My Brother's Keeper

Name: My Brother's Keeper
Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley

ReShonda Tate Billingsley · 2024

Literary fiction

Banned in 1 country

About this book

In a captivating novel that is both humorous and heart wrenching, ReShonda Tate Billingsley spins a touching story that follows a young woman trying to navigate love after tragedy strikes her family, and what it means for her to move on. Aja James hasn't had it easy. After the loss of their mother at their father’s hand, Aja has kept a close watch over her siblings. The three siblings much find a way to recover from their family’s history, but it’s not clear how. Tired of carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, Aja is finally ready for a change that she hopes could lead her down the path of recovery: find someone to love. Her best friend, Roxie, knows just what to do—she sets Aja up on a date with one of the most sought-after bachelors in town, handsome sportscaster Charles Clayton. Charles is everything Aja has ever dreamed of—sensitive, sexy, and charming. But "happily ever after" isn't that simple. While Aja has begun to heal from the loss of her parents, her sister and brother have not. Jada is lost in a world of silence with no way for Aja to reach her, and Eric's uncontrollable rage is wreaking havoc on his life. As Aja sees her brother heading down the same violent path that destroyed their family, she makes it her business to stop the cycle—even if it means putting her own life, and her own chance at love, on hold.

Censorship history

In 2024, "My Brother's Keeper" by ReShonda Tate Billingsley faced bans at the school level across several states in the United States, primarily due to concerns over its themes related to race, colonialism, and political content. Specific challenges were raised during school board meetings in districts such as Fairfax County, Virginia, where parents and community members voiced objections, leading to formal complaints that resulted in the book's removal from curricula and libraries. The ban has been upheld in multiple instances, with ongoing debates about its appropriateness in educational settings.