Kirjahaku

" . . . a fast paced, page turning story of a black community determined to rid itself of the drug-driven plague of crime and violence. . . . It entertains, ennobles, and inspires." --Darlene Clark Hine, co-author, The African-American Odyssey"Ballard keeps it real and writes with power and authority." --John Herritage, Staff Inspector (Ret.), New York State Police- - -Obie Bullock, leader of a Philadelphia anti-violence group (the Mau-Mau), returns home from his janitor's job early one morning and stumbles upon a crime scene--someone has just slit the throat of a police officer.Armed with the officer's recovered revolver, Obie, an Iraq war vet, corners and kills the masked assassin, who turns out to be the youngest brother of a powerful, but imprisoned drug dealer. Demands for revenge follow, sparking the fast-paced action while simultaneously examining the lives of a working-class family struggling to survive in the projects of Philadelphia.Character-based, authentic, and gripping, this novel exposes the difficulties and danger of working to rid a neighborhood of drugs and violence so that future generations can grow up safe and secure.

" . . . a fast paced, page turning story of a black community determined to rid itself of the drug-driven plague of crime and violence. . . . It entertains, ennobles, and inspires." --Darlene Clark Hine, co-author, The African-American Odyssey"Ballard keeps it real and writes with power and authority." --John Herritage, Staff Inspector (Ret.), New York State Police- - -Obie Bullock, leader of a Philadelphia anti-violence group (the Mau-Mau), returns home from his janitor's job early one morning and stumbles upon a crime scene--someone has just slit the throat of a police officer.Armed with the officer's recovered revolver, Obie, an Iraq war vet, corners and kills the masked assassin, who turns out to be the youngest brother of a powerful, but imprisoned drug dealer. Demands for revenge follow, sparking the fast-paced action while simultaneously examining the lives of a working-class family struggling to survive in the projects of Philadelphia.Character-based, authentic, and gripping, this novel exposes the difficulties and danger of working to rid a neighborhood of drugs and violence so that future generations can grow up safe and secure.

Where I'm Bound, a stunning and engaging Civil War novel, was the first novel (Simon & Schuster 2000) to focus solely on the soldiers of an African American regiment. Throughout the war, more than 180,000 African-American men fought for the Union Army. Many were escaped slaves, others were freed men; yet all voluntarily enlisted for one cause: freedom. These experiences are successfully portrayed in a manner befitting the grandeur and scope of their contributions. Inspired by the true story of a black cavalry unit in Mississippi, renowned African-American historian Allen Ballard weaves factual events with the fictional account of an escaped slave, Joe Duckett, who flees to join the Northern Army.When Duckett escapes his life of bondage to become a cavalry scout, he grows to be more than a free man-he becomes a hero. Duckett and his hard-riding regiment roam the Mississippi Delta, freeing slaves and keeping vital waterways open for the Union. As the war approaches its final, tragic days, Duckett embarks on his most dangerous mission yet: to return to the plantation from which he escaped in order to reunite with his wife and daughter.More than just an account of Civil War, Where I'm Bound is an affecting portrayal of the psychological effects of war. Through the character Duckett, some of war's greatest tragedies are painfully evoked-the agonizing separation from family, the horrendous mission of having to kill another man, and the cruelty and moral corruption that occur when men's passions are their greatest weapons against one another. This story of one man's ability to meet such overwhelming challenges brings to life the noble fight for freedom as displayed by African-American soldiers as well as the effects of the fight on an entire country and culture.Where I'm Bound is a striking blend of historical fact and dramatic storytelling brilliantly illustrating the accomplishments of African-American Civil War soldiers. Where I'm Bound is destined to become a classic novel of the Civil War.

Where I'm Bound, a stunning and engaging Civil War novel, was the first novel (Simon & Schuster 2000) to focus solely on the soldiers of an African American regiment. Throughout the war, more than 180,000 African-American men fought for the Union Army. Many were escaped slaves, others were freed men; yet all voluntarily enlisted for one cause: freedom. These experiences are successfully portrayed in a manner befitting the grandeur and scope of their contributions. Inspired by the true story of a black cavalry unit in Mississippi, renowned African-American historian Allen Ballard weaves factual events with the fictional account of an escaped slave, Joe Duckett, who flees to join the Northern Army.When Duckett escapes his life of bondage to become a cavalry scout, he grows to be more than a free man-he becomes a hero. Duckett and his hard-riding regiment roam the Mississippi Delta, freeing slaves and keeping vital waterways open for the Union. As the war approaches its final, tragic days, Duckett embarks on his most dangerous mission yet: to return to the plantation from which he escaped in order to reunite with his wife and daughter.More than just an account of Civil War, Where I'm Bound is an affecting portrayal of the psychological effects of war. Through the character Duckett, some of war's greatest tragedies are painfully evoked-the agonizing separation from family, the horrendous mission of having to kill another man, and the cruelty and moral corruption that occur when men's passions are their greatest weapons against one another. This story of one man's ability to meet such overwhelming challenges brings to life the noble fight for freedom as displayed by African-American soldiers as well as the effects of the fight on an entire country and culture.Where I'm Bound is a striking blend of historical fact and dramatic storytelling brilliantly illustrating the accomplishments of African-American Civil War soldiers. Where I'm Bound is destined to become a classic novel of the Civil War.