To Do Justice by Frank S Joseph tells the emotional tale of Pinkie, an orphaned biracial girl forced to live on the streets by an abusive caretaker. Pinkie longs to know who her biological mother is. She crosses paths with Mollie, a hard-working Associated Press reporter determined to uphold the truth in everything she does. Mollie is often overlooked because she is a woman, but like Pinkie, she has a resilient spirit that refuses to back down in the face of adversity. After Mollie befriends Pinkie, the tenacious reporter attempts to help Pinkie track down her mother. Pinkie's moving journey unfolds against the backdrop of the 1965/1966 race riots in Chicago. These riots transformed the lives of many inner-city families during that period. Discover how this volatile era impacts Pinkie's life and identity. Will our young heroine find her happy ever after?

To Do Justice is a dramatic story that will evoke various emotions within each reader. It is humorous, heartbreaking, uplifting, thought-provoking, and robust. Pinkie's story will resonate with you and become etched into your heart long after you finish reading her tale. Frank S Joseph beautifully explores intricate themes like self-discovery, corruption in law enforcement, ineffective governance, racially driven politics, racial inequality, social injustice, and human rights. This intriguing story is bursting with descriptive scenes and engaging dialogue. Joseph is skilled at bringing his characters and their stories to life. I became engrossed in Pinkie's world from the first chapter. If you love historical fiction centered around the Chicago riots, America in the 1960s, racial identity, and American politics, this is the perfect read for you!

Pinkie is a biracial child who desires to connect with the woman who birthed her. She is being raised by her foster mother, Jolene. Pinkie runs away from home and has to use her wits to navigate the rough Chicago environs. Mollie is a kind, intelligent AP journalist who often feels disregarded by her peers. She has a knack for uncovering the truth. Amid the tense social and political atmosphere, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. organizes a march in a predominantly white neighborhood. His associate intends to use Pinkie as a symbol of unity between the two races. How will these race riots shape Pinkie's life? Will Pinkie reunite with her mother in the end?

This gripping tale explores themes such as self-exploration, racial identity, gender issues, politics and political agendas, social issues, corrupt practices among city officials, and the importance of safeguarding human life. Frank Joseph does a fantastic job of blending memorable historical events and critical social concerns while capturing the turbulent times of the 1960s race riots in Chicago. The main characters are intriguing--their stories will draw you further into their enigmatic and complex worlds. The ending is well-crafted and satisfying. I enjoyed reading Pinkie's profound journey and witnessing her tremendous character growth. I also love how Mollie's character serves as a moral platform and voice of reasoning for readers. Overall, To Do Justice is a vivid and innately mesmerizing read from start to finish. History lovers are sure to enjoy this remarkable tale. I encourage readers to grab their copy of Frank Joseph's riveting novel, To Do Justice, today.

To Do Justice by Frank S. Joseph is the third installment in The Chicago Trilogy, a riveting and vivid work of historical fiction set against the backdrop of 1960s Chicago. The story blends a strong sense of place with a complex exploration of race, class, and social justice, as seen through the eyes of Pinkie, a young girl navigating a world of poverty, prejudice, and family tension. Joseph’s prose paints a raw and unfiltered picture of urban life during the Civil Rights era, with authentic dialogue and detailed depictions of the struggles faced by marginalized communities. The novel stands out for its authentic voices and the intense, immersive way it transports readers into the heart of 1960s Chicago.

The characters, particularly Pinkie, are layered and emotionally compelling. She is a resilient child, driven by a search for identity and belonging, while the adults around her, like Jolene and Missus Sawhill, demonstrate the complicated and flawed ways people survive their harsh realities. The novel captures the spirit of Chicago during a turbulent time, with scenes of police confrontations, neighborhood unrest, and community bonds tested under pressure. Frank Joseph intertwines these personal stories with larger social movements, giving readers insight into the era's intimate and political landscapes. To Do Justice will appeal to readers who enjoy historical fiction, particularly those interested in well-researched and immersive depictions of 1960s America with a focus on social and racial dynamics, civil rights, systemic inequality, and the struggles of marginalized communities during pivotal historical moments. This is an unforgettable read!

“A fast-moving tale of race, corruption and self-discovery set against the unrest – and the hope – of Chicago during Martin Luther King’s fateful 1965-66 fair housing campaign.”

“A fast-moving tale of race, corruption and self-discovery set against the unrest – and the hope – of Chicago during Martin Luther King’s fateful 1965-66 fair housing campaign.”

“Frank Joseph has drawn upon his own Chicago-based journalistic history and experience to create a work of fiction that is true and accurate to the turbulent times into which it is set. A vivid and inherently fascinating read from start to finish.”

“Joseph has a steely grasp of narrative, flitting between the perspectives of the two protagonists, Pinkie and Mollie—both trenchant in their views in their own ways—with ease. …

“The decision to relate Pinkie’s and Mollie’s stories in the first person lends the whole an immediacy and verve it would have otherwise lacked. …

“Though Pinkie’s travails form the crux of the novel, Joseph’s wider achievement is imbuing the period with an urgency that resonates today more than ever. During a time when social inequalities are at the forefront of national politics, TO DO JUSTICE carries a remarkable rhetorical weight. …

“A brilliantly evocative story of mid-1960s Chicago, Frank S. Joseph’s TO DO JUSTICE brims with interest for readers of all types.”

