love middle grades and to middle school level readers.

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cyrinw98's review

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emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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perpetualpages's review

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

CWs: Some instances of bullying, racism, allusions to racial slurs, some brief (non-graphic) references to murder

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