Sometimes it's hard to strip down an adult nonfiction book to make it suitable for middle grade readers, but this one succeeds in sharing this important and timely story.

The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton is an adaptation for younger readers. It does a wonderful job of maintaining the deep emotions of the story and connects younger audiences with a heavy emotional situation in a more accessible way.

It's really hard to give this anything less than 5 stars. This YA adaptation of Hinton's book does a remarkable job of highlighting injustice in the legal and criminal justice system, while somehow still filled with hope.

This inspirational Young Readers edition of the Adult biography by Anthony Ray Hinton was a wonderful read. I was struck by how deeply emotional the connection of Ray and his family and friends was and how their support buoyed him through a nearly 30-year wrongful conviction.

The message of abolishing the death penalty and reforming the prison system was a powerful one, and one that I feel is important for young readers to understand. Things will only change if citizens are informed and recognize a need to make changes.

I highly recommend this book for libraries, schools, and especially book groups. This was an outstanding book.

A heart-wrenching story of an upright man who is accused, tried, and found guilty for a crime he didn't commit. Readers connect with Mr Hinton early on peeking into snippets of his life. His faith, family, and friends serve as his rock that guide him through these tribulations and sees him through to eventual justice. Where some might be bitter and angry, Mr Hinton turns this into a teaching opportunity that forgiveness and not forgetting is the way to improve our justice system. Whereas the original is written in the first person, this edition is written in the third person with choice quotes from the original. A powerful read that gives powerful insights into the Civil Rights movement and the stubborn stain of racial bias that continues to mar our great nation.

Oh boy this one was heavy. I don’t know how Anthony Ray Hinton stayed so positive when he was on death row for a crime he didn’t commit. You’ll go through all the emotions with this one. ⁣

It was written beautifully and with so much feeling. It's very inspiring and should be a definite read for ALL AGES.
It's important for kids/young readers to see stories like Hinton's so they can change their perspective. Not everyone that goes to jail is guilty. Not everyone is treated fairly, especially back then and based on the color of your skin. Is it still happening? Of course! The injustices are still running rampant, but I think nowadays people are quicker to prove innocence thanks to podcasts and such. Glad this was sorted for Hinton but so sad he had to endure all he did. What a strong, brave man.

Recently, my middle school literacy teachers worked to update their lit curriculum to incorporate windows and doors (Bishop) to others lives. They decided to pair To Kill a Mockingbird with the YA version of Just Mercy and I look forward to suggesting this one too, to help students understand the lasting effects of injustice and what freedom truly means.