From the Desk of Zoe Washington
#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!
Book At A Glance
# of Pages: 320
Book Binding: Paperback
Year of Publication: 2021
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Language: en
ISBN: 9780062875860
Creator Bio
Janae Marks is a debut author who has always had a passion for storytelling. She grew up in the suburbs of New York City and spent much of her childhood writing stories and creating characters. After graduating from college, Janae pursued a career in marketing and advertising, but eventually returned to her first love of writing. Her debut novel, From the Desk of Zoe Washington, is a heartwarming and thought-provoking middle grade novel that has received critical acclaim and has been named a New York Times bestseller. In addition to writing, Janae enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, and trying new foods. She currently resides in New Jersey with her husband and daughter.
