Discovering Wes Moore

by Wes Moore

Through the telling of events from his own life, Wes Moore (author of the bestselling adult title The Other Wes Moore) explores the issues that separate success and failure. He also counterpoints his story with another man, someone who shared the same name, was almost the same age, grew up fatherless in a similar Baltimore neighborhood, but is serving a life sentence for murder. Compelled to write to the other Wes, the author was surprised to receive a reply. And so began a friendship, as letters turned into visits and the two men got to know one another. This compelling story about the challenges of growing up and the responsibility for the choices we make, is sure to inspire. Includes an 8-page photo insert.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography, School, Biography Memoir, African American, Middle Grade

178 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Westley Watende Omari Moore (born October 15, 1978) is an American politician, investment banker, author, television producer, and nonprofit executive serving as the 63rd governor of Maryland since 2023. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the first Black governor of the state, the third Black person elected as governor of any U.S. state, and as of 2023, the only incumbent black governor of any U.S. state.

Born in Maryland and raised largely in New York, Moore graduated from Johns Hopkins University and received a master's degree from Wolfson College, Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar. After several years in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve, Moore became an investment banker in New York. Between 2010 and 2015, Moore published five books, including a young adult novel.
--wikipedia.org

Reviews

[Beth Honeycutt · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I'd like to read the adult version sometime, but this version is very accessible for students and would be a good, quick read.

[Joyce Yattoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good memoir about growing up, how the choices we make have life changing consequences. Wes Moore had “people” and family in his corner always setting good examples and setting high expectations. Mr. Moore could easily have been a statistic. He was poor, limited resources, reading below grade level for a significant portion of his elementary school years. But, he figured it out. He started to rise to these high expectations. Yes, he became a reader and went on to become a Rhodes Scholar. How is that for juxtaposition? I used this book this year for book clubs. I had a group of all boys, some being raised by step parents, grandmas and in all different economic circumstances. They all find video gaming and social media more entertaining than reading. They all finished the book and gave it a 👍. Will definitely use it again.

[Juanita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so excited that we are getting copies of this book for the students at my school. This YA adaptation of The Other Wes Moore is well-written, with a clear message. It’s heavy, and the life-lessons are important ones for anyone, but I like that this book clearly written for young people.

[Hailey]

In the novel Discovering Wes Moore, two African american men have the same name and grow up in the city Baltimore. They both take different paths in life, Moore achieves good things and Wes will spend the rest of his life in prison for the murder of Bruce. Moore finds out about Wes and has in person prison visits and they make a book based off of their journey to inspire people to make good decisions.

[Bruno · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a very good read. Even though, at some parts in the story things get slightly sad, it is still a great read. The detail that goes into the storytelling is great and really shows you what Wes Moore went through as a child and as an adult. It made me want to read more and not stop reading. It’s easy to envision what happens in the story as you read and that makes it a much better story. Definitely recommend this book.

[Monica Holm · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son was riveted by this book so I had to check it out. Really good message for a young person (and an old person 😀) and gave my son some insight I’m sure he didn’t have previously.
“So many opportunities in this country are distributed to those who are privileged. The rest of us have to rely on an uncertain mix of chance and hard work”.
The author talks about the importance of really hearing other people’s stories. A message that needs to be heard!

[KK Feuerman · Rating 3 out of 5]

Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore is both an autobiography and a biography. This book focuses on the stories of the author Wes Moore and his new found friend Wes Moore. Although they are two completely different people who share a name and a neighborhood, their stories are not all that different. These men both grew up in the same environment, they were surrounded by drugs, violence,and gangs, yet their live didn’t turn out that different. Both men faced challenges as children, these challenges helped shape them into the men they have become. The author was an African American man who grew up in Baltimore and New York. As a kid he found himself getting in trouble for missing class and getting bad grades. He was the kind of kid you would be intimidated by, he went to one of the richer schools in his town, but he the poorest one there. In his school he tried to act rich when he wasn’t, and on the streets he tried to act mean when he wasn’t. He was arrested at the age of 11 for spray painting his name on a wall. His mother did not know what to do, she did the best thing for her son and shipped him off to military school. At first Wes Moore’s troublesome behavior followed him as he continue to make attempts to escape. Over time he realized he wasn’t going anywhere, he was stuck here. He began making the most of his time and soon began to be a leader. The other Wes Moore also grew up in Baltimore. He was a tall and athletic kid, who often found himself in trouble with the law. When he was younger he was a always a good kid. As he started getting older Wes found himself in more and more trouble. He began working with drug dealers and soon was a dealer himself. By 1996 he was already a father of four. Soon Wes found himself getting in more and more trouble, this lead to more and more arrests. Soon he was caught and his brother were found guilty of murdering a cop, and as a result he was sentenced life in prison.
This book was enjoyable because because it told a story. This book was interesting because, this book was not like other nonfiction books, this book didn’t just list what important things happened during his life, it actually told the story of his life. Each event that happened in his life wasn’t just mentioned and then left alone, these events were described in detail and told the story behind each event. One example from this book is when the author was driving into the town where his grandparents live and where he soon would too. Instead of just saying something along the lines of how the town was gross and scary, the author said they drove through the “Burned-out landscape”. By saying this it made it seem like he really wanted us to feel like we were there. This book be disliked for the same reasons. Again at times he went into very deep detail about events, but often he went into detail about the smallest of details. Instead of moving on with the story he often went on and on about it until he was blowing little things up to be larger than they are. One example of this was when he went from how Wes’ story shaped his life, what our stories could offer the next generation, to how adulthood is very unexpected, to how his father’s death shaped him, and finally how his own mistakes shaped him. These are all based on the same topic but it’s taking something that could have been answered in a simple two paragraph response but instead it becomes a two page response. It should be quality not quantity but you do not need that much work to answer one little thing. None the less this book should be recommend to others. This book should be recommended because it is an amazing story, and it gets you wondering about what it must have been like for them. This book cause the reader to wonder what it would be like to be in their positions and what made their situations so different. Whenever there was a story of how they went to prison or how their lives were different it caused wondering. When the author Wes Moore went into detail about how the other Wes Moore’s story shaped his life and how it was different from his the wondering began, why was it different and how did it shape your life. If this book was to be recommended to someone else it should be recommend it to someone who is at least 12 years old. Although this is an amazing book it is full of violence and drug problems that are meant for a more mature audience.

[Eliza Witt · Rating 4 out of 5]

This memoir is about a boy named Wes Moore. Wes Moore's father dies when Wes was at a young age right in front of Wes. It is tragic experience for Wes. Wes's mother is having a hard time adjusting without a husband, so she decides to move in with her mother and father in the Bronx. There is a lot of roughness in the neighborhood, and it has a bad influence on Wes. He turns from and nice boy to a boy who makes bad choices. His mother decides to send him off to military school. By the time Wes is done with military school he is a new man, a smart, wise man. One day Wes finds out about a man with the same exact name! What do they have in common? Read the book to find out!
I enjoyed this book because I thought it was interesting. One reason I thought it was interesting is how there are two boys with the same name. That is crazy! That is probably about 1-10 chance. Another reason is that it is just heartbreaking that he had to go through all those bumps in the road. His mother decided that he was not meant to make bad choices, so she decided to send him to military camp. And that changes his whole life. He decided that he didn’t want to make bad choices in his life too, and I thinks that is a VERY hard, and courageous of him.
A reader who would enjoy this book is a reader who likes depressing stories, and also a mature reader. You need to be a mature reader to this book because it has a lot of violence. And you need to like depressing stories because this is a sad story, and you probably won’t enjoy it if you like a happy and cheerful book this is not the one you are looking for. In conclusion I LOVED this book.

