Book Being Reviewed:
Davis, S., Jenkins, G., & Hunt, R. (2002). The pact: Three young men make a promise and fulfill a dream. New York, NY: Berkley.

Reviewer:
Barbara Thompson

Genre:
Non-Fiction-Young Adult (13-18 years old)

Subject Headings:
Body image,College,Depression,Family dynamics,High school,Relationships

Review:
Three African American doctors, Sampson Davis, George Jenkins and Rameck Hunt share their account of being resilient while growing up in public housing in Newark,New Jersey.Resilience is the process of adapting well in the face of adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or tremendous stress such as serious health problems, workplace or financial stress (American Psychological Association, 2008).While attending high school, the three men made a pact to see one another through their challenges of surviving in their crime ridden neighborhoods.Each new firsthand that the wrong friends can lead to trouble and the right friends can inspire you, pull you through, and rise with you.They found in each other a friendship that saved their lives, i.e. a fortitude, a spirit, flexibility, toughness, or buoyancy known as the resiliency factor (Davis, S., Jenkins, G., & Hunt, R., 2002)

The purpose of this book, The Pact, Three Young Men Make a Promise and Fulfill a Dream, is to inspire others who feel trapped by their circumstances or pulled by peer pressure in the wrong directions to look for a way out through the power of friendship (Davis, S., et al., 2002). The story demonstrates that anyone with enough compassion has to power to transform and redirect someone else’s troubled life.

In conclusion, I highly recommend this book to be read by counselors, educators, lay leaders, and students.They can use this book for personal motivation, self knowledge, building self-esteem, maintaining focus, and to instill hope in oneself and others.