INVISIBLE SON

Guy Lockard depicts 17-year-old Andre Jackson of Portland, Oregon, who is returning home after two months in juvenile detention for a robbery he didn't commit. Lockard depicts Andre's moods: his smoldering feelings for Sierra, the girl who lives in foster care next door and his confusion about why his friend Eric let him take the rap for the theft. Lockard intensifies Andre's feelings when COVID-19 robs him of his beloved grandfather, the death of George Floyd places him and others in jeopardy, and his suspicions about Eric mount. The authenticity of the writing and Lockard's narration reveal a character who speaks truth to power during the tumultuous personal and political events of 2020. Johnson delivers the afterword, which adds background to the issues and setting. S.W. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2023, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2023]