This book is a GREAT read but it’s also an exposition of the criminal justice system and a clarion call for change.

‘If My Words had Wings’ is a fiction derived from real stories. It encompasses the stories of many boys caught up in the criminal justice system in the UK. We see its impact on those that enter the prison system and their families.

Tyrell -Ty-Forrester is 15 when he is given an 18 month term for robbery. He made a huge mistake. And, one that will bring huge consequences. Prison must be seen to be a punishment, a supposed deterrent, as opposed to a place designed to heal, teach and rehabilitate.

Among his fellow inmates, are some repeat offenders, and, we learn, several young people swept up in the net of ‘joint enterprise’ - some with decades-long confinement for the ‘crime’ of being in the same location when a violent crime occured. One of these young people is Dadir, Ty’s best friend on the inside, who made the error of nodding acknowledgement to a murderer at a crime scene in the presence of the police. Yes, he was nearby a terrible act; no, he was not involved. He will spend his youth in prison. The book makes the reader question any justification of this law and shows how certain demographics are disproportionately affected.

There are countless stories of trauma behind the people in this story and their behaviours. Just about every inmate’s bio features multiple Adverse Childhood Experiences. But they don’t count in prison. Or to a society that blames individuals for their behaviour.

In this book, the power of language is a central theme. We see the dangers of labelling & the development of self-fulfilling prophecy. From Ty’s English teacher admonishing: “you’ll end up in prison’ and describing a group of boys as a ‘gang’ and intending all of the connotations. To the language of the prison guards reinforcing the boys’ ascribed identities and self-worth. But then, we see the flip side: Ty finding his voice; using writing as self-expression, catharsis and protest.

The opening third of this book is so full of tension: it is 3 week countdown to Tyrell’s release day. Can he make it unscathed and without being implicated in any wrongdoing?
In this period, Tyrell has signed up for a poetry workshop. He instantly regrets this choice. He has a mistrust of language- the labels ‘problem’ ‘callous’ ‘heartless’; the alienation he felt at the elaborate, rhetorical, jargon-laden language of the courtroom; the alienation he feels from the systemic devaluing of non-standard speech; and the experience of his own words being misinterpreted and used against him in by the prosecution. We watch as Tyrell learns to reappropriate language and send it flying.

On the outside, the healing begins with the support of friends and family. Will Ty be able to rebuild his life after the further trauma of his time inside?

A powerful passionate story about Ty, the injustic of the system and the overarching power of our words, of poetry. A unflinching story with hope sewn through.

Every single book I’ve read by this author has been so moving. Danielle has such a way with words. This book was heartbreaking but also so uplifting. Danielle writes the stories that need to be heard. A book that will stay with you. Just amazing.

Oh wow. This was a hard read in so many ways. I raced through much of the second half with my heart in my mouth, so worried about what might be coming next for Ty.

Tyrell is in prison for armed robbery, just coming to the end of his 18 month sentence. He’s being careful not to mess up now the end is in sight. The chance to attend a poetry workshop introduces him to a whole new realm, so far removed from his bad experiences at school…

This is shocking and heart wrenching and terrifying. I (in my innocence) knew nothing about joint enterprise and how people can be jailed for something that is really not their fault.

I’m sure Danielle Jawando researched this carefully and that makes it all the more shocking.

I’m a school librarian and will definitely be buying this once it’s published. It’s powerful and moving and I’d like so many of my pupils to read it… but I’ll probably restrict it to my 14+ pupils due to the language used and the descriptions of self harm.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for an ARC.

'If My Words Had Wings' is a stunning, devastating novel about a Black British teenage boy's experiences during and after his incarceration in a young offenders prison. Tyrell was involved in an armed robbery and is nearing the end of his eighteen-month sentence. Danielle Jawando depicts the events that have led up to his conviction, particularly the failings of the education system that have sent him down to this path, and then his harrowing experiences while he is in prison, including physical violence, self-harm and attempted suicide. We also see the challenges he faces after his release as he attempts to re-enter society whilst dealing with the stigma of being an ex-prisoner and resisting the temptation to re-offend and breach his licence conditions.

This is a painful and harrowing read, and Jawando highlights the many forms of injustice within the criminal justice system and British society more widely which disproportionately affect people of colour. Tyrell is a deeply sympathetic character even though he is guilty of the crime of which he has been convicted (and expresses remorse for it), but we also learn about fellow inmates who have been unfairly sentenced under joint enterprise convictions, including Tyrell's Dadir who may spend the rest of his life behind bars on the flimsiest of pretexts. Jawando's depiction of life in prison is horrifying and she enables us to feel something of the constant dread Tyrell lives with. At the same time, there is some hope, particularly through Tyrell's discovery of poetry thanks to visiting performance poet Malik. By reading the work of other Black poets, Tyrell feels seen and understood for the first time, and this encourages him to find his own voice and express himself.

