Pushing Hope: An Illustrated Memoir of Survival

by Raymond Santana, Keith Henry Brown (illustrator)

One of the Central Park Five reflects on his wrongful conviction—and tireless fight for his 2002 exoneration—in this moving young adult illustrated memoir.

Raymond Santana’s story is an example to teens of the power of hope and resilience—and the importance of fighting injustice to stand up for what’s right.

When Raymond Santana was just 14, he was accused of a crime he didn’t commit. The 1989 rape of a jogger in Central Park was pinned on Santana and four other young teens, a tragedy that would change their lives forever.

In this powerful illustrated memoir, Raymond Santana takes readers on a journey from his move to Harlem, to his arrest and trial, and from his time in prison to his ongoing fight for justice. Exonerated in 2002, Santana has made it his mission to fight wrongful convictions and injustice. What has sustained him and given him the strength for that fight, is his creativity—art and fashion have always been a refuge and a source of hope.

Teaming up with celebrated artist Keith Henry Brown, Raymond Santana shows in vivid color how one can survive by pushing a message of hope.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Graphic Novels, Social Justice, Crime, Biography, Hispanic

288 pages, Paperback

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Amber Hughes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 30-minute audiobook narrated by the author was such a quick, engaging listen. I hadn’t known about the Central Park Five before this, and it immediately sent me down a rabbit hole of videos and interviews with those who were wrongfully accused and are now using their voices to raise awareness. I also discovered there’s a Netflix series — which is now officially on my watch list.

Thank you, Libro.fm, for the advance listening copy!

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book.

This is really accessible and inspirational hi-lo read. I was expecting something like a graphic novel, but the pages alternate between spreads of large, simple text and (usually) full page illustrations. The illustrations are soft and earnest, and appear to be colored pencil and watercolor. The format feels much like a children’s picture book which I’m afraid will be off putting to some teenagers.

The content, however, is really relatable. For students unfamiliar with the exonerated 5 this will be eye opening. But it doesn’t linger on the court case or crime. The story is laser focused on Santana’s emotional experience and mindset - finding hope and purpose, mainly through art, in the midst of hardship. The message is powerful and I will be purchasing multiple copies for my school library.

[Ben Levin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly powerful and painful and essential. It was clear how Raymond Santana's innocence was robbed from him by his unjust conviction as well as the convictions of the other members of the Exonerated Five with his struggles to stick with his passions for art and fashion. Seeing the shirt at the end was extremely emotional and his emotions were clear even when not described on every page including through the pictures, especially ones of him crying. Seeing his interests, hopes, and feelings about his family is also a strong way to counter the way his humanhood has been stolen so many times by the rape allegations and the people who ignorantly believe him (it took every muscle in my body to keep the language with that polite) very similar to Starr's point in The Hate U Give when she says, "Khalil lived!"

[Amy Kett · Rating 4 out of 5]

For the most part, I thought the spareness of the text coupled with the truly beautiful illustrations was effective (if not super informative). If you are looking for a "vibes" memoir(ish), this will work. If you want any sort of detail of the life lived before, during, and after his unjust conviction...not so much. I think setting expectations might be half the thing with this one.

[anonymous book addict · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

I rarely read non-fiction. In fact, I almost exclusively read fiction and fantasy. But Pushing Hope truly surprised me. As my first real non-fiction read, it left a strong and lasting impression. This story is painful, real, and incredibly necessary. It is hard to even imagine what Raymond Santana went through at just 14 years old. His experience is heartbreaking.

What stood out most to me was that this book is not just words on a page. It shows you what he felt. The illustrations are stunning and powerful. They carry so much emotion that you can feel the pain, the hope, and the frustration in every line. Some of the images, especially the ones of him crying, spoke louder than any words could.

I found it deeply inspiring that, despite everything, he held on to his passion for art and fashion. This is not just a story about surviving injustice. It is also about rediscovering purpose and healing through creativity. The way he turned something so traumatic into a voice for change is remarkable.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after the last page. If you are like me and usually stick to fiction, I still recommend giving this one a try. It is powerful, important, and unforgettable.

Huge thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. I am genuinely grateful to have read this.

[Alyssa | Lyssi's Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pushing Hope is a powerful graphic memoir that uses a scrapbook-esque visual style to reflect the deeply personal and reflective tone of Raymond Santana’s story. The artwork complements the narrative well. It's fragmented, emotional, and textured, mirroring Santana's journey through injustice, resilience, and ultimately, hope.

While I found the artistic approach fitting, I was a bit puzzled as to why Santana, who expresses a passion for art, didn’t illustrate the book himself. That said, the collaboration still delivers a visually engaging experience that draws readers into his world.

