Throughout her nearly five decade-long career, American author Nikki Grimes has written countless books for children and young adults. Her 2005 book, Dark Sons, was written for young adults. It tells the story of a young boy called Sam, who is crestfallen after his father abandoned him and his family to marry another woman. Not knowing who to turn to and who he can trust, Sam questions some of his most foundational principals - including his religion.
In the novel, Grimes explores the relationship between a father and his son and explores the relationship between religion and its adherents. The book draws parallels between Sam's story and the story of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham. In that sense, the book is a rumination on the Bible and the book of Genesis, which tells the story of Ishmael.
Can - and should - a child forgive a parent who has wronged them, Grimes asks? And is it okay to love and be connected with a child that you perceive as having replaced you?
Finally, Grimes explores what it means to miss someone - especially someone who is supposed to be close to you and love you unconditionally (as Sam's father was supposed to). The book fundamentally explores some of the most profound and complex questions about life, love, and religion in general, as well as questions about how interconnected everything is with each other.
