The Silence of Our Friends by Mark Long and Jim Demonakos Illustrated by Nate Powell YP FIC LONG

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies...but the silence of our friends." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Mark Long was just 11 years old in 1967.  His world seemed so simple until the night his father covered a protest that led to the death of a police officer and fraudulent murder charges for five African-American students.  Now Mark’s family faces social isolation, hatred, and danger if his father tells the truth in court.  A tale of friendship, loyalty, and courage in the face of bigotry, hatred, and racism.

This is a slightly fictionalized account of real events in Mark Long’s life growing up in Houston in the 60s. The fact that the venomous hatred Mark encountered for befriending a black family that moved into his all white neighborhood and for his father defending innocent men is chilling.  It shows how far our society has come and reminds us to always look to justice and fight bigotry wherever it comes from, because it eventually affects us all. Nate Powell (Artist/author of Swallow Me Whole reviewed here) is an inspired choice to draw this tale.  He captures subtle human emotion and feeling remarkably well.  The combination of the shocking story, the relatable characters, and the excellent art make this a real contender to be a modern classic.  I’d recommend it to any fans of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (FIC LEE) and to anyone that wants a great story about a Houston not too long gone.

Check our catalog for The Silence of Our Friends here.

Nothing But Drama / by Reshonda Tate Billingsley

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Despite all her mother's warnings about her bad-rep boyfriend Keith, 15-year-old Camille still insists on seeing him--in secret. But nothing's hidden when Keith is suddenly arrested by police and Camille is suspected of harboring him (unknowingly) as a felon. Now she's forced to give up her Tuesday nights for group counseling at a local church. Court ordered restrictions and told-you-so's might seem like hardships, but nothing can compare to what Angel, another Tuesday-nighter, has on her plate. Pregnant at 16, Angel's been virtually abandoned by everyone; her boyfriend long gone and currently on the outs with her irate grandmother, she's not only without mutual support, she might soon be without a place to live.

The other group members--Jasmine & Alexis--may not look like they have any real problems but it doesn't take long for everyone to realize that just the opposite is true. Chippy Jasmine has some serious attitude and self-control issues, exhibited when her aggression gets on more than a few nerves and almost incites a brawl at the first meeting. Delicate Alexis may be from uptown (and have the clothes to advertise it), but her erstwhile family and self-image crisis have her reeling on the inside. After getting acquainted with each other in less than classy fashion, the foursome--with help from their stern but patient counselor Mrs. Rachel--steadily start to work through their problems together, slowly forging bonds that will stand up against anything.