A compelling read about a black boy in 1898 on the eve of a race riot in Wilmington, North Carolina. The days of slavery are only a generation past. Members of the black community face hated, lynching, and the constant daily threat of intimidation. The story of Moses, the young son of a prominent member of the black community, is beautifully and movingly told. As an approaching election brings racial tension to a boil, Moses discovers what it means to be a man. The themes and language of the book make this a novel for 8th grade and above: lynching, rape, the life of slaves. The author also uses the n-word, which will make it a difficult read for some teenagers--or at least, difficult for their parents.