A review by jazzsonnet
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

5.0

I had added this to my women authors of color reading list when it came out, and my 8-year-old daughter read it first. Then we listened to the audiobook together as a family, and we're so glad we did. With this sweet story about family, friends, and truth, Janae Marks introduces young readers to issues of systemic racism and problems with the criminal justice system. She challenges stereotypes in ways that are both overt (a tender black father wrongfully imprisoned, presented as a major plotline) and covert (a woman teaching math at Harvard, with a woman TA, presented without comment). We'll definitely keep an eye out for her next book!