It Took a Village

Scott beautifully renders the world of the impoverished communities he grew up in, with a raw honesty that illustrates tragedy, beauty, hope and strength. He illuminates how his community was portrayed from an outsider's point of view versus how it was truly like on the inside. Beginning with the voice of a young child that grows into a strong, soul-searching man, he lays out his life for you in complete vulnerability and raw honesty, without telling you what to think or how to feel. The story is provocative and poignant. Like a friend sitting down with you on the porch to share his life story, Scott opens up his world and allows you to journey with him. It is a book that you will find yourself re-reading and discovering new questions within yourself. Although Scott's target audience are young men in impoverished communities, as a mother and an educator I found myself connecting to and learning from the stories on multiple levels. Throughout the book, I cried, laughed and was angered by the stories yet in the end I was struck with a profound sense of inspiration. Rubin Scott truly sheds light on the meaning behind the phrase "It takes a village."