From the Desk of Zoe Washington

By: Janae Marks

Narrated by: Bahni Turpin

#1 Kids Indie Next List * Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Junior Library Guild Selection * Edgar Award Nominee * Four Starred Reviews * Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year * An Indie Bestseller *

From debut author Janae Marks comes a captivating story full of heart, as one courageous girl questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right—even in the face of great opposition.

Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.

But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn’t know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.

""When Marcus tells Zoe he is innocent, and her grandmother agrees, Zoe begins to learn about inequality in the criminal justice system, and she sets out to find the alibi witness who can prove his innocence."" (Publishers Weekly, ""An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List"")

Plus don't miss Janae Marks's A Soft Place to Land!

Loved It!

One of the best books I’ve ever read! I couldn’t put the book down during the time I was reading this book! It is interesting, beautiful, and heartwarming!

Someone do little can do something big

I love how she recognized racism and many black peoples have to go with that

Great story

Relevant topic with a wonderful reader. It’s important to put it down on
paper the experiences we have endured in America.

Fantastic story

This book left me on the edge of my seat! I highly recommend it to anyone who is concerned with social justice. It's a great way to introduce kids to the concept of racism and the flawed prison system in the US.

A very good story, especially for this time...

The performance was wonderful. The story was well written and contained appropriate social topics for today.