Leah Henderson - One Shadow on the Wall — at Takoma Park Library (MD)

Eleven-year-old Mor is left to take care of his two younger sisters when both parents pass away suddenly. The Danka Boys, a gang of runaways who threaten and steal to survive, offer protection and provisions if he joins them. With little money to pay for food and school tuition, Mor is forced to make a difficult decision. How can he keep his promise to protect the family without going against his morals? During moments of great need, Mor’s parents appear to guide him onto the right path. Henderson integrates Senegalese culture, Islamic traditions, and magical realism in her middle-grade debut. Ages 10 to 13.