REALIZED DREAM

A successful developer and businessman recounts his upbringing in Jamaica in this autobiography.

As the book’s title suggests, Prince has obtained the dream of his Jamaican family. With multiple degrees from two of the English-speaking Caribbean’s most prestigious colleges, Prince served as a community developer in his home country for nearly two decades before moving to Canada to work in the automotive industry. The founder of an educational foundation focused on providing support for Jamaicans, Prince has long seen education as the vehicle for both individual and national progress. This autobiography, the first volume in a multipart series, explores his early life, providing a rags-to-riches narrative that emphasizes the importance of learning to self-advancement. While the author’s educational feats play a central role in the book, from its opening narrative set at his college graduation to its final chapter documenting his prowess as president of his school’s chess club, the book also emphasizes the role of family and community. “Just because someone cared, because someone prayed,” he reflects, considering the sacrifices made by his grandaunt to ensure he could succeed in school, “because of love, because of family—my story continued.” While proud of his accomplishments, the author never self-aggrandizes as he works to instill ideas of national pride, racial dignity, and Black self-help in young, Caribbean readers. Toward this end, the book makes ample references to Afro-Caribbean and African American history, highlighting the triumphs of Black icons from Marcus Garvey to Barack Obama. The author of the Runkus Black Trilogy, a series of YA novels that feature inspirational stories of Black athletes, Prince writes in an engaging style that buoys his encouraging message. The book’s commitment to accessibility is evidenced by the inclusion of full-color family photographs throughout. While the text’s religiosity may not appeal to all readers (as a Christian, the author frequently references the power of prayer, belief in Jesus, and the importance of faith to his success), readers who share Prince’s spiritual inclinations will be particularly drawn to his book’s message of hope.

A stirring ode to education and determination.