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    From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    From the Desk of Zoe Washington
    Audiobook6 hours

    From the Desk of Zoe Washington

    Written by Janae Marks

    Narrated by Bahni Turpin

    4.5/5

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    About this audiobook

    #1 Kids Indie Next List * Parents Magazine Best Book of the Year * Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Book of the Year * SLJ Best Book of the Year * Kirkus Best Book of the Year * Junior Library Guild Selection * Edgar Award Nominee * Four Starred Reviews * Bank Street Best Children’s Book of the Year * An Indie Bestseller *

    From debut author Janae Marks comes a captivating story full of heart, as one courageous girl questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right—even in the face of great opposition. 

    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. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies.

    ""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"")

    Plus don't miss Janae Marks's A Soft Place to Land!

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKatherine Tegen Books
    Release dateJan 14, 2020
    ISBN9780062969279
    Author

    Janae Marks

    Janae Marks is the author of the critically acclaimed novel From the Desk of Zoe Washington, the New York Times bestselling On Air with Zoe Washington, and A Soft Place to Land. She grew up in the New York City suburbs and now lives in Connecticut with her husband and daughter. She has an MFA in writing for children from the New School. Visit Janae online at janaemarks.com.

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    Reviews for From the Desk of Zoe Washington

    4.5/5

    229 ratings21 reviews

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    • 5/5
      I love this book it's such a touching and sad story

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      I think it is really exciting book story is good and you want to listen more as the story goes. This story makes me feel comfortable and empowered. I ‘ll definitely recommend?????

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      The story was very good but the ending was the best part

      1 person found this helpful

    • 5/5
      This is so good. I love it . I could read it over and over

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This book has a giant heart and I fell in love with every single character. Zoe was a firecracker!

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      I really love this book. I love how that call it kids baking show
    • 4/5
      A touching story on a topic not often explored in children's lit. Zoe has a great voice. She makes mistakes, but learns from them. And she fights for justice with admirable fervor.
    • 5/5
      Amazing book, you have to read the epilogue!! So incredibly detailed!
    • 5/5
      This book is an awesome amazing book it had writing and cooking which both things I really like I hope other people also like it
    • 4/5
      I loved this one!!! ? Zoe is now one of my favorite MG protagonists ever!!
    • 5/5
      It’s a amazing I love to see more of these books
    • 5/5
      Summer between 6th and 7th grade, and Zoe has just turned 12.

      Things I love about this book:
      Zoe's loving family -- both her parents and her grandma

      Her passion for baking, and the realistic ideas about how to pursue your passion, even as a young person

      The relationships in this book -- they feel authentic, and they have a lot of depth. For instance, Trevor and Zoe both have reasons to be upset with their friendships at the beginning of the summer. When they finally talk this through, together they are able to figure out how to move forward.

      The deft handling of Marcus' prison story -- not only the reality and importance of recognizing the epidemic of wrongful imprisonment of Black men; but also Zoe's journey to figuring out whether or not she could trust him, and the large and real emotions experienced by everyone after his conviction. Both her Mom and her Grandma have very strong feelings, based on their experiences.

      Everyone in the book navigates the issue of forgiveness in large and small ways. It's very powerful.

      I particularly like that while there are many instances that directly model how to heal relationships, it never reads as didactic -- the story is seamless and wonderfully engaging.
    • 3/5
      Definitely a unique perspective and very now with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Zoe's character was so determined, following her heart to uncover things she rightly shouldn't have to be dealing with at such a young age...but when she felt it was right, she followed with her full heart, come what may. Love the recipe aspect, as well as the connections she built with her biological father through their shared letters. Shines some light on the issue of false imprisonment too, but not just in the error of, but potential options to recapture justice.


      *copy borrowed from library; read for Cybil's Middle Grade Fiction, Round two

      1 person found this helpful

    • 4/5
      This novel is a 2022 Lone Star selection.Zoe Washington possesses determination--lots of determination. She begins the novel wanting to be a contestant on a teen baking show. Her parents allow her to bake if she asks permission, and they often help. They agree that if she gets a good report as Ariana's intern at _Ari's Cakes_ then she can apply to the show. She's so excited--she's interning at twelve years old at a real bakery and might get to win $20,000 on a baking show! She also receives a surprise for her twelfth birthday: a letter from her father who is in prison. This letter shocks Zoe. She's never heard from him even though he acts like he's always written. All she knows is that her father is in prison for murder. She reads the letter and surprises herself by seeing that he seems really nice.The rest of the novel details her secret, growing relationship with her father while learning more about baking. Zoe rushes to the mail every day during the summer to get the mail before her parents so that they don't know she's writing to her biological father. Her grandmother figures out what is going on and talks to Zoe about Marcus. Marcus claims to be innocent and Zoe believes him. As she tries to prove his innocence, secretly, and with help from her friend Trevor whom she now talking to again after being mad at him, Zoe lets anger show toward her mother and doesn't always do well at the bakery. She's young. She's learning how to separate personal time from professional time. Of course, everything must explode. You know at some point her parents will find out what she's doing. You'll hope she succeeds but will wonder if her dad is innocent or a con artist.Zoe's grandmother at one point quotes Maya Angelou: "When someone shows you who they are, believe them" (131). Grandma believes people show who they are and one should believe what they observe. This quote is partly why she helps Zoe. It's a great quote to keep in your memory because it holds much truth. This novel reminded me of Trell by Dick Lehr. Both characters want to prove their fathers did not commit a murder. Zoe's story is definitely simpler while Trell is more complicated. I enjoyed both. Zoe is a typical tween--she doesn't always control her emotions because she's still growing up. She grows as a person and learns how to treat people--it's a good lesson for all of us to learn or re-learn.
    • 3/5
      On Zoe Washington's birthday, she discovers a letter from her biological father. Zoe knows nothing about him except that he is in prison convicted of murder. He seems so nice in his letter, so Zoe decides to write back, but she knows she must hide her letter from her family because all she has been told by them is that her father is a bad man. As they continue to correspond, Zoe realizes that she needs to know who her father killed and why. When he tells her he is innocent and that he has an alibi, she begins investigating in order to find the witness who might be able to get her father out of prison.

