A riveting read and expose of the myth of "the American dream". Both depressing and uplifting at the same time

Thank you NetGalley for this Advanced eGalley of "Money Rock" by Pam Kelley.

"Money Rock" is about the rise, fall, and redemption (if you choose to call it such) of Belton Lamont Platt. Platt sold cocaine in Charlotte during the 80's, just as crack was becoming an epidemic, and made a name for himself as a dealer and friend of the community. It wasn't unusual for him to use his money to help those in need.

Pam Kelley tells the story of Platt (nicknamed "Money Rock") using the political, sociocultural, and historical realms, as all contributed to his decision to enter the drug trade. She doesn't attempt to make excuses for him, and he doesn't make any for himself, rather both present the facts of the times and make it clear the opportunities offered to inner city youth, at that time, weren't great. If you were looking to survive, your eventual profession would likely include one of these three things: drugs, music, or sports.

Belton didn't see a future as a musician or an athlete. Drug dealing was his only viable choice.

Kelley makes sure the reader understands there could have been more legitimate options, but that's where she introduces the historical and sociocultural background. Both offer greater context to the odds young men like Belton faced.

The environment in which they were forced to thrive didn't leave much in the way of options. Many were pigeon-holed into lives of criminality based on their address since no one expected much from a kid "from the projects". As such, alternatives for success weren't offered--neither by the government nor those residing within their own households.

They were left to navigate those roads alone, mostly, and many chose to do so by any means necessary.

All of the evidence and first-hand accounting offered by Kelley, via those who bore witness (judges, jury member, community leaders, residents, reporters, etc.), granted the big picture as to how men, like Platt, succumbed to the high risk life of drug dealer.

As one whose read a lot about Mass Incarceration, the Great Migration, and racism over the last few years, there wasn't much here that surprised me. However, it was still an interesting look at how damaging systemic racism was and continues to be in this country.

For that reason, more than any other, I rated this book high. If I'd rated it based on Platt alone, I would have given it two stars. I didn't like him.

The philandering (which produced multiple children out of wedlock), his need to maintain a relationship with the piece of trash that was his father, and the way he later used religion to continue being an absentee father were all despicable to me.

Some things are inexcusable and, his selfish behavior, throughout the course of his life, qualified as one of those things.

That said, Kelley did a great job not making it only about him, so much as telling the story of how mass incarceration, racism, and the effects of poverty can destroy a family, generationally. In that regard, she did a great job, and that made this a worthy read.

This book was so very interesting. This is the story of Belton Lamont Platt, his life and how his decisions may have affected other members of his family. The story starts in a project in Charlotte, NC. Mom was very strong, Dad not so strong. We then get a glimpse into this man's life, the good, the bad and the indifferent. Yes, there is abuse, violence, cheating but it is also a story of how one can turn their life around. Very concise read with enough information to give you a picture of his life and how he chose to deal with it. Highly recommended. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publsiher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review.