by Meg Rosoff
First published 2016
Beck enters the world through a brief encounter between a destitute woman and an African soldier in the early 1900s. Orphaned young, he finds himself under the care of Catholic Brothers in Canada before being dispatched to labor on a remote farm. The harsh conditions drive Beck to flee, launching him on a continent-spanning journey to discover where he belongs. His path brings physical abuse and countless obstacles, yet also moments of kindness and hope from unexpected sources. Through years of wandering during the Great Depression, Beck perseveres as a young Black man in an unforgiving world. His travels ultimately lead him to Grace, a woman who offers him the possibility of building a genuine life together. With her, Beck finally glimpses the chance to control his own future and become the man he was meant to be.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, african-american-historical-fiction
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family, second-chance
Setting: Africa, Canada
Period: Early 1900s, Great Depression
267 pages · Hardcover · Walker Books
Content warnings: abuse, physical-abuse