To Walk Humbly

“Joseph, who covered the 1966 Chicago riots for the Associated Press, weaves a colorful, gritty tapestry of the city, from the gorgeous Loop skyscrapers, to the dejected North Lawndale slum, to the grungy madhouse of the AP newsroom … He conveys the city’s seething racial tensions in muscular, evocative prose and pitch-perfect dialogue. … [A]n unforgettable portrait of a city burning with hatred and hope. A gripping, richly textured saga of the civil rights era.”

“Joseph brings journalistic chops and novelistic insight to this ambitious novel about Chicago’s racial fault lines in the 1950s. Through the tangled fates of two teenagers—one Jewish, one Black—To Walk Humbly explores how systemic injustice plays out in individual lives and how good intentions crack under pressure from fear and self-interest.”

“Steve and Sass’s relationship pulled me in from the start, capturing just how tricky it was to navigate a friendship like theirs in such a divided time.”

“The author is skilled at bringing history together with racial tensions and punctuating those with the music of the times … [W]ell worth reading, and I would recommend it to anyone over the age of sixteen.”

“Filled with thought-provoking encounters, uncertain relationships, and choices that shift the boundaries of prejudice, isolation, and hope, To Walk Humbly’s vivid exploration is highly recommended for readers seeking realistic stories of the ultimate impact of prejudice and hate.”

“[T]he author’s use of multiple perspectives … gives readers a deep insight into each of the protagonists’ and antagonists’ perspectives.”

“For many years I was lucky enough to partner with some great authors. No one was greater than Frank Joseph. He was the first author at the Tuscan Market book club. Here is his latest, it is fantastic and if you need a good book here you go. Can read as a one off. Book Clubbers - you will love its Chicago setting.”

“Joseph’s unique storytelling style and attention to detail create a thought-provoking narrative that historical fiction purists will enjoy.”