Promises Kept

Two accomplished narrators, Bahni Turpin and Dominic Hoffman, alternate reading chapters in this rigorous discussion of what helps and deters black boys who want to become their best selves. Subdued but clearly engaged with this thoughtful book, the narrators succeed in communicating its heavy implications. With only minor stumbles, they do remarkably well phrasing convoluted sentences. The writers, who summarize voluminous research and chronicle the development and schooling of their son, pull no punches as they describe the ways mothers, fathers, peers, and institutions create barriers for African-American boys. Though the authors' courageous scholarship will challenge the facile blaming and entrenched views in both white and black culture, their evenhanded writing and the narrators' respect for this material combine to give the audio balance and poignancy. T.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine