Ralph is a raw, soul-deep coming-of-age novel set on the broken streets of Southside Chicago, where survival isn't just instinct—it's inheritance. Raised in a house where bruises passed for love and silence became second nature, young Ralph is learning to outrun the shadow of the man who raised him—and the streets trying to claim him. Told in gritty, lyrical vignettes that hit like truth, Ralph is more than a story—it's a street sermon. A love letter to Black boyhood. A whispered protest for anyone who's ever grown up invisible. From cracked sidewalks and boarded-up corners to fire escapes filled with dreams too big to fit inside a project window, this novel walks the tightrope between heartbreak and hope. With themes of generational trauma, identity, resilience, and the quiet courage it takes to walk away, Ralph is a cinematic portrait of a boy choosing to rewrite the script he was born into. If you've ever been taught to be tough before you were allowed to be a kid, this story is for you.
