The Faraway Truth

Zoe has never met her father, who was sent to prison right before
she was born - so when she receives a letter from him on her
twelfth birthday, it's a huge surprise. But when Zoe investigates
the crime, she starts to doubt the conviction. Is her father innocent?
Or is he a liar? Either way, she's determined to find out.

---

 


From debut author Janae Marks comes a warm, wise and
captivating mystery full of heart, as one girl searches for the truth
in the face of great opposition.
'Truly a must-read.' ANGIE THOMAS, author of
THE HATE U GIVE


'When Marcus tells Zoe he is innocent, and her grandmother
agrees, Zoe begins to learn about inequality in the criminal justice
system, and she sets out to find the alibi witness who can prove
his innocence.' PUBLISHERS WEEKLY, 'An Anti-Racist
Children's and YA Reading List'


'From the outset, debut author Janae Marks takes a sensitive
approach to difficult themes of justice and racism to produce
this
important, heartfelt book.’ THE
SCOTSMAN


Zoe Washington isn’t sure what to write. What does a girl
say to the father she’s never met, hadn’t heard from
until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who’s
been in prison for a terrible crime?


A crime he says he never committed.


Could Marcus really be innocent? Zoe is determined to uncover
the truth. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation
from the rest of her family. Everyone else thinks Zoe’s
worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship and proving
to her parents that she’s worthy of auditioning for Food
Network’s Kids Bake Challenge.


But with bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus’s
conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe
Zoe doesn’t know how to balance.





A warm and wise contemporary middle-grade novel by a
fantastically talented debut writer.

An incredibly moving and important story with important
themes of racism and justice.

Despite the big themes it sacrifices none of its middle-grade
appeal – Zoe is a wonderfully lovable character and
her journey is a real adventure.