Finding The Son: My Story of Struggle, Identity & Light

by Troy T. Landrum Jr., John A. Huguley (Editor)

A long-awaited telephone conversation takes place on the driver side of Troy Jr’s Black Nissan Sentra. He explains to his Father that the experience of his parents’ divorce as a child was “one of the worst things that ever happened in his life.” The honesty in those words encourages an intimate revelation of the unspoken narratives and exploration of the upbringing of both parents, his Father Troy Sr and his Mother, Elaine. The unraveling of these stories leads Troy Jr. to the fateful memory of their divorce. Through the narratives of both parents, he finds the courage to piece together his own coming of age story in the midst of those emotions, the lost, and the questioning that plagued him as a young boy. Throughout this journey, Troy Jr. hopes to understand and make sense of all the tears, the joy, the adventures, the hope and the purpose that come along with being an African American boy growing up without the consistent presence of his Father.
BIO
Born and raised in Indianapolis, IN and coming from a large family full of storytellers who embody amazing past lives that have shaped their very existence. Troy Jr. has been blessed enough to discover a love for writing and reading that has sparked a determination to bring his families stories to life. Troy Landrum Jr. has lived in Seattle WA for the past five years. Currently, he is working in Renton and South Seattle as a Youth Development Worker.

219 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 23, 2019

Reviews

[Katie Voss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish that I could give this 5 stars, 4 even, but I just couldn't.
The story itself is excellent. The author has a wonderful voice, a good sense of timing, and knows how to pace scenes. The author's self-awareness is rich and genuine, and his descriptions of his own struggles are beautiful. He expresses himself well.
Unfortunately, the writing is inadequate. The grammar especially is terrible. It's as if NO ONE bothered to edit his manuscript. And I'm not talking about slang, cultural phrases, or ebonics - I'm talking about obvious spelling and punctuation errors, odd indentations and margins, and not having consistent spacing between lines. I was especially frustrated by the misspelling of his aunt Adrienne/Adreinne. It's spelled both ways, about 50/50.
Again, the author's voice is wonderful. I truly enjoyed reading about his life. I hope, someday, he honors his story with an edited publication. It's worth it, I promise.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story about a boy discovering who he is and who he wants to become.
The vulnerability and honesty in Troy's words is inspirational and admirable.

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was assigned reading for a class, and I'm glad it was! Troy's story and his family's stories are a gift to receive, and he's a very engaging storyteller. I feel like I know him now.