Somewhere in the Darkness

“An eminent author who’s excelled with both tragedy and funny, lighthearted novels writes in a serious vein but offers a realistic gleam of hope…Myers builds a poignant picture here of a failed man whose clumsy reaching out to his son comes too late to make a real bond. Yet Crab does leave a legacy: going home to Mama Jean, Jimmy—a bright, honest, loving boy who has recently been floundering in his inner-city school and exhibiting signs of real depression—resolves that the next generation will be different…Sober, thought provoking, rich in insight and detail: another splendid achievement.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Myers’ telling is a harsh, intense tightrope that a young boy walks to find out the truth.” —Children’s Literature

“A poignant story of motherless, 14-year-old Jimmy Little, whose convict father takes him on a search for truth, identity, and family…Through terse dialogue and characterization, Myers conveys a powerful message about the need for parent and child to believe in and respect one another. By story’s end, the boy understands that to fully appreciate someone else’s life you must first give meaning to your own. Whether from urban or rural backgrounds, single or double parent families, readers will find this universal journey of self-discovery gratifying.” —School Library Journal

“Narrator J. D. Jackson voices all the bewilderment and tempered hope felt by fourteen-year-old Jimmy Little when he’s yanked away from his caregiver, Mama Jean, by his father, Crab, an escaped convict. Together, the two make a cross-country trip in search of family relations and complicated levels of forgiveness. Grasping at a world slipping away, Crab moves from bravado to emotional and physical pain, which is eloquently, realistically portrayed in Jackson’s narration. The journey from New York City to Arkansas via Chicago requires Jackson to deliver diverse accents and personalities and portray a medley of peripheral characters. He meets these challenges, delivering a sharply paced story that moves from reflection to chilling confrontation.” —AudioFile