I connected with Jerald LeVon Hoover on LinkedIn earlier this year. After reading a post about his Hero Book Series for middle schoolers, I was intrigued. The series includes, My Friend, My Hero; He Was My Hero, Too; A Hopeful Hero; and Hoop Hero.

So far, I’ve read the first two books and I’m looking forward to finishing the series in the near future.

Hoover’s fictional series is set in the very real community of Mount Vernon, New York. It is in Westchester County and approximately 62% of Mount Vernon residents are Black. This inner suburb of New York City is immediately north of the borough of the Bronx. The population of Mount Vernon is estimated at a little less than 68,000 people. Its North Side is one of the most ethnically diverse neighborhoods in Westchester County.

Mount Vernon is well known for its winning sports programs and the professional successes of the students who graduate from the Mount Vernon school system.  It’s the hometown of Academy Award winner Denzel Washington; the American rapper and actor DMX, former N.B.A. Players Rodney McCray, Scooter McCray, Rudy Hackett, Earl Tatum and many others. Denzel Washington praises the Boys and Girls Clubs of Mount Vernon for providing a safe environment for kids to achieve their goals.

This close knit community faces many of the same problems of other inner city neighborhoods - poverty, homelessness, crime, gun violence, drug addiction and suicide.

Hoover combined several experiences from his childhood and the lives of his friends to create the Hero series which was originally supposed to be two books. Feedback from My Friend, My Hero was so positive; he decided to expand the series.

Bennett Wilson’s life is told in flashbacks. We get to know his family, friends and his girlfriend Tara. Bennett lives in public housing and he is the star of the state championship bound Mount Vernon Men’s Basketball team. Bennett’s future seems bright. He’s popular and college scouts love him.

Hoover shows us the socioeconomic make up of Mount Vernon. There are impoverished areas, public housing projects, single family homes and more affluent areas.

Like many single moms, Bennett’s mother works hard and still struggles to pay the rent. Bennett helps out with his little brother and gets an after school job while trying to keep up with his school work, have a social life and attend basketball practices and games.

A local drug dealer, Simon offers Bennett drugs and money to throw a few games or shave points. Bennett’s friend Kirby helps keep him on track despite having his own problems.

Bennett’s girlfriend, Tara, is a strong character. She comes from a two parent home in a more affluent area of Mount Vernon. Tara is focused on succeeding in school and in life. The idea of having money to impress Tara is tempting, but keeping her respect is also important to Bennett.

Even though I knew from flashbacks that something terrible was going to happen to Bennett, I was rooting for him to escape his fate. I also started rooting for Tara, Kirby and Bennett’s family. Hoover sends a powerful message about the challenges people of color face on a daily basis… challenges we all could be exposed to without warning… teen pregnancy, drugs, HIV/ADS, gun violence, and questions of whether to take the easy road or the honest one. Interwoven in his narrative are stories of people, the choices they have made and the consequences of those choices.

An author with the ability to create characters this real is an author worth reading and recommending. The book is geared to kids ages 10 and above. The writing is easy to understand, yet Hoover manages to engage and keep the attention of adult readers.

I never do spoilers, so I won’t reveal the ending of the book.

Because My Friend, My Hero starts off the series,  talking about the second book, He was My Hero, Too is a bit of a spoiler, but it has such a strong message of hope, I think you will forgive me.

He was My Hero, Too is set ten years later. Kirby has a successful career at an IT firm. He’s married with two sons and is currently separated from his wife who was his high school sweetheart. Simon, the drug dealer has changed his life after a stint in prison. He is now a pastor and the director of The Mount Vernon Girls and Boys Clubs.

Bennett’s brother is now the star basketball player and Tara is married to a former high school classmate. Life has continued on and improved for many, but the shadow of poverty, drugs and gun violence still threatens to destroy the dreams of the people living in Mount Vernon.

When an acquaintance of Kirby and Simon dies from AIDS complications, Hoover seizes the opportunity to include discussions about drug abuse; sexual responsibility and safe sex in the book by having Simon host an HIV/AIDS awareness program.

Kirby is still struggling to find out what really happened to his friend Bennett. It remains an open police case, but no one is working to solve it. He enlists Simon’s help to find answers to the many questions he still has about the day of the shooting.

While I admit I had problems accepting Simon as one of the “good guys,” Hoover presents a strong argument for the positive power of change and the strength of character needed to stay on track.

Many parents of middle schoolers may be concerned about the adult themes in the Hero Book Series, but I would argue that it’s never too early to start a dialogue about responsibility with your kids. Sex, drugs and gun violence have found their way into even the most sheltered environments and our kids should be armed with facts to protect themselves no matter how hard we try to shelter them from the harsh realities of life. If you have concerns, I suggest you read the book series, so you can discuss it with your kids.

I’m excited to read the final two books in the series and I hope Hoover continues to write books about growing up embracing the joys of life while facing its challenges.

All photos courtesy of Jerald L. Hoover