Book Review

Basic Details:

Book Title: Black, White, and Gray All Over

Subtitle: A Black Man's Odyssey in Life and Law Enforcement

Author: Frederick Reynolds

Genre: Biography

Part of a series?

Order in series:

Best read after earlier books in series?

Available: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59545036-black-white-and-gray-all-over

Overall score:

I scored this book 4/5

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️

Short Summary of the book:

Fred was a black youth who mingled with the wrong friends. Destined for a life of crime and behind bars, the kindness of a stranger sets him back on the right path. When poverty would have dragged others back into a life of crime, Fred’s desperation led him to pursue a career in the police. He becomes a good cop who refuses to lend a blind eye to corruption within the force.

What I liked about the book:

How a young man manages to turn his life around.

What I didn’t like about the book:

The book was a little dry in places.

My favourite bits in the book:

I enjoyed the entire book.

My least favourite bits in the book:

There were none.

Any further books in the series? Any more planned by this author?

This is the first book I’ve read by this author.

What books could this be compared to and why?

The book is a biography.

Recommendation:

In summary, I would recommend this book to the following readers:

Children No

Young Adult Yes

Adult Yes

If you like biographies, this book may be the book for you

Book Description by Author:

From shootouts and robberies to riding in cars with pimps and prostitutes, Frederick Reynolds' early manhood experiences in Detroit, Michigan in the 1960s foretold a future on the wrong side of the prison bars. Frederick grew up a creative and sensitive child but found himself lured down the same path as many Black youth in that era. No one would have guessed he would have a future as a cop in one of the most dangerous cities in America in the 1980s---Compton, California. From recruit to detective, Frederick experienced a successful career marked by commendations and awards. The traumatic and highly demanding nature of the work, however, took its toll on both his family and personal life---something Frederick was able to conquer but only after years of distress and regret.

About the Author: