Set during the riots of 1965-66, To Do Justice tells the story of Pinkie, a mixed-race child of Chicago’s meanest streets … and Mollie, a lovelorn (white) reporter in the Chicago bureau of The Associated Press. Together this unlikely pair will track down the white woman who gave Pinkie birth, and score a Pulitzer-worthy scoop in the bargain.
Here's what others have said about To Do Justice:
“A fast-moving tale of race, corruption and self-discovery set against the unrest - and the hope - of Chicago during Martin Luther King’s fateful 1965-66 fair housing campaign.” – Pulitzer Prize columnist Leonard Pitts Jr., author, Grant Park
"A remarkable accomplishment. ... Joseph has a steely grasp of narrative, flitting between the perspectives of the two protagonists, Pinkie and Mollie—both trenchant in their views in their own ways—with ease....
"The decision to relate Pinkie’s and Mollie’s stories in the first person lends the whole an immediacy and verve it would have otherwise lacked. As does the presence of Martin Luther King Jr., “that Atlanta preacher,” who in the novel (as in real life) moved to Chicago’s West Side in 1966. The civil rights movement runs through the novel like a mains cable. ...
"Though Pinkie’s travails form the crux of the novel, Joseph’s wider achievement is imbuing the period with an urgency that resonates today more than ever. During a time when social inequalities are at the forefront of national politics, TO DO JUSTICE carries a remarkable rhetorical weight.
"A brilliantly evocative story of mid-1960s Chicago, Frank S. Joseph’s TO DO JUSTICE brims with interest for readers of all types." -- Craig Jones for IndieReader
“Author Frank S Joseph uses research, context, and detail to craft a powerful and immersive novel that brings the racial tensions and social complexities of 1960s Chicago vividly to life.
"The portrayal of Pinkie, a vulnerable yet resilient young girl, juxtaposed with Mollie’s determination to uncover the truth, created a compelling narrative that was both heart-wrenching and inspiring. I was impressed with the narrative detail around their attitudes, speech, and thought presentation. I felt a deep empathy for Pinkie as she navigated the dangers of the streets and the uncertainty of her identity, while Mollie’s journalistic drive offered much-needed urgency and moral questioning in the story.
"There’s a clear purpose in the confident storytelling style and so much nuance to think about along the way. The historical context of the Chicago race riots and Martin Luther King Jr.'s campaign provided a poignant backdrop that connects readers to contemporary struggles for racial justice. Joseph’s ability to weave personal stories with broader social themes left me thinking about the enduring impact of past conflicts on today’s society and the importance of pursuing truth in the face of adversity. A powerful lesson indeed from a very entertaining and worthwhile read. Overall, I would not hesitate to recommend To Do Justice to readers everywhere.” -- K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite®
“To Do Justice is a great read and a wild ride through history.” – Juliette M. Engel, author, Sparky: Surviving Sex Magick
“To Do Justice drops you into the white-hot center of the 1966 Chicago race riots and gives you a street-level view of what happened and why. The big names are here -- Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Richard Daley, to name a few. But the beating heart of this dramatic story is that of an orphaned biracial girl forced into the streets by an abusive foster parent ... and the hard-working AP reporter who befriends her and helps solve the mystery of her peculiar parentage. Beautifully written and eerily in-tune with the racial concerns of our own time, To Do Justice is a must-read for anyone interested in one of the most turbulent moments in American history and how it still reverberates in our collective consciousness.” -- Richard Armstrong, author, The Next Hurrah and The Don Con
To Do Justice is available from Amazon, BookBaby, Barnes & Noble and bookstores everywhere. Amazon ASIN: BOD3W2VHR5; ISBN (paperback): 979-8-9904409-1-3; ISBN (e-book): 979-8-9904409-0-6.