[Louis Queneau · Rating 1 out of 5]

Discovering Wes Moore is about this kid named Wes Moore. Wes was born in Baltimore, Maryland. When he was really young his father died. Wes and his family moved to the Bronx. Wes was sent to a private school where he didn't do too well. because he almost went to prison for selling drugs his mom sent to a military school in Wayne, Pennsylvania. This where he turned his life around he went into the army and from there to college. he met someone in prison named Wes Moore in Baltimore who had a less fortunate life.

I honestly thought this book was very repetitive and annoying. It kept on saying how Wes "turned around his life" when really it was his mom. He doesn't give her enough credit for that. He also acted like he understood the other Wes' situation when he didn't. Wes himself has never been to prison. The only purpose of this book was to make the author, Wes Moore feel good about himself.

[Kim Fraser · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's not very engaging, and when it finally got good he didn't spend enough time on it. This book would not be interesting to middle schoolers. He tries to point out the differences between him and the other Wes Moore. The only reason he didn't go down that same path is because his mom had the means and the help to send him to private school and away to militaru school. That's not going to happen for most urban youth.

[Rheetha Lawlor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, but I think I would enjoy the adult version better. That's why I only gave it three stars. However, with that said, I know that I would be utterly thrilled to have Wes Moore come to our school. I think that he has an amazing story and can/has/will touch many young adult lives who think that there is only one way to deal with a hard life.

[zaina ❀ · Rating 5 out of 5]

pls this is probably the best piece of non fiction i have ever read. i love this book so much the quotes in it are amazing and you truly learn sooo much about what goes on in someone mind when their life could be turned upside down. I love love love this book and it makes me want to read more non fiction.

[Federico Brown]

it is a nice book about a guy named Wes Moore and his life story.i like how he was the youngest officer in the military. I like how he was a gifted basketball player. I didn't like how there was another Wes Moore. I liked how he was sent to a military school and it had a impact on his life.

[Lisa Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wes is a stellar story teller who shares the lessons of his life and those of others in a compelling and thought-proving narrative.

[Melanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first became familiar with The Other Wes Moore, and though I remained interested in reading that book, I came to this one first, as it has been selected as a summer read for students I will be teaching at my new school assignment.

The premise of both Wes Moore texts - his original and this young adult adaptation - is that there were (at least) two Wes Moore living in Baltimore. The author eventually graduated from Johns Hopkins University, earned a Rhodes Scholarship, got married, and earned all of the traditional measures of success. The other Wes Moore ended up in jail, where he is serving a life sentence for murder. In this adaptation, Moore wrestles with how and what caused their paths to diverge, when in so many respects, there were a number of similarities in terms of how and where they were raised.

I thoroughly enjoyed Wes Moore's take on the thin, tenuous line that sometimes separates our fate from someone else's, and I appreciate that he asks and doesn't necessarily reconcile some tough questions about how our choices, our environments, and our expectations shape those destinies.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this book, written with so much heart, there were two things that frittered away at me:

1) I felt that very little time (only the last few chapters) focused on the other Wes Moore, so he ended up feeling like an afterthought, when the original text was called The Other Wes Moore. Perhaps because of the shift in audience, there were modifications in purpose and thus the editing cut out some of his story? I guess I'd need to read the other one to make that determination.

2) I felt that the transition between his initial days at Valley Forge to being a successful cadet felt abrupt, like we did not really get to clearly see that evolution, which I doubt happened overnight. Again, this may have been an issue of cutting/editing, given the difference in audience, but I wanted to see more of that growth in development, as it clearly did play a role in Wes' maturation.

What I did love was that Wes acknowledged the impact of the support he received, and toward the end, I found great value in his disagreement with the other Wes Moore, who said he believed that others' expectations of/for him shaped his future. Author Wes Moore said that he felt this statement served as an evasion of responsibility, and that gave me food for thought, and ultimately, I appreciated what he had to say about taking accountability for yourself and your decisions.

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this alongside my 6th grade son, who had a school assignment to read a biography (technically this is a memoir) and choose this book.

