Details

Length: 164
Story Build: Quick 
Character development: Decent
Age Recommendation: 8th grade and up 
Reasoning: language, sexual references, substance abuse references, violence

Summary and Review

I have never been a huge fan of nonfiction; I never gravitated towards it. However, maybe because the internet and the media has been inundating us with tons of information that we’ve been forced to sift through for truths (regarding everything from public health to crime to Olympic drama), I have been CRAVING fact. Seriously. It started with my pregnancy last summer but that also coincided with the pandemic, so I think it really has more to do with wanting truth that I can count on… or something like that.

So, anyway, on my quest for more nonfiction, I have discovered that many adult texts have been adapted for young readers. Take, for example, Ibram Kendi’s Stamped coauthored with my favorite, Jason Reynolds. Together, they made Kendi’s 400 plus book into a text that was consumable for teenagers! WHAT!? So cool.

Okay, so, this led me to explore other young adult adaptions, and in my search, I stumbled upon Discovering Wes Moore. I ordered. I read. I consumed in an evening.

Wes Moore’s tale involves his own story of growing up, the events and decisions that ultimately led him to be the successful man he is today. After losing his father at a very young age and moving to the Bronx to live with his grandparents, Moore struggles to define who he is against the landscape of a rich (largely white) private school and the drug infested streets of his neighborhood.

The purpose of writing his book for young readers was to convey that decisions we make when we are young matter. The people we surround ourselves with matter. The supports we have matter.

How does he accomplish this without just preaching for almost 200 pages?

Wes Moore actually met ANOTHER Wes Moore of similar age and circumstances; however, our second Wes is serving a life sentence for aiding in a murder during a burglary gone wrong.

The author juxtaposes his life with that of our second Wes Moore, helping to illustrate how his direction could have easily been changed to that of prison, too. He recognizes that it’s easy to judge others, but we really don’t know what someone has gone through to get them to where they are today. Moore calls upon young adults to consider the choices they are making now and how it might impact them later.

Discovering Wes Moore is a quick read, but it packs a punch. It will make young people, hopefully, pause to reflect upon their hopes, their friends and family, and ultimately how easily it is to take our circumstances for granted.

Celebrations

I like the fast paced clip of the narrative. I thought Moore did a great job at retelling main parts of his life story and how they connected together to get him where he is today. The text never dragged.

Hesitations

I do wonder if he could have switched chapters between himself and the other Wes Moore in order to really hit home the point about the choices we make and the people we surround ourselves with… I felt like that would have made the connection even more clear for his younger readers.