Janae Marks

From the Desk of Zoe Washington

Kaitlin Simpson

Cute read, very touching story. Definitely enjoyed this one.

This novel was fantastic. I loved the characters and how much they all enjoyed each other. From the Desk of Zoe Washington had a fantastic story, and I was engrossed until the end. The writing was fantastic, and this is one of the best Middle-Grade novels I’ve read. Friendship plays a large role in this story, and the friendship was fantastic.

Steph L 

fira

4 stars/7.7 with the cawpile rating system. i liked this! it wasn’t really what i was expecting? i went into it expecting there’d be more mystery, but the book teaches a very important message in a way that makes it easily digestible for the middle grade audience. 

Candyce Kirk

Lily D

4.5
Wow. I loved this book, amazing. Beautiful. 
(I'm not sure my rating so I'll change it if needed)

Jeni Enjaian

When this book started and I realized that, yet again, the main character had a penchant for baking, I had to roll my eyes. That makes two books on the SCASL Middle Grades list and three books that I have read this year that have had that as a character trait in some fashion for the protagonist. Can these 7th graders not have some other sort of hobby?
On top of that, Zoe's love for baking does not play a role that drives the plot forward in any way. Marks could have replaced baking with music or dance or sports or...you name it...and the plot would not have changed at all. 
I think, however, that Marks sets up a compelling story line. Zoe knows that her father is in prison for murder. She has never met him or had any contact with him since he was arrested before she was born. Then on her twelfth birthday she receives a letter from him and starts up a correspondence. This correspondence turns into a quest of sort to prove his innocence of the crime. 
This part of the story engaged me. I think that Marks did a decent, though not stellar, job of portraying the difficulties of finding alibi witnesses and other things that go into this sort of endeavor.
There were enough distractions, however, like the subplot with Trevor, that felt completely unnecessary and incline me to rate the book lower than I have. Since I did enjoy the book three stars worth, I will keep my rating as such.

Caitlyn M

Fast-paced middle grade: suspenseful, heartwarming, intriguing, and smart

Lynn Braden

On Zoe Washington's birthday, she discovers a letter from her biological father. Zoe knows nothing about him except that he is in prison convicted of murder. He seems so nice in his letter, so Zoe decides to write back, but she knows she must hide her letter from her family because all she has been told by them is that her father is a bad man. As they continue to correspond, Zoe realizes that she needs to know who her father killed and why. When he tells her he is innocent and that he has an alibi, she begins investigating in order to find the witness who might be able to get her father out of prison.

From the Desk of Zoe Washington refers to the stationary that Zoe uses to write to her father. Zoe's interest in baking and her dispute with her friend, Trevor, are woven into this story about the judicial system and racism in this country. While the story can be a bit heavy handed with its message at times, and gives fairly simplistic answers to very complicated questions and issues, it does deliver a positive, upbeat story about injustice and its price. Overall, a good middle grade story with a very timely theme.

Krystal Campbell 

Firstly, this had a great narrator! 

Secondly this was a great story!

There is great representation, a likeable main character, mystery, humour and re found family and friendship 

Highly recommend

Yuki Reads

Super cute middle grade book with some uber-relevant themes! Zoe is a smart character who’s passionate about going after what she wants. This was a feel good story with great emotions. I’d love to see this one making its way to classrooms and schools!

An Amazon Best Book of the Month * #1 Kids Indie Next List * A Junior Library Guild Selection * Four Starred Reviews From debut author Janae Marks comes a captivating story full of heart, as one courageous girl questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right--even in the face of great opposition. Zoe Washington isn't sure what to write. What does a girl say to the father she's never met, hadn't heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who's been in prison for a terrible crime? A crime he says he never committed. Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe's worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving to her parents that she's worthy of auditioning for Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge. But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus's conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn't know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies. When Marcus tells Zoe he is innocent, and her grandmother agrees, Zoe begins to learn about inequality in the criminal justice system, and she sets out to find the alibi witness who can prove his innocence. (Publishers Weekly, An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List) --Tanita S. Davis, author of Mare's War

Monae Reads

Raven K

Juliana

Crystal L

Caitlin Hooker

This book follows Zoe Washington after she receives an unexpected letter on her twelfth birthday from the incarcerated father she's never met and her courageous journey to uncover the truth about his crime.