Mendel by Damone Bester is a genre-bending work of fiction, that draws readers in with emotional dynamism, honesty, and strength.
The book opens with the story of a well-mannered young man raised in one of Chicago’s toughest neighborhoods. The sudden passing of his mother and the return of his ex-con father causes him to understandably lose hope and spirit. He develops a tough sense of armor for his little sister and aunt, but lacks purpose as a senior in high school; that is, until he stumbles upon his mother’s diaries about running track. Grieving his mother’s loss becomes the loving push he needs to rededicate himself to the Mendel track team.
Bounced between his small private school kingdom and neighborhoods patrolled by gangbangers, BJ fulfills his track coach’s teachings about effort and attitude through cheerfully energetic narration, even while processing fresh grief. Perceptive tangents and vignettes catch the nuances of his world with easy flair while a touching sense of gratitude for community pervades from start to finish.
Overall, Bester’s Medel is a powerful story that inspires one to do more, better themselves, and even in the face of our greatest challenges, work to strive for more. – Review by Book Excellence