This is such an important book to share with British teenagers - I would recommend it for readers in Year 9 upwards because of some of the more upsetting content in the novel. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC to review.

THIS BOOK!! Danielle Jawando is an astonishing writer. Blown away by If My Words Had Wings, a powerful and hopeful story about prison, poetry, new beginnings and the sheer injustice of how the system views young Black boys.

I want to say the biggest most heartiest thank you to Danielle for trusting me with her baby and letting me be the first reviewer/blogger to read Wings 🪽 I am truly truly privileged and honoured 🥰💕

This book 💛 this book is so very aptly named. It made my heart soar 💛

Ty’s character is so relatable. Whilst those who know me know I have never been in prison myself, I found Ty so relatable in how he feels about his place in the world. Danielle has managed to capture how I think we have all felt at one point or another as people of colour. Unheard, that we don’t matter and that we are pre-judged by extremely unfair standards and, the majority of the time, without cause.

Danielle has this knack for writing characters so that they lift off the page. Almost as though they step out and sit beside you and you’re having a heart to heart with them.

I feel like this book really illustrates the hard truths of being a black person, or any person of colour, within the justice system. The fact it is set in Manchester in the areas surrounding where I live and where I pass through regularly, made it all the more hard hitting.

I welled up so many times through this book that I had to keep putting it to one side so I could get myself together to keep reading. Danielle really does like to pull your emotions right out of you!

The topics of mental health, self harm & suicide are spoken about throughout and are not shyed away from which is so important for the men in our communities to understand that it is not a weakness and that it is in fact a response to trauma.

I need to know more about Ty, Danielle. What he did next, more of his poetry and his progression.

Once again Danielle has tackled a hugely important topic that has a massive impact on our Black and POC communities. One that is being misconstrued as being a fantastic way to tackle crime when in fact it is, in a lot of instances, being used to racially profile individuals based on erroneous stereotypes.

If My Words Had Wings is such an important book for young people and should be in every High School Library if not on the curriculum! It has themes that are extremely relevant to the youth of today and is pitched at a level that they will be able to relate to and appreciate whilst gaining knowledge within the brevity of the story.

If My Words Had Wings is released on 9th May 2024 and I suggest you pre order it NOW!! 🪽

This was my first read by Danielle Jawando, and it definitely won't be the last because, wow, is this book impactful!

When 15 year old Tyrell gets caught up with the wrong crowd and finds himself involved in an armed robbery, he is convicted and sent to a juvenile prison. He soon learns that in order to survive, he can only trust himself. He can never relax and spends his time in constant flight or fight mode. Ty meets Dadir, who's serving a life sentence for joint enterprise in a murder he didn't commit. He merely nodded at an associate who then went on to kill. Tyrell and Dasir strike up a friendship and have each others backs. Despite the injustice and discrimination they both face, they help each other get through prison life the best way they can. Tyrell is never safe, though, not just from other prisoners but himself, too.
Now his release date is coming up, and he's determined to turn his life around. Inspired by Malik, a visiting poet, Tyrell finds the magic of words and finds solace in writing. Will he be able to resist his old lifestyle and friends, and can he really be successful?

Hard-hitting and powerful reading If My Words Had Wings reminded me why I love young adult fiction so much. To represent young people who are never talked about, who find themselves at the hands of the justice system that will stereotype, and discriminate against young black people, call them gang members, scrutinise their music choices and even wrongly convict them is something that should be applauded. Danielle gives these young people a voice. I haven't the lived experience of Tyrell and Dadir, but they were so relatable. I felt like I was right there with them. I wanted to reach into the pages and tell them it was all going to be okay.
I had never heard of joint enterprise before I read this book, but it's made me want to go and research it because it's absolutely barbaric.
I'm so glad Tyrell had a family to support him and friends like Elisha. I'm also so glad he found his voice. My heart breaks for Dadir he will definitely be a character that stays with me.
I can't recommend this book enough. Danielle's writing is raw and real, and I can't wait to read more by her. If My Words Had Wings is such a special book and even more so when you discover why it has that title. Just absolutely stunning.

My heart breaks, and my blood boils. This book follows Ty as he struggles to survive prison and life after release. However, as we quickly learn from the stories of those who have been incarcerated, it isn't as simple as keeping your head down and making good choices. In fact, the whole system seems to have been built for them to fail.

Exploring economic boundaries, the expectations of family and peers, mental health stigma, institutional racism, societal prejudice, and discrimination, Danielle Jawando shares a point of view that goes largely ignored or silenced. From the downright unjust joint enterprise law and absurd concept of foresight to the violence and trauma experienced within the prison and limitations on the future placed on those with criminal convictions, this story questions the lack of empathy, assistance, and legal equality in the UK.

