Family Ties [Paperback]

Ernest Hill (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2010

In the acclaimed A Life for a Life, Ernest Hill created an unforgettably candid story of violence, love, and redemption with teenaged D-Ray Reid at its center. Now, with his jail time behind him, D-Ray has returned home to find that the real fight for survival is only beginning-

Everyone was shocked when Mr. Henry took D-Ray Reid under his wing. After all, Mr. Henry-s real son, Stanley, was murdered by D-Ray-a crime D-Ray committed to save his brother, Little Man. Yet in the years since, Mr. Henry has tried to show D-Ray how to become the man Stanley would never be.

After Mr. Henry-s death, D-Ray seeks out his own mother, Mira, hoping to rebuild their broken relationship. But D-Ray-s homecoming is more tumultuous than expected. Arrested for a crime he didn-t commit, Little Man has escaped and is in hiding. Mira blames D-Ray for Little Man-s troubled history, but she has her own secrets to hide. And putting things right will mean uncovering a legacy of lies and hidden agendas, and realizing the only way to be free of the past is to stand tall and confront it at last-

Praise for the novels of Ernest Hill

-If novels offer us a way of seeing the world that we could not imagine before, A Life for a Life does just that.- -The Times-Picayune

-An exceptional literary piece that some readers will compare to Richard Wright-s Native Son.-Booklist on Satisfied with Nothin-

-As the story unfolds-these unforgettable characters come to full, sympathetic life.--Publishers Weekly on A Person of Interest

-A skilled storyteller.- -New York Times Book Review

--This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Dafina (September 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075821314X
• ISBN-13: 978-0758213143
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #559,056 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Continuing story, good stand alone read, March 29, 2011

By 

Edith A. Campbell "crazyquilter" (Indianapolis, IN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Ties (Paperback)

Ernest Hill first introduced D'Ray Reid in A Life for a Life. Family Ties continues the story with a redeemed D'Ray. He had been taken in by Mr. Henry, the man who's son he killed, and completed college. When Mr. Henry dies D'Ray is convinced to go home and make things right with his own mother, Mira. What he finds is his brother, Curtis, about to go to prison for a crime those who know him don't believe he committed several years earlier. D'Ray tries to help his brother thus giving the story an element of mystery. Mira stills sees her son as the reason for her family's troubles and she will not forgive him for this.
Typically we find stories in which young males repair their relationship with their father so, it was a bit of a change for this character to try to make things right with his mother. While Mira's character was not well developed in this book, we get to know her well enough as a mother to want D'Ray and Curtis to just walk away from her. Turning your back on your mother is not an easy thing to do and Hill never really gives closure to this relationship, leaving the possibility for a third book.
Curtis and D'Ray give young men reasons and examples of leaving the past behind to become men who make positive contributions to society. While they have educations, jobs and girlfriends they do remember where they've come from and are never judgemental and never avoid people they've always known. It's a good story for junior and senior students who are transitioning to adult lit. Young men may be surprised to see a character who reconnects with a love interest from the past but refuses to even stay too late at her home to avoid looking inappropriate. I like that Family Ties gives allows readers to consider different ways of handling situations.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Bloodlines, October 14, 2010

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Family Ties (Paperback)

D'Ray Reid made some wrong choices in his life; one which cost him jail time. While trying to save his younger brother, D'Ray shot and killed Mr. Henry's son. After D'Ray's release from jail Mr. Henry, being a forgiving man, took D'Ray into his home and raised him to be the man he was intended to be. Although D'Ray took something so precious away from Mr. Henry, he gave him back happiness and a reason to go on. After Mr. Henry's passing, D'Ray returns home to make amends with his mother, who in her eyes was nothing but trouble and hard for her to love.

Lil Man, D'Ray's younger brother is convicted of a crime he didn't commit. He escapes from jail and goes into hiding. He quickly needs to get out of town because he knows about the illegal activities going on and the parties involved want to do him bodily harm. D'Ray's mother wants him to help his brother and although he knows what she's asking is wrong, he won't stand by to watch his brother harmed.

FAMILY TIES is an explosive account of a family's separation due to lies, secrets, and expressing favortism to one child. The realistic plot delved into the strong issues which separated this family and the steps taken to resolve them. Faith, forgiveness, and family are the subject matters that make this novel an attention-grabbing story.

Reviewed by Sharon Lewis
of The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not a Page-turner But Interesting Read!!!, September 27, 2010

By 

T. Brooks "Honest Book Reviewer" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Family Ties (Paperback)

Family ties is an interesting, unpredictable read about a young black boy(D'Ray) that was trying to protect his younger sibling(Little Man) by murdering a teenage white boy, Stanley. After D'Ray's release from juvenile, Stanley's father, Mr.Murphy took D'Ray under his wing and forgave him for killing his only child. The story begins with the funeral of Mr.Murphy and Mr.Murphy's sister(Miss Big Siss) influencing D'Ray to go back home and visit his estranged mother. Reluctantly, D'Ray honored Miss Big Siss request. Unfortunately, D'Ray's homecoming was anything less than grand. Wouldn't it be great if we could choose friends AND FAMILY?

The book was written in a unique way, it read like a skit, instead of a novel. It was written well, characters developed, but the excessive conversational style writing took away from the story. The book needed more storytelling. Family Ties wasn't a page-turner, but VERY interesting.

Overall rating: 4.0