American author Nikki Grimes is one of the most prolific writers for children and young adults. Dark Sons, which was released in 2005, was written for young adults and follows a boy called Sam, whose father leaves his family to go and marry a white woman. Sam and the rest of his family see his father's actions as a betrayal of their trust and of their cultural sensibilities. But Sam, who idolized his father, was hurt the most. His whole life was turned upside down. Who would he trust? Who would help him get through his difficult and complex emotions? Even God, whom he consistently looked to, has seemingly abandoned him.
When it was released, Grimes' book was received warmly by both audiences and professional reviewers. In fact, the book was one of the finalists for the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book award and was reissued in 2010.
In their review for the book, acclaimed publication Kirkus Reviews wrote that "The strength of the poetry along with this assumption that religion and a relationship with God are an integral part of life distinguishes and illuminates the narrative."