I thought it did a nice job of introducing challenging topics like coding and systemic racism in a very approachable and understandable manner for young readers. Later in the book experiences of life on the street with gangs, drugs and run-ins with police were handled in a similarly realistic but non-threatening manner. Overall, I think it was very eye-opening for my son.

Wes Moore (the author) is a very likable and admirable character who admits to his short-comings and has an open-minded worldview. I think all of this is great for young readers, who are the obvious target of this book. The real-life photos in the middle of the two young men at various points in their lives adds a nice element of realism to the story.

All that said, I can't help but read this through my own adult lens, which found the book to be glazing the surface throughout. (And perhaps that's the whole point of doing a separate YA version of this potentially challenging story.) It made me interested to read "The Other Wes Moore," since many interesting topics were brought up, then quickly glossed over and moved past. For example, I would have loved to have actually read one of the letters between the two men. When reading the life story of the incarcerated Wes Moore, the TV show "The Wire" was continuously running through my mind. That Moore's life really was like a story arc right out of that show (which is set in Baltimore, like the book.)

The book jacket sets up the premise that Moore would dive into the choices that forged the different paths that led one Wes Moore to success and stability and the other to a life behind bars. I didn't think that narrative was fulfilled in this version of the book. The two stories were chronicled, but not analysed deeply enough for my liking.

Overall, a good introduction for young readers and a quick and easy read, but as a adult, it left me wanting more. (I guess you could say I want more Moore!)

[Audrey Grey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the middle school version of ‘The Other Wes Moore,’ which I had previously read. Diving into this version I want to preface by saying I read this version because it was assigned to my 8th grade son as course reading and I’m really glad it was.

Wes’s experiences growing up in rough city neighborhoods while going to a good school meant that he had to face the judgement of his peers for having opportunities they didn’t. Children 10-14 years old are heavily influenced by peer opinion and this was a great example of what that can feel like for a boy who wants to fit in with his neighborhood peers more than his school peers.

Military school for Wes was not what my middle schooler thought it would be like, as it was much more positive. I actually gave this book 4 stars specifically because I felt there could have been another chapter on specific experiences in military school that were helpful in Wes’s character growth.

The last chapters about Wes meeting the other Wes Moore who had ended up in prison for many bad choices was interesting, not just for the comparison of where their paths diverged, but also for how the author still showed up with respect and humanity toward this man in prison. Growing up there was a sense of “lock ‘em up and throw away the key” toward people who committed crimes, which I always felt lacked compassion. Wes shows compassion and humanity, that people make bad decisions and when prison is warranted then those people should be in prison, but we don’t need to treat them like animals. In fact, it is important that we continue to expect they be treated like people who can still learn from their mistakes and encourage character growth even if they must continue to be in prison.

This memoir is about encouraging kids to step away from looking at themselves in the context of their environment and instead imagine the person who they want to be. To strive to be a better version of themselves regardless of whatever else is going on in the environment they find themselves in.

Definitely recommend for middle schoolers and delayed readers who might not be ready for the adult version.

[ColeD. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wes's mom can not live in the house where her husband died any longer, so Wes Moore is forced to move with his mom and older sister to move to the Bronx with his grandparents. Getting acoustomed to his surroundings, Wes begins to skip school and hang out on the street, where he runs into trouble with the police. His stopped Wes from taking this path in life and sent him to a military academy, where Wes has become very succsessful. Years later, Wes read a newspaper article about a man named Wes Moore who grew up fatherless on the streets of Baltimore, and was serving a life sentence in prison for murder. Encouraged to write to this man in prison, Wes sent him a letter, to his suprise the other Wes wrote him back, and so began a friendship between two men who had little in common besides their name.

This book was very well written in the sense that the reader gets to look in to both of these men's lives. The book painted a very good picture for the reader on what both Wes's went through in their childhood, and how it shaped who they are today, which always kept me interested. Wes Moore (the author) showed how two people who started at the same place will be shaped by their family and their environment. Wes said, "My people taught me that being black or relatively poor or fatherless, being from Baltimore or the Bronx, would never define the limit of me."