Though this isn’t the kind of book I usually pick up, I found myself drawn to the heart of the story. I’ve always appreciated a good comeback narrative, and Santana’s rise above unimaginable odds is undeniably inspiring. Pushing Hope reminds us of the strength it takes not only to survive but to reclaim one’s life and identity.

[Lady Washizu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Admittedly do no know much about the CP5 and despite my love of true crime did not know about it until i started college in 2022, despite being born in 1989 when the crime occurred. This is a quick read, and most of it consists of art, beautiful art. It tells Raymond’s side of the story and how corrupt cops and officials basically finagled him into confessing to a crime he not only did not see but also did not participate it. Every single thing they said, did and implied was shady and Raymond and his friends should have NEVER been even brought in for questioning. I am appalled! However, Raymond and his friends have since been exonerated and despite his obvious challenges, Raymond has gone on to have a family of his own and done great things, including inspiring others to go beyond what is expected and beyond their difficult circumstances to be better, stronger and smarter and for that I commend him.

Thank you.

[Sesana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unusual presentation. This isn't a graphic novel, more like a heavily illustrated memoir. The book alternates between full page illustrations and large text on solid color backgrounds. Surprisingly, it works really well, because it gives Santana's words center stage and strips down the very dramatic events to just his personal thoughts, emotions, and reactions.

[Mrs. Murfee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have loved more legal details.

[Amber Walther · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quick read - wish I was able to learn more. This is very surface level of the Central Park 5. But the point was his hope and how he persevered. Graphic novel with great art. Minimal words

[Laura Inga · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was an extremely quick read, though it was beautifully artistic and captured the emotions and themes I think were intended for this book.

I personally wished that this book covered more of the details and hardship of what being wrongly accused and spending a significant time in jail did to Santana, but I understand that the focus was to be on hope, perseverance, and working hard towards your goals no matter the obstacles. I think Pushing Hope did a great job of highlighting those themes without going too heavy on the hardship, but I feel like if they had leaned into that more, it might've been more dramatic of a comparison between his captivity and freedom.

I appreciated the artistry, and the continuous reference to how important art was to Santana, and it feels very child appropriate, so my critiques are as an adult reader wanting to read adult content... But nonetheless, the colors and text on the pages were purposefully chosen, the illustrations were tastefully made, the pacing of the book was fast, which was appreciated, and the overall ideas behind the book felt powerful and important. I think this read would be inspirational for many struggling children, though when dealing with mature themes, I feel as though they could have leveraged more mature emotions for all those students and kids out there that see themselves in this memoir. Overall, enjoyed it a lot, though I initially assumed there would be more information on the trial, arrest, and experience in jail. It didn't focus on that though, which was a nice pick up to keep the book's movement.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This graphic memoir gave me Jason Reynolds/Jason Griffin vibes, especially in the first two-thirds of the book. Raymond Santana's story certainly has appeal since he was incarcerated for several years for a crime he didn't commit in Central Park in 1989. He and four other young men became known as the Central Park Five, and their story of misplaced justice became a Netflix documentary, When They See Us, making this book particularly timely and important, especially since he and the others who were accused were young--he was 14 at the time--and poor and either Black or Brown. The use of vivid colors such as pulsing reds and saffrons as well as stark black, sometimes white, sometimes yellow, and sometimes red, fonts capture the emotions and moods effectively, and readers feel as though they, too, are being browbeaten by the law enforcement officials while also feeling completely isolated, alone, and abandoned. The artwork is stunning, and his story incredibly important, possibly inspiring others in similar situations not to give up hope. But for me, it loses its intensity during the last 30 or so pages, and the importance of art in helping Santana heal and move forward loses the impact it might have had if some/more of his own artwork had been included. This book has teen appeal and is a fast but emotional read. I have mixed feelings about it since later parts of it seem uneven and lack detail as well as the emotional resonance found in the earlier portions. Still, this story of resilience and triumph against injustice will fascinate many middle graders and teens.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

There was a time in recent American history that we were all aware of the story of the Central Park Five: five young men wrongly accused of a vicious crime. Pushing Hope provides us a different perspective on this tragic event in our history, told from the point of view of Raymond Santana, one of the teenagers. However, this is not your stereotypical memoir. The beginning of the story focuses primarily on the threads of family, art, and culture, with Brown skillfully using color to convey emotion. For example, the artwork at the beginning and the ending of the memoir is bright and colorful, conveying the themes of hope, family and culture and connecting them to the illustrations. In contrast, the illustrations of the time spent in interrogation and imprisoned feature dark colors and shadowy figures. 

