A review by marywahlmeierbracciano
The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.

challenging emotional sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

 This unforgettable book is sure to be a mainstay in African American literature for a long time to come.  With chapters that reflect the books of the Bible, and characters that reflect the characters therein, The Prophets is a liberating epic sprinkled with interruptions by a Greek chorus of African ancestral women and flashbacks to the ancestors' demise.  This is no Twelve Years a Slave—The Prophets contains many moments of exquisite joy, albeit brief ones.  Its story centers not on a man but on two teenage boys joined in the most pure love you can imagine.  Their love outshines everything else, and they are protected—ultimately—by their ancestors, and by the mystical women who raised them.  Please, read this book.   
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