“The author does a fantastic job of describing what life was like for both the Black residents and those in the Fourth Estate who were in the trenches and called to cover the riots. …

“(H)is accounts of behind-the-scenes newsrooms brings readers right to the old typewriters and use of pay phones to call in stories. Additionally, his addition of the famous corruption in Chicago’s political circles adds just the right spice to the novel. …

“I would recommend this book to anyone who would like a glimpse into what took place in this country well before the Black Lives Matter movement.”

“TO DO JUSTICE drops you into the white-hot center of the 1966 Chicago race riots and gives you a street-level view of what happened and why. The big names are here — Martin Luther King, Jesse Jackson, Richard Daley, to name a few.

“But the beating heart of this dramatic story is that of an orphaned biracial girl forced into the streets by an abusive foster parent … and the hard-working AP reporter who befriends her and helps solve the mystery of her peculiar parentage.

“Beautifully written and eerily in-tune with the racial concerns of our own time, TO DO JUSTICE is a must-read for anyone interested in one of the most turbulent moments in American history and how it still reverberates in our collective consciousness.”

“TO DO JUSTICE is a novel everyone should read—powerful, funny, sad, enraging, and ultimately affirming.

“Writing with the deftness of a true wordsmith, Frank Joseph examines questions of identity, racial politics, and the value of human life.

“Set in 1966 Chicago, the novel follows spunky 12-year-old Pinkie as she sets off alone on a hot summer day across the riot-ravaged city to find her real mother. Navigating a sea of crooked cops, indolent government workers, connected politicians, and the constant undercurrent of violence, Pinkie’s quest intersects with Mollie’s, an Associated Press reporter determined to write the truth.

“What they uncover will break, and mend, your heart.”

“Once I started reading TO DO JUSTICE by Frank S Joseph, I couldn’t put it down. The more I read, the faster my pulse raced.

“Most amazing to me, beside the author’s background (grounded in the reality and history of the author’s actual experience), is his magical ability to inhabit the characters, and making them alive as real people, not only characters.

“I don’t recommend books lightly. Am a retired librarian, and part, and sometime leader, of several book discussion groups. I am recommending TO DO JUSTICE, to all of them!”

"A novel that burns hot and bright. Pinkie's journey through Chicago to find her white mother delves deep into the brutal racial complexities at the heart of America. Read this book."

"In TO DO JUSTICE, Frank S Joseph conjures summertime Chicago in the mid-1960s. Sweat beads on foreheads. Angry voices fill the air as plate glass shatters. Smoke billows from burning storefronts and police rampage. Most everyone's angry. Some have an angle. Black rioters and protestors led by Dr. King. Crafty ward bosses and streetwise cops. Reporters not sure what's happening, and a motherless girl searching for where she came from and where in this screwed-up world she can go. It's a powerful tale of a fascinating time."

"Frank Joseph is the real deal. A cub reporter with the AP on the streets in Chicago during the 1966 West Side race riots, he ran through smoke on the frontlines of history, alongside the cast of characters who poured fuel on the flames of racial tension for financial gain, or fostered fear for political purposes. Their story is set to the high octane clatter of the AP newsroom where stories were typed and set, and the presses rolled twenty-four hours a day. Frank paints a word picture of a time and place that changed America as seen through the eyes of innocents who are caught up in events beyond their control but determined to survive. To Do Justice is a great read and a wild ride through history."

"Frank Joseph's TO DO JUSTICE is set in Chicago during the mid '60s riots, against a backdrop of corruption from election-manipulating precinct captains to a foster care system that takes advantage of the children it purports to serve. Pinkie, a mixed-race eleven year old girl, dodges danger from all sides as she strives to find the white woman who gave her birth. Mollie Hinton, a young, plucky newspaperwoman, risks her career to rescue Pinkie and assist her quest. For insight into the cultural and racial tension of post-migration Chicago, through the eyes of two courageous young women, To Do Justice provides a great read."

“Excellent five star engaging can't-put-it down historical novel. Extremely well researched history and great writing. I loved everything about this book. Accurate history of events that occurred in Chicago.”

“I lived in Chicago and reading it was as if I'd been propelled back. The racism was everywhere, but most of us were oblivious. Frank Joseph reminds us and we can experience it by his compelling writing. Should be required reading, especially in 2024. Entertaining and thought provoking! Congratulations to the author. (Read earlier book, To Love Mercy--provides chronology and background).”

“In TO DO JUSTICE, the reader experiences the Chicago 1965-1966 race riots through the eyes of twelve year old Pinkie, a biracial abused foster child, and overweight Mollie, the only female reporter in the Chicago AP press room. There is a diverse cast of interesting supporting characters. I am a historian and a lover of historical fiction that has a ring of truth. TO DO JUSTICE does! (Except for the brief epilogue which is more a flight of fancy regarding the futures of Pinkie and Mollie). An enjoyable and interesting read!”

"This is the third installment of the author's trilogy and it does not disappoint. The characters are well drawn, the landscapes etched with great detail and the pacing is just right. An enjoyable read."