We follow Santana’s story as it unfolds, seen through the eyes of the teenager living it. There are moments in the memoir when the illustrations and the story line will elicit deep emotion, like the illustrated scene of Raymond being interrogated alone by two adults. As a parent, reading this memoir was heartbreaking. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Dolores · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raymond Santana starts his story with his move to Harlem. As he finds his way in a new neighborhood and new school with a totally new vibe, his art helps him adjust. This is such a smart move because this glimpse of his before life makes him so relatable to every reader. Then he takes the reader through the Central Park jogger case and the injustices that were heaped upon him and his fellow co-defendants. He keeps his story rooted in his art. How the events in his life affected that art and how his art ultimately saved him. Format wise, this is a bit of a head-scratcher. Not quite a graphic novel biography, but honestly--that's the crowd who will gravitate to this. The art is bold and powerful and just as full of joy and hope as the words themselves. Thank you so much to Edelweiss for the review copy!

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was curious about the format of this book, with limited text, and large illustrations, but with a very serious topic. Having read it, I am amazed at how well the author shares his story through this almost "picture book" format. The early events are illustraed with all the fear and anger the author felt. There are so many ups and downs in the story, but the author never allows the reader to think anything is a pat "happy ending." Being freed from prison comes with it's own painful problems to overcome. Being exhonerated comes with feelings of being overwhelmed and frustration for being know only as one thing. Finding artistic voice comes with frustrations of finding an outlet that can financially support the artist. As a reader I was amazed at the level of complex feelings that were portrayed in this format. This was very well done.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got to hear Raymond Santana speak at the ALAN workshop last week. He was one of the exonerated five in the 1989 rape of a Central Park jogger. He was arrested at age 14 and spent 7 years in prison. The title of the book reflects the reason he wrote it. He said he wrote it for the kid who was wrongfully committed and caught up in the system. He wants to show them that there is hope. I was touched by his message and read the book that night. The illustrations by Keith Henry Brown are really good and help impress upon the reader the author's youth at the time and how frightening and manipulating the interrogation was. Some pages just have a single sentence, so it is a quick read.

[J. Robinson-Readersgottoread]

This is biographical, and I do not rate biographies and memoirs.

It did take me through a lot of feelings as I read it. These include, but are not limited to anger, disgust,astonishment, and hope. I would recommend for older teen readers or older middle grade with an adult to talk with, as some of the police officers’ language and part of a confession are related to SA. F-word used in part of these conversations when referring to a female victim.

It contains photographs and inspirational text at the end.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, Astra Publishing House | Calkins Creek, for the copy of Pushing Hope by Raymond Santana. There wasn’t much actual text, so this would be perfect for reluctant readers.The illustrations were wonderful and told his story, which doesn’t dwell on the horror of a 14-year-old being unfairly incarcerated, but concentrates on how he overcame it and found his passion in art. I loved this deeply personal story, and it would be great for a school library for kids of all ages. 5 stars

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted more from this one. It incorporated a different format for a graphic novel, which I think will throw students off a little bit. Most of my students don't have any beginning knowledge of the Exonerated 5 case, and I don't think this memoir does a good enough job of really outlining everything that went on. I liked it as a supplement for someone who is already familiar, but not for most of my students.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know much about the central park 5, but this memoir is moving, and heartbreaking and highlights how our justice system was broken- and while they were exonerated, also hits home that things are still broken.

The story is told simply, the art is gorgeous and it all just works well together.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book definitely has an audience, and the format will work well for that audience. I’m glad I got it for my YA bio section and I hope it finds its readers. It’ll be a quick one for most people. I definitely would love to read a more fully fledged account by Santana, but this one did what it set out to do, I believe. 3.5 stars.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

5 stars for the art. 3 stars for the writing, though it does have some pretty strong moments. Pacing could have used to help though.

This is a very accessible, easy to read book about an important event and an incident of injustice.

[Ariana Sanders]

Just a 30 minute read (graphic novel of sorts). Main complaint is it didn’t cover how exoneration happened! Younger grades for reading but of course upper content and minor language.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book was good. I wish it had gone into more detail about how he was exonerated.

[Jillianne Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ll give any of these guys 5 stars anytime. Beautiful illustrations!

[Mirele Kessous · Rating 4 out of 5]

Top notch illustrations here and a powerful story. I think it could have been developed further.
HS and up- mentions rape, cursing.

[Maggie Woodcome · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wish I had read the description more closely. An illustrated memoir wasn’t fully captured as an audio book. I want to go and find the actual book to see the images.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The graphic novel is visually appealing, but the story fell short for me. In my opinion, it lacks depth and the ending is way too abrupt.

[Siân PJsAndBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded

This is a quick read and a good introduction to a story I am not familiar with. I definitely want to learn more about the Exonerated Five.

[Helen Geng · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read January 2026