Wander in the Dark

by Jumata Emill

Overview

Notes From Your Bookseller

A timely and necessary YA novel that wrestles with themes of systemic racism and racial bias in the modern South, Wander in the Dark also maintains all the hallmarks of a page-turning thriller.

"Two brothers must come together to solve the murder of the most popular girl in school after one of them is caught fleeing the scene of her death"--

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780593651858
Publisher:	Random House Children's Books
Publication date:	01/30/2024
Pages:	400
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.50(d)
Lexile:	790L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Jumata Emill is a journalist who has covered crime and local politics in Mississippi and parts of Louisiana. He earned his BA in mass communications from Southern University and A&M College. He’s a Pitch Wars alum and a member of the Crime Writers of Color. When he’s not writing about murderous teens, he’s watching and obsessively tweeting about every franchise of the Real Housewives. Jumata lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and is the author of The Black Queen and Wander in the Dark.

Editorial Reviews

2023-10-21
Two half brothers put aside their childhood beef to solve a gruesome crime.

Amir and Marcel Trudeau share a father. Marcel, who’s two years younger, is out, drives a Tesla, and lives in an upscale part of New Orleans with his dad and mom. Amir rides his bike everywhere, is a great cook (thanks to his nana), and has a single mother who works a night shift in the ER. There’s a tense history between the boys that Marcel is trying to reconcile, especially now, with both brothers attending the same school for the first time—predominantly white Truman Academy, where they’re just two of a handful of Black students. On the last night of Mardi Gras, Amir arrives at Marcel’s 16th birthday party, hoping to smash with Marcel’s best friend, Chloe Danvers, the white girl who invited him. What Amir wasn’t planning on was not hooking up at all, instead falling asleep on Chloe’s couch and waking up to find her body bathed in blood. With Amir accused of murder, Marcel is determined to prove his older brother’s innocence. In the process, he uncovers how racist his white friends—and school—really are. The dual narrative allows readers to understand how desperate both brothers are to identify the murderer. In this page-turner, racism is the third major character, highlighting how deeply its systemic vortex affects Amir’s and Marcel’s lives. It’s at once riveting and downright disturbing.

An edgy, fast-paced thriller exploring important issues. (Thriller. 13-18)

Kirkus Reviews

★ "Emill employs smart sleuthing, messy teen dynamics, and hidden agendas, as well as liberal use of Black cultural references and a vividly portrayed New Orleans, to present a propulsive and engaging thriller." —Publishers Weekly, starred review

★ "The plot accelerates at top speed to its exhausting, nail-biting, and unexpected climax, and there is enough falling action to allow readers to catch a breath....With his second novel, Emill is proving himself a fresh and talented writer." —Booklist, starred review 

★ "[An] enthralling, gripping murder mystery....Emill powerfully displays an unfair justice system, harmful stereotypes, political power, and inherent racism in private institutions. The author alternatively shows the strength and resiliency of family, friends, and community as they fight for justice." —Shelf Awareness, starred review 

"An edgy, fast-paced thriller exploring important issues." —Kirkus Reviews

"Truthful and twisted at the same time, Wander in the Dark is both a thrill and a delight." —BookPage

From the Publisher