[Jhade Mendez]

Discovering Wes Moore by Wes Moore is a nonfiction book based on the life of the author of when he was young and the struggles he faced as a teenager and finding himself. The main characters are Wes Moore, the other Wes Moore, Wes best friend, grandma, grandpa, sisters. The book takes place in New York where Wes will have trouble finding himself and finding out who are those that Truly care for him.I think this book is very interesting because of the importance it holds. I learn things from this book that aren’t taught at school , life lessons that you will find yourself using when you’re struggling to find yourself , and find your purpose in life. The positive aspect of this book is the life lesson. It teaches teenagers like me things that we won’t learn at school, lessons that you will find yourself using and not just the life lesson but the knowledge you get from this book are two of the most positive aspects of this book. I don’t think this book has any navigational aspects. The book is everything you would expect. I think teenagers , young adults would enjoy this book because the book talks about struggles that you had as a teenager and young adult and teaches you a lot of life lessons. The book was everything I expected from the book as knowledge and related experience that anyone as a young adult and teenagers can face. I love this book I would recommend.

[Wilsont · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Discovering Wes Moore, the literary element that carries on throughout the book is the plot. After Wes' father died he moved from west Baltimore to the Bronx. Wes spends most of his young life growing up in the hood where he gets into selling drugs, skipping school, and doing graffiti. His mom sees this and sends him off to military school where he attends middle school and graduates after High school. As he gets older, he travels much more often and he hears about another man named Wes Moore who grew up in similar surroundings as himself, but ended up in prison instead.
I thought this was a good book because even though I am not similar to Wes in any way he explains his situation well and describes what it was like to grow up as a less fortunate citizen. I thought his story was great because even though he grew up poor he became a Rhodes Scholar from all of his hard work. The author made it very clear what his goal was in writing the book as he mentioned it many times, freedom. On the last page of the book Wes says "discover what it means to be free"(147). He grew up when equality was a serious problem and he became free after he escaped the hood to lead a better life. Discovering Wes Moore has made me realize how fortunate I really am.

[Mr. Suchecki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows the life of two men who share the same name. These men, named Wes Moore, have completely different lives. While one of them goes to military school, becomes a high-ranking officer in the military, and becomes a Rhodes scholar, the other Wes Moore goes on a downward spiral of bad decisions that leads him to a life-time prison sentence. Throughout the story, we see the choices that each Wes makes that helps lead them to their ultimate path.

This book is always interesting every year that I get a chance to read it. I always find myself saddened that the Wes Moore who wound up in prison couldn't find a way to make it in the world. If only his surroundings had improved, then maybe he would still be a free man. I really like the perspective this book lends in terms of how even seemingly small choices can make a large impact on a person's life. This will be a book I look forward to rereading with my students every year.

[Sarah Esh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The core story of Wes Moore's book is a fascinating examination of how our choices are shaped by ourselves and by our surroundings. I picked up this audio CD more because I was looking for a quick audio book for my commute this week; I also remember hearing of this story before.

I really liked this adaptation, and was pleasantly surprised by how good the author is at imitating accents. However, I did not realize until about a quarter of the way through that this was an adaptation of his original book. It is clear to me that this was a more compelling story abridged for young adult readers. There is more to both his story and the other Wes Moore's story that I want to hear but was cut to make the text more accessible.

I'm all for making texts accessible for readers, and I definitely pondered how I could integrate this into my curriculum. But I am left wanting more, and wanting to read the original, hence the three stars.

[Jacob · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book Wes Moore is about how two similar boys who grow up in the same environment have two extremely different futures. and about the decisions they make that get them there. The characters in this book are the two Wes Moores. The plot is following them as they grow up. The setting is in the low-income part of the city. The objective is to teach young reads to make good life decisions.

