Book Review - "Sweet Lullaby" by DAWITT

Jealousy.  Betrayal.  Revenge.  These three traits can lead to disaster.  Jealousy can cause someone to betray a best friend.  Revenge can fuel a person in a way that nothing else can.  Jealousy, betrayal and revenge – these traits are characteristic of a dramatic storyline.  In Dawitt’s novel, Sweet Lullaby, the effects of these three traits are clearly demonstrated.

Juwan is a smart, talented young man.  He has a bright future ahead of him.  However, he has allowed the streets of DC to pull him in a wrong direction.  He got involved in selling drugs at an early age.  He looks at the drug game as a means to an end.  He has a plan to accumulate wealth that will help him when he goes off to college.  He has been awarded a full scholarship to M.I.T.  A week before he leaves for school, something happens that will change the course of his life forever.

Kiesha is Juwan’s girlfriend.  She is a very talented dancer.  She has dedicated her life to dance.  She started taking lessons at an early age and she devoted much time to perfecting her skills.  She is also a senior in high school with a bright future ahead of her.  Joy is supposed to be Kiesha’s best friend, but her jealousy always gets in the way.  Kiesha auditioned for the Alvin Ailey School and she was accepted.  On the day of her audition, she meets with a life-changing disaster. 

This dramatic tale is full of unexpected twists and turns.  It was hard to put this book down.  When I had to put it down, I couldn’t wait to get back to it.  I thought about this story a lot in my quiet moments.  There is plenty of tragedy in the lives of the main characters.  The tragedy they experience is familiar to a lot of us.  The sad story of drug abuse, drug dealing, prostitution, and homicide infiltrates so many communities around the country.  Readers will be able to relate to this story.

Through the tragedy, there was some triumph.  I feverishly rooted for the characters to find some solace.  I kept reading and hoping that there would be a light at the end of the tunnel for Juwan and Kiesha.   The reality is that life is not a bed of roses, especially for those of us that grow up in inner city neighborhoods.  In the end, this story underscores the resilience of the human spirit.  If you have goals and dreams, you can achieve them despite setbacks.

Dawitt is a very talented storyteller. This book was written in such a personal way. The author really put his heart and soul into the writing. It is an entertaining story, but it is so much more than that. It will make the reader think. After reading this book, you will walk away with more understanding and empathy for the struggles that people have to endure. Overall, this book is an excellent story of tragedy and triumph. I’m confident that all readers will appreciate and enjoy this book as much as I did.