Tuesday, February 11, 2025
Book News

The Hollywood Book Reviews commends “Freddy B: My Last Encounter with the Law Got Me A Trip for a One Year Stay at a Department of Corrections Facility” by Yvonne Stevens Walton Harris

The Hollywood Book Reviews’ David Allen acclaimed “this beautiful book, titled, Freddy B: My Last Encounter With the Law Got Me A Trip for a One Year Stay at a Department of Corrections Facility, once a memoir and a testament to courage and faith, is a mother’s loving edit of her son’s journal. 

“Freddy B: My Last Encounter with the Law Got Me A Trip for a One Year Stay at a Department of Corrections Facility” by Yvonne Stevens Walton Harris was among the books displayed by Author Reputation Press during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books (LATFOB) 2023 at the University of Southern California on April 22–23, 2023.

This masterpiece is shortlisted for the 2023 Eric Hoffer Award Grand Prize. The Eric Hoffer Book Award commemorates the memory of the famous American philosopher Eric Hoffer by honoring outstanding writing and the independent spirit of small publishers. Since its foundation, Hoffer has grown to become one of the most prestigious worldwide book awards for small, academic, and independent presses.

Moreover, “Freddy B: My Last Encounter with the Law Got Me A Trip for a One Year Stay at a Department of Corrections Facility” was displayed at the 2022 Frankfurt International Book Fair and is also commended by Michelle Jacobs of the US Review of Books, who writes:

“…written in compelling and evocative prose, the real and raw voice of Freddy Harris chronicles his feelings and experiences throughout his young life. He reflects on his childhood, family relationships, and criminal acts that land him in the detention center.” 

The author was also interviewed by CBS Radio’s Benji Cole in the program People of Distinction. The program is one of the most wide-ranging radio shows in the United States, hosted by Benji Cole and Al Cole from CBS Radio. People of Distinction is the right fit for authors and readers to discover newly published books, mostly written by passionate and independent authors. Benji Cole, the host of the program, is a world-class interviewer, video formulator, Los Angeles actor, and filmmaker. He’s shared the acting stage with superstar Tom Hanks.

Yvonne Stevens Walton Harris was also featured in the prestigious radio show This Week in America, which is broadcast on numerous stations in the US. The program combines entertainment with education and information. Professional broadcaster Ric Bratton serves as the host.

Here’s an excerpt from the review written by Hollywood Book Reviews’ David Allen that highlights:

 Turns out that Freddy and by logical extension many others of his “ilk” are that way for a reason. Some arrive in this world biologically freighted with aggressive tendencies; other kids and teens get caught up in a peer-driven world of materialism, bling, and shows of force. But the amazing interaction between this young man and his therapists, aided and abetted by his gift for self-expression, rule the day. Freddy – and we the readers – are ready to shed the profiling and move on to real life. 

The stops along the way are more than memorable. They are powerfully moving: Freddy writes, apologizing, to his former victims. Freddy writes in his journal, “Sometimes I think even God doesn’t understand me.” Later on, though, he’s made significant progress, as when he writes, “I’m spittin the real.” The vernacular of the streets, reified and exaggerated in the institutional settings, is captured masterfully. 

We hear you, Freddy. Despite your untimely exit, you found safety, harbor, and comfort in your world. Freddy’s story is a journey of self-awareness and retribution. Readers who find themselves following a challenging path, are able to relate to Freddy. The audience is encouraged to reflect upon themselves, redirecting their path the way he managed to do. 

We celebrate your realization, in the section ‘Final Thoughts’, that “…every action has a reaction.”

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