Autobiography of My Dead Brother

With Harlem as its backdrop, Autobiography of My Dead Brother follows the diverging paths of best friends Rise and Jesse. When Rise becomes engulfed in gang activity and starts dealing drugs, Jesse, a budding artist, tries to make sense of the complexities of friendship, loyalty, and loss in a neighborhood plagued by drive-by shootings, vicious gangs, and an indifferent juvenile justice system.

The innovative first-person storytelling, along with cartoons and photos, pulls in readers and makes Autobiography of My Dead Brother a strong and thought-provoking choice for sharing in a classroom or at home.

"Though the story is starkly realistic, there is always hope in the gifts of Jesse the artist and C. J. the musician, of schools and churches and of caring parents." (Kirkus)

"Touching and impactful, Autobiography cannot fail to intrigue, and hopefully influence youngsters with its poignant statement of two roads taken." (Judges' Citation, National Book Award)

What happens when your best friend becomes a stranger you can’t save?

• Best Friends on Diverging Paths: Jesse is a budding artist trying to make sense of the world through his sketchbook. His blood brother, Rise, is choosing gang life and dealing drugs, forcing them onto a tragic collision course.
• Gritty Realistic Fiction: A powerful and honest look at the impact of drive-by shootings, a flawed justice system, and the difficult choices teens face in neighborhoods where hope is hard to find.
• Art as a Coping Mechanism: Told through Jesse’s innovative first-person narration, sketches, and comic strips, this story explores how creativity can be a lifeline in the face of tragedy.
• Friendship and Loyalty: An unforgettable exploration of what it means to stay true to a friend who is losing himself, and the heartbreaking cost of loyalty when lines are crossed.