Kirkus
Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

A social media influencer learns how to read as an adult. Growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, TikTok influencer James never learned how to read. The economically insecure child of a single Black mother, he attended schools where “teachers nevertaught.” He also grew up with OCD, ADHD, anxiety, and dyslexia, all of which made school challenging. Despite his lack of literacy, James graduated from high school and attended a few college classes before being imprisoned for trafficking guns to make extra money for his mother and himself. Not surprisingly, the author’s illiteracy made day-to-day life extremely difficult. Everything from grocery shopping to cooking to texting required a reading level he did not have. “You can’t even make Kraft Mac & Cheese if you can’t read the instructions,” he writes. “I had to be shown how, then memorize it.” Not knowing how to read also made him dependent on others, creating unhealthy relationships and driving him toward coping mechanisms, namely drinking. “This isn’t just about reading,” James writes. “It’s about survival. It’s about the masks we wear and the parts of ourselves we bury just to make it through the day.” James credits therapy, sobriety, and veganism for helping to change his life—and allowing him to learn how to read. He sees his journey toward literacy as a journey of healing and liberation. He writes, “It’s my belief that reading is that launching pad, no matter what your personal struggle is to overcome.” The book’s more expository chapters sometimes drag, spending more time on processing than plot, but overall, this is a thoughtful and inspiring story about vulnerability and courage. Poignant proof that reading helps to change lives. Copyright © Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.