From the Desk of Zoe Washington

On Zoe's 12th birthday, she receives a letter from her biological father Marcus, who's been in prison her whole life. Shocked but curious, she writes him back. What follows is a summer filled with baking, friendship, and some hardhitting messages about the criminal justice system. Marks tackles a lot: idealized career aspirations, conflict in friendships, how limiting it is to see the world in absolutes. But most importantly, she explores the suffering caused by wrongful conviction. She discusses how racism and classism remove opportunities for thorough legal counsel and lessen likelihood of sympathetic judges and jurors. She shows how innocent people end up forever held accountable for things they never did. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is a unique, compassionate, altogether stunning debut. Its depiction of institutional racism in America is comparable to [b:The Hate U Give 32075671 The Hate U Give Angie Thomas https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1476284759l/32075671.SY75.jpg 49638190] (albeit less depressing because it's written for a younger audience), and I'd love to see it gain similar acclaim. I'd recommend this to fans of [b:Front Desk 36127488 Front Desk (Front Desk, #1) Kelly Yang https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1507986199l/36127488.SX50.jpg 51903030] and [b:Breakout 36528200 Breakout Kate Messner https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1509720063l/36528200.SY75.jpg 49008564].