On Air with Zoe Washington

I'm not a fast reader by any means, but read this book in about 30 hours flat! The characters are lovable and though it had been a while since I read the first book in this series, I was able to pick it right back up, thanks to the author's ability to weave back in references to the previous book. Zoe is a strong female protagonist, and this book, set two years after the first, shows her coming into her own even more--navigating family dynamics, changing friendships, and confronting some of her own biases head on. I love how the author brings the reader into the conversation around reentry into society for folks who have been incarcerated- and does so in an age appropriate way for a middle-grade reader. Along the way, it's natural to confront your own biases, which is so important. I can see this being a great entry point to conversations about growing up, social justice, and what it means to learn, unlearn, and stand up for what is right. Could be a great read to read alongside your own child! Highly recommend!

Review from my daughter Paige (12): Zoe Washington, whose father is Marcus, works at Ari's Cakes cash register for her summer job. However, Zoe wanted to bake pastries. Marcus wanted to make a restaurant, and that is where the plan sets in motion. The problem is that they needed money to open a restaurant, and there was no stopping Zoe from achieving their goal. The book is a sequel; you could still understand even if you didn't read the first book (like myself). I loved the restaurant idea, the search for the perfect signature dessert, and the Sunday dinners! The book tackles a challenging subject about exonerees and how hard life is after prison. It was hard for Marcus to get back on his feet, and I felt sorry for him. It also talked about creative ways to raise money for a good cause, and I learned a lot about it. Zoe was stubborn and a natural baker. She is also pretty creative, and the way she pairs two desserts is fascinating. Marcus was loving and the sweetest dad you could ever ask for. He is also skilled at BBQ. The theme of On Air With Zoe Washington is never to give up on your dreams. I recommend this book who is interested in life after prison and love daring realistic fiction. Thank you, Harper kids and The Shelf Stuff, for sharing this book with me!

Two years ago, Zoe Washington (with the help of others) proved that her biological father was wrongfully convicted and incarcerated. Now after being released from prison and working to start over, Zoe witnesses first-hand how difficult it can be for someone who was incarcerated, even wrongfully incarcerated, to truly start over. Zoe and her biological father Marcus have a dream of opening a restaurant where Marcus can sell the food he makes, and Zoe can bake and sell desserts. However, when they run into problems such as not being able to secure funding to make this dream a reality, Zoe digs into why this is happening and decides to start a podcast interviewing and sharing exonerees’ experiences after being released from prison. Zoe knows how powerful her voice is when it is, and now she is using it to share these exonerees’ experiences and to hopefully fundraise for her and Marcus' culinary endeavor! Personal opinion: I really enjoyed this book and I thought that it shined a light on a really important topic! I also think that Marks did a great job sharing this story in a way that is accessible for middle level readers! Those who enjoyed From the Desk of Zoe Washington with undoubtably enjoy this sequel!

4.5 stars I'm noticing some unusual review activity on this book, so I'd like to start by saying that (1) I actually read this novel and did so carefully, (2) I know and love Zoe, and (3) my students (college undergrads who primarily aspire to teach English or language arts in K-12, college, and/or university) are always wild for the first book in this series. My hopes were high, and I'm finishing the read feeling pretty satisfied with this book, especially as a follow-up to its predecessor. Zoe, the m.c. and titular character, has her life and goals more together than most adults I've met. What's wild is that she also achieves her goals and always puts her plans into action, and while this might seem unrealistic at times, Marks provides her with an incredible support system and immense emotional intelligence that make even the borderline implausible seem totally fine for Zoe. In this novel, one character tells her that she is basically the living embodiment of Black Girl Magic, and it's impossible to disagree. As readers of the first book will expect, there is a lot happening here. The family relationships and friendships continue to evolve, though there is a lot more of Marcus and Maya than mom, grandma, and Trevor in this round. The fellowship is still intact, but I did like getting to explore some of these other relationships in a new context. Zoe's still baking her heart out, and WOW. I hope Jasmine Guillory is reading this book. Zoe, in 20 years, needs to be a romantic lead in a Guillory novel. She is not only living her best life even as a kid; she also demonstrates an unwavering love for food that rivals only what I've seen in Guillory's characters. These authors need to be making plans if that's not already happening! Oh, and Zoe's continued fight against injustices surrounding the prison industrial complex, racism, and generally not getting what she wants? She's still the fiercest and most effective advocate around. There are three details that I wanted to see refined a bit here. Two are brief but important moments: Zoe's interaction with a customer, which needs some follow-up (why did this happen, what is she supposed to learn, how does this help her going forward) and the idea that Zoe would be able to go on public radio as a young kid, say where she works, and then this is just...left in (?!) by the interviewers/producers. That seemed WILD to me, especially considering her mom's response (like it's on Zoe...?!). The bigger sticking point for me is considering the title, the cover, and the at times really important role of Zoe's pod, how incredibly late it comes up in the book. In the first book, the letters are at the center, and they are present from the jump; this structure works so well. I'd have loved to see the podcast eps and interviews work more like this. Get them happening earlier, in a clearer form...

Great book, better than the first one. I recommend you should read this!