Your Corner Dark was an engrossing story of a Jamaican youth facing limited options and endless challenges as he seeks to overcome the circumstances of his birth. In Jamaica, you often get told that education is your way out. A way out of poverty and into middle class life, a way out of middle class life and into the uptown, or even a way out of Jamaica.

Frankie has worked hard to make his way out of his rural neighbourhood, pushing himself as his mother pushed and encouraged him. Now, he's finally making his way out and has got a scholarship to go to his dream university, and then in a second everything changes when his father gets shot. Now Frankie is on his own and has to make decisions no child should ever be faced with.

I was completely taken up with the story, however as a Jamaican there were things that were distinctly not Jamaican referenced in the ARC. For non-Jamaican readers it's not anything they'd likely notice.

Frankie Green has big plans--to go to America (hopefully on scholarship) to study engineering. He's done with the simple country life his father leads in Jamaica, and he has no interest in the gang life his uncle and aunt lead. When political tensions rise and Frankie is forced to make some tough decisions, his life will be forever changed.

Your Corner Dark is a well written, fast paced novel that looks at many issues plaguing Jamaica--racism, classism, political dissent. This book will appeal to a variety of readers, although some may struggle with the Jamaican dialect.

If you like books that are a window into another place, then this is the book for you. Your Corner Dark is a dark tale of gang life in Jamaica. Frankie attends one of the elite high schools, but his family is poor. Due to his academic diligence, he has been able to secure a full ride to the University of Arizona. His father is desperate for Frankie to have more opportunities and a better life. He wants him far from his uncle Joe who runs a gang. When Frankie’s dad gets shot, his survival depends on getting the money to pay for his care. The only avenue open to him is joining the gang. He will sacrifice his scholarship and his budding relationship with Leah to save his father.

This book will stay with you long after you are done reading. As for me, I questioned my privileged life with my good job and safe life. Be prepared to be wrung out when you’re done.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

Franklyn is about to do something no one he knows has ever done, get out of Jamaica, go to university in American and make his dreams come true. Frank un wants to come back and help Jamaica be better because he loves his island but he knows staying there will mean an early grave. With his full ride scholarship his dreams are within reach until his whole world turns upset down. He has to learn to make difficult decisions to save yourself and the ones you love. A love letter to the island he wants Jamaica to be and a tale of sadness for what Jamaica is makes this book heart wrenchingly beautiful.