While the beginning was hard to get into due to the straightforward style, I quickly became invested. Ty doesn't feel like he fits, doesn't know how to communicate his hurt, and is drowning in guilt, shame, and self blame - but despite all this he continues to tread water.

The book shows the importance of support structures as well as the confidence developing a passion can have on an individual. Poetry is Ty's lifeline, while music was Dadir's. However, we're also shown how easily things can unravel despite the boys' best efforts. I really wished for more of their stories as the ending does not offer a solid resolution, but the ending also felt fitting as this will be a lifelong battle...

If My Words Had Wings makes you want to scream and burn down the world until things are fair and right. It is a must read.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this eARC of 'If My Words Had Wings' by Danielle Jawando.

'If My Words Had Wings' follows a convict called Ty who is close to getting out of jail and his story. He was young when he committed his crime and although it hasn't been too long, his story of everything changing without him just tugs at the heartstrings. I love the way poetry was displayed in this novel and how poetry was such an outlet for Ty's struggles with "normality"
I've never read a novel by Jawando before but her writing is absolutely gorgeous and heartfelt. Overall, a great read.

After serving 18 months for his involvement in a robbery in which he was caught up at age 15, Tyrell Forrester wants nothing more than to turn his life around after his release.

Unfortunately, that is easier than said than done, thanks to racial stereotypes and social attitudes towards young offenders. But Tyrell finds unexpected salvation from an unlikely source: the spoken word. This releases in him the creativity inspired by a poet who visited the place where he served his sentence.

Now the question is, whether that will give him the genuine freedom he needs to live a decent life as a free man after his incarceration...

This is an inspiring novel that does not flinch from the realities of being an under-age offender, and the potential implications that it can carry for a young black person for the remainder of their lives, as they attempt to move forward. A touching and important story.

This latest story by Danielle Jawando blew me away.
This author has never shied away from meaty, current, and underrepresented topics, and If My Words Had Wings was no exception.
Ty is a young Black man from Manchester, serving a sentence for his part in an armed robbery that went wrong.
He's consistently been let down by the authorities and the services that should have provided support for young people. He came from a family where he was a witness to DA, went off the rails educationally, and ended up in a PRU.
However, this story takes place towards the end of his sentence, when he is due to be released, and the aftermath of his release, including his feelings and struggle to show his honest intentions in a world that has a pre-judged view of boys 'like him'.
During his stay, Ty discovers poetry and spoken word, as written by many poets from backgrounds similar to his own. He finds a way to convey his thoughts and feelings in a way that feels authentic.
I don't think it is that well documented enough just how awful young offender institutes and prisons can be for those incarcerated, and Jawando shines a light on many issues, including the way POC can be prejudged and all rolled together, purely for looking a certain way.
This is a raw, hard-hitting book covering systematic racism, PTSD, mental health, self-harming and suicidal thoughts, all covered sensitively but so needed.
If My Words Had Wings is another of her books that should be on the National Curriculum. Thousands of youngsters would benefit from reading this, recognising themselves within the story.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for an ARC.

I thought this was extraordinary particularly with regards to the insight it gave me as a reader to what life is life for some young black men and the discrimination and prejudices they face every single day.

Headlines:
Injustice prevailing
Survival
Coping mechanisms

This heart-stopping story brings the reader into a world few of us will have experience of. Tyrell was a young man in a prison for young offenders, he committed a crime but the payment was heavy. The first half of the book centred on the latter part of his incarceration and the second half centred on life afterwards; neither of those experiences were easy, far from it.

Through Ty's eyes I learnt more about joint enterprise and how black young men are targetted by police and the word 'gangs' is thrown about easily and often unnecessarily. The gang matrix was a new concept to me and I looked up more information on this, I was pretty incredulous. These facts translated to characters in this story and Dadir absolutely pulled at my heart. At the end, as attached as I was to Ty, Dadir had all my questions, much of my compassion and angry tears.

Life behind bars for Ty was one big adrenaline surge to stay safe. The sense of tension he held at all times was palpable. I was looking over Ty's shoulders for him but it didn't help. Ty's outlet through this book was a talent he found in words on a page that translated into spoken word. There were some great advocates in this book and we needed to see those chinks of hope for Ty. I loved Malik and Becky's empowerment.

Family relationships were both complicated and frustrating. Reading Ty's connection with his brother and how that eventually played out brought a new set of tears. Ty was a young man with integrity, a crime is not everything about an identity even though society loves to see it that way. The Ty we met had emotional intelligence, an evolving ability to make decent decisions but some of his decisions had me figuratively reading through my fingers.

I'm left thinking, what about all the Dadirs??

Danielle Jawando brought this story to life with heart, empowerment and hope. Her words have wings and she gave them to Ty.

I read an early copy of this book but it did not influence by honest opinion.