JOSEPH'S GRACE

In this sequel to Joseph (2008), the title character now lives with his Aunt Shirley, Uncle Todd and cousin Jasmine. He works at Target and looks forward to beginning his sophomore year. Despite his attempts to distance himself from his drug-addicted mother and her dangerous boyfriend, Bow, she constantly solicits him for drug money. Hopes for a fresh start are shattered when an armed Bow comes to Joseph’s home in a rage looking for his mom. When Joseph refuses to open the door, Bow shoots and kills Jasmine. Even as he tries to comfort his inconsolable aunt and uncle and cope with his own guilt over Jasmine’s death, Joseph heroically strives to keep up with his schoolwork, his job, sports and a girlfriend. Joseph’s almost superhuman resilience and dogged determination are moving and inspiring. The narrative power of Joseph’s many struggles loses some impact, however, when Moses resolves his troubles too abruptly and neatly. Emotionally invested readers will be pleased with the hopeful ending, though, even if it’s on the tidy side. (Fiction. 12-16)