Yusef Salaam

Amal Shahid has always expressed himself best through his art and poetry. But even in a diverse art school, a biased system sees him as disruptive and unmotivated. Everything changes on one fateful night when a sudden altercation in a gentrifying neighborhood escalates into a devastating tragedy. At just sixteen years old, Amal sees his bright future completely upended. He is convicted of a crime he did not commit and sent to prison. Surrounded by the harsh realities of the justice system, despair and rage threaten to pull him under. To survive, Amal turns to the only refuge he has left: his words and his art. Written in spellbinding verse, this profound novel explores how one boy fights to maintain his humanity in a world designed to strip it away. You will be deeply moved by Amal's struggle for truth and freedom as he uses his creativity to rewrite a story that never should have been his. Discover a powerful testament to resilience, hope, and the unbreakable spirit of a young artist.