      From the Desk of Zoe Washington refers to the stationary that Zoe uses to write to her father. Zoe's interest in baking and her dispute with her friend, Trevor, are woven into this story about the judicial system and racism in this country. While the story can be a bit heavy handed with its message at times, and gives fairly simplistic answers to very complicated questions and issues, it does deliver a positive, upbeat story about injustice and its price. Overall, a good middle grade story with a very timely theme.
    • 4/5
      This was a solid read for tweens. Despite the serious issues (racism and flaws in the criminal justice system), "From the Desk of Zoe Washington" was nicely balanced with Zoe's love of baking and her Little Tomato playlist she kept adding to. I liked the letters that went back and forward between Zoe and her imprisoned father but I wasn't impressed with all the lies and secrets the various characters kept.However, Zoe was a spunky, determined young lady who will appeal to the target audience. I just wish the author had included Zoe's fruit loops cupcake recipe at the back of the book. Many budding cooks who read this would would be keen to give it a try.
    • 4/5
      Realistic, heartfelt story that did not need to jump on the kids baking bandwagon.
    • 4/5
      Quick read. Zoe starts the story angry at her best friend, Trevor, as the summer begins. As she looks through the mail on her birthday she finds a birthday card from her birth father who is in prison. She reads it and writes back, starting a relationship that she didn't realize was missing from her life. Zoe loves baking and gets an internship at a local bakery for the summer to prove to her parents she is ready to audition for a baking competition show. As Zoe gets to know Marcus, she hears his claims of Innocence and does more research on those falsely imprisoned. The author adeptly weaves in issues of systemic and institutional racism. Zoe wants to know more despite hesitance from her grandmother and absolute resistance from her mother. A family story, a friendship story, a practicing to follow your passion story, and a story that delves into wrongful incarceration and the reality of having a parent in prison. Zoe asks after she wants to investigate her father's claim and is blocked by the adults in her life, "Maybe it was okay to do something wrong if you were doing it for the right reason," (chpt 23)
    • 4/5
      Zoe is an aspiring baker who lives with her Black mom and white dad. Her biological father is Marcus who has been imprisoned for murder. Her mother has never allowed Zoe to have a relationship with Marcus. On her birthday, Zoe discovers a letter from Marcus in the day's mail. She sneaks it out to read and comes to realize that Marcus has been writing her letters for years that she's never seen. She decides to secretly correspond with Marcus and learns that he may be innocent of the crime. Zoe embarks on a determined quest to prove his innocence, but keeping her activity from her family begins to weigh heavily on her. A couple of plot points fall a little too conveniently, but overall Zoe's journey has mystery and suspense; the greater good is that readers will become familiar with the problem of innocent people being imprisoned, especially those of color.
    • 4/5
      Zoe Washington has her head in cupcake clouds the summer before 7th grade. She heard they were accepting applications for her favorite TV show Food Network's Kids Baking Challenge and she wants to audition for it, but she has to prove to her parents she is mature and worthy enough for it first. Her mother gets her an internship at a local bakery for the summer and she has to stay out of trouble. However, when Zoe happens to get the mail in one day she discovers a letter addressed to her from her biological dad who is prison. Her mother wants her to have absolutely no contact with Marcus, but Zoe has so many questions. Why didn't he ever contact her sooner? Was he guilty of murder? Was he convicted just because he is black? What was he like? Her dad tells her he is innocent and when her grandma gets involved, she believes him and facilitates communication between the two of them. What will happen if Zoe's mom and step dad find out? This is an excellent conversation starter for those interested in social injustice, grades 4-7.
    • 5/5
      The story is a bit unrealistic but nevertheless I enjoyed every word. Here fairy tales do come true. 12 year old Zoe is a remarkable 12 year old. She knows what she wants and goes after it head long! On her 12th birthday, she receives a surprising piece of mail postmarked from a prison.It is from her incarcerated father, (Marcus), whom she’s never met. He was sent to prison for murder just before Zoe was born. And as you may guess her mother wants her to have nothing to do with him. Zoe has two goals... one is to prove her father’s innocence and two, as an aspiring pastry chef, she sets her sights on perfecting her baking skills. She plans to audition as a contestant on Food Network’s Kids Bake Challenge. After receiving the letter from her father, Zoe does something she has never done before, she begins Withholding the truth from her mother in order to correspond with her biological father. As it always does, and one lie leads to another and another. In the letters Marcus shares his favorite songs and encourages Zoe’s baking-competition dreams. “He seems really nice!” Then, when Marcus proclaims he is innocent, Zoe is shocked: How could someone who is innocent end up in prison? This was a realistic reaction for a 12 year old. Somehow Zoe has convinced her grandmother, (her mother’s mother), to help carry on the secret correspondence with her father. She even arranges phone communication between Zoe and Marcus. As Zoe’s enlightenment begins, she learns about systemic racism and how black people like her and Marcus are more likely to be wrongfully convicted of murder than white people. There are some well developed and powerful relationships among all the characters: Zoe, her mother, her step dad, grandma, Marcus, and best friend Trevor.This debut novel is extraordinary, timely, and a must-read story about love, family, friendship, and justice. (Fiction. 8-12)