The Third Verse

by Jerry Canada

“A house divided against itself cannot stand.”—Abraham Lincoln.

History has proven that when African Americans seek equality in America they are often met with intimidation, bombings of their neighborhoods, and murders of the innocent. The Third Verse explores whether the United States of America would be pulled apart at the seams when African Americans sit as equals to their White counterparts. Are Americans strong enough to stand together, or will institutionalized racism be the downfall the American Republic? Anthony Marks and President Lawrence Edison seek to resolve these questions… to save the soul of America.

Their task becomes much more difficult when the invading forces of The People’s Republic of China forces the balance of power in favor of African Americans. China offers African Americans the opportunity of a lifetime… to finally stand as equals. Will they accept? Will Tony and Law save America? Or is history ordained to repeat itself. Switching Day is just the first step.

VERSE critiques America’s racial divisiveness, while celebrating the spectacular depth of our undeniable unity as diverse Americans.

330 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 1, 2021

About the author

Canada grew up in Long Island, New York and studied psychology at SUNY Stony Brook, where he served as student body president and was an All American track athlete, He earned his JD and graduated with honors from UC Berkeley School of Law and practiced intellectual property law for almost 20 years in New York City, where he tried biotech and pharmaceutical cases before juries. He was a partner at some of the top international law firms, and has spent much of his life coaching and mentoring young people, and volunteering at the Harlem Children's Zone as a martial arts instructor.

He is a passionate world traveler, and could talk for days about his unique experiences growing up in the United States. He's had dinner with celebrities, drinks with presidents, and played golf with world leaders, but for him nothing beats the thrill of telling a good story to a captive audience.

Reviews

[Melda Yildiz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right from the beginning I was hooked. Verse gives an in-depth look into a part of America that still exists but few people talk about. Canada creates a story of love, military conflict, friendship, and nationalism all in one. Read it til the end… I’m still shaking my head! Well done.

[Maryc · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. It was as fast-paced as any Vince Flynn novel with the added element of racial justice discussion. I started to suspect the ending but he held it until the v e r y end making me doubt myself. I would read more by this author.

[Davi Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jerry Canada’s The Third Verse is an original, futuristic thriller that masterfully entwines relevant, thought-provoking themes with entertaining and highly readable storytelling. When China invades the United States, the white President Lawrence Edison and his longtime Black friend, Anthony Marks, are forced to reconsider everything–from their loyalties to a racially divided nation, to the very foundation of their friendship. China’s strategy is to establish their rule by capitalizing on America’s legacies of racial animosity, and cementing the longstanding fractures that keep the nation divided and unequal. The invaders’ first major initiative along these lines is Switching Day, when any Black family can take the home of any white family, effectively forcing a “switch.” Canada narrates the Switching Day events with insight and humor, providing us readers with a rich foundation for our own imaginative speculations about what a Switching Day might be like for us, our communities, and our country.

For the Chinese invaders, Switching Day is just the shot across the bow, so to speak. The next escalation seeks to cut off a portion of the American South to create an entirely new and separate nation, to be ruled by Black Americans. And the stakes are even more personal, because the Chinese have selected the President’s BFF, Anthony Marks, to take the helm as the inaugural president of the new Black nation. Canada’s story weaves together the layers of global political intrigue, the fragilities of interracial friendships, and the profound uncertainties of whether a truly united America is possible, or even worthwhile.

I read The Third Verse in one sitting because it’s a gripping, highly entertaining story that also offers readers different ways of thinking about the present perils and possibilities of reconciliation and unity for a nation that seems even more divided than ever. Despite the book’s serious themes, Canada’s prose is fast-paced and delightfully funny, and refreshingly manages to avoid the judgmental tones and ideological didacticism that seem to characterize so many other books that tackle topics related to race and social justice.

[Linda Bryant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A. ReviewThat Touches the Soul

The Third Verse is a well written book that is a fun read. At the same time it touches your soul as you go back and actually read the third verse of the song
I’m ashamed to say I never studied it or if I did I had forgotten.
I highly recommend this read if you want to think about reality as you are reading fiction

[Jalena · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read!

A thought provoking and brilliant novel that kept me guessing right up until the end. A must read for anyone who ponders what if, and what should be, this book has stayed with me and raises questions about privilege and American culture that I will be thinking about for years to come. It also has wonderfully developed characters that you will root for.