One Tale, Four Stars
Stars: 4/5
"The Other Wes Moore" was such an interesting and unique story; I barely put it down.
After a tumultuous start, beginning with the death of his father when he was just 3 years old, Wes Moore attempts to find direction in his life. After a series of troubling setbacks, and with much sacrifice from his family, Wes begins to piece his life back together. Wes was well on his way to building a stellar academic and professional career when he comes to know that he has a namesake from the same city as he and the doppelganger is in deeper trouble than he could ever imagine. Or could he?
Wes Moore begins a dialogue with the incarcerated Wes Moore to find out more. The names were the same and the city was the same, so it was not surprising to find more similarities throughout their childhood and adolescent years. During that time period, one could have easily and seamlessly flip-flopped the lives of the two Weses.
However, they both did not suffer the same fate. Wes Moore ponders at what point did their paths of life diverge; what were the circumstances and the choices that were made to dictate the final outcome. As the reader you will contemplate these questions as well; attempting to place your finger at the single moment, that critical juncture, in which the two Weses no longer walked the same path.
This contemporary narrative touches on many of the highly debated topics in our African-American community: Fatherless households, the need for mentorship, the value of an education, teen pregnancy and the trappings of the illegal drug selling enterprise. I highly recommend it.
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