It Ain't All for Nothin'

How do you find the strength to do the right thing when everything in your life is pushing you toward the wrong one? Discover the power of resilience and moral courage through the eyes of a young boy facing an impossible choice in a world that seems stacked against him. You'll follow twelve-year-old Tippy as he's forced to live with his estranged, criminal father after his grandmother falls ill. Learn how he navigates a dangerous new reality, grappling with questions of family, faith, and survival. This story reveals how to hold onto your values and find hope, even when it feels like your efforts are all for nothin'.

Walter Dean Myers was a five-time Coretta Scott King Award winner and the third National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, celebrated for his authentic portrayal of urban life. Growing up in Harlem, Myers drew from his own experiences with poverty, a speech impediment, and finding solace in books to give a voice to marginalized youth. His profound understanding of the struggles and triumphs of young people, especially young men of color, infuses his work with an unparalleled honesty and hope that resonates deeply with readers.