From the Desk of Zoe Washington (Large Print / Library Binding)

Staff Reviews
Twelve year old, Zoe Washington, is a baker at heart who has a great deal on her mind. This touching story opens with Zoe receiving a letter from her biological father, Marcus, a man she only knows as a convicted murderer. Zoe starts corresponding with Marcus all while being an intern at Ari's bakery and creating a new cupcake recipe. Over music and a shared love of cooking, Zoe starts bonding with Marcus at the same time she's figuring out how to avoid her neighbor and former best friend, Trevor. Soon Zoe's life becomes a tangle of lies as she attempts to get to know more about her birth dad, and secrets from all angles overtake her life causing her to mistrust her own parents. Zoe, eventually with the help of Trevor, goes to great lengths to learn more about possible injustices at the center of her birth dad's conviction. Multiple layers of mystery plus a high dose of friendship and love mix throughout this terrific book. Engaging and empowering.... a must read!
— LizWinter 2019 Kids Indie Next List
“Zoe Washington is my new favorite middle-grade heroine! When she receives a letter from Marcus, her birth father, on her 12th birthday, Zoe begins corresponding with him in secret. Marcus is in prison for a crime he says he didn’t commit, and Zoe is determined to find out the truth while also trying to excel in her baking internship and manage middle-school friendship drama with her neighbor Trevor. In her excellent debut novel, Marks skillfully balances a difficult social justice theme with lighthearted elements and lovingly rendered familial relationships.”
— Anna Millsaps, bbgb books, Richmond, VA