I would recommend this non-fiction book by Wes Moore because it shows you how easily you can turn your life around. One thing I liked about this book is that it had two people it followed one who ended up in jail and another in college. What I didn't like about this book was how on Wes didn't have a very big part in the story. This book was pretty easy to read but had some deep meaning.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was assigned as summer reading to my rising 9th grader. For that, I believe it is an excellent choice. Moore writes an a relatable and approachable way, without being too simplistic or pedantic. Great discussion topics for young adults post-read would be: when does one become an adult? How do different cultures commemorate adulthood? How do adults model behavior, parent, teach and guide children, both in good and bad ways?

One thing that struck me was that once Wes dug into military school and started to succeed, many more additional opportunities for success came his way. All it takes is for one person with connections to decide you show promise; but then it is up to you to exploit those opportunities.

[Jooah (Julia) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is definitely not one to be taken lightly, it covers a lot of really important issues and topics as well as showing multiple lessons and themes we can apply to our everyday lives. A lot of the topics covered in this book aren’t necessarily discussed in present media as much as they should. So, I think that if you are an avid reader of current events and news, reading this book will allow you to make connections and see everything from a different perspective. Even if learning social issues isn’t really appealing to you, there is a narrative feel to this story that still hooks any reader that chooses to open it.

[Maryann Hilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of two young men, with the same name, from the same area in Baltimore. Their parallel lives would not cross…until they were adults. The author Wes Moore had turned his life around and found success as an adult. The other Wes Moore would find himself in prison for burglary and murder. It’s a story of our common thread…humanity. It’s a story of hope in not always living for others expectations of us, especially when those expectations are low or even dangerous. And finally, it’s a story of daring to live life in a way that impacts others positively and leaving a legacy of compassion and humility.

[Piper Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rating: 3/5

This is a very quick read, less than 150 pages, and I really enjoyed this story. I didn’t realize going into it that it was the young readers’ edition, but it makes sense now why I felt like lots of parts were very glazed over. That being said, I don’t think it was the most well-written book, so I would love to someday read the original, unabridged version. Wes Moore’s story is absolutely worth reading, so I am very glad to be familiar with it at least vaguely now! His life is so telling of the fact that life blesses us with the freedom to make mistakes, but those chances are susceptible to so many factors. As evidenced by the other Wes Moore, sentenced to life in prison, you never know which chance will be your last. We must never take any opportunities for granted. He brought up a fascinating point, how other people’s expectations matter, but how we must also pave our own path. This spoke right to my educator’s heart, as it is so important to instill in students a desire to succeed, and prove to them that they are capable!

[Katie Czech · Rating 1 out of 5]

I support Wes as a politician, so this isn’t a hate comment driven by political views. But writing about this almost feels crazy—it’s clear he was given incredible opportunities thanks to money, connections, and nepotism. He started at a private school in the Bronx and ended up at a prestigious, expensive military academy, while the other Wes was stuck in a severely underfunded public school. A teacher introduced him to an admissions officer for top schools, and he got into schools by ‘meeting friends of friends,’ which just shows how much access and privilege played a role. That’s the real difference between him and the other Wes Moore. This book is honestly offensive.

[Calvin Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the author Wes Moore and his life story. It talks about how he moves throughout his life and how he has made many mistakes. It is a very detailed book when it comes to people getting murdered and people selling drugs. This book shows the harsh reality of our world in the past and in the present day.
I personally loved this book. It was so interesting and I could not stop reading it. I read the entire book in 34 minutes and loved every part of it. It was a little confusing people wise and how there were so many but it eventually all went together.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Two people with the same name from the same area end up on two different paths. One is afforded some opportunities, mentors, and financial help to find his way in life. One has a harder road and makes some decisions that change the course of his life. The idea is interesting. The writing was bland and I felt like some of the life and emotion was lost in the musings of why one succeeded while the other didn’t. I wished I felt more attachment to the people and the sad fact that many repeat the cycle they were born into.