Rating: 
Summary: Truly Thinking Outside of the Box!
Review: A Life for a Life by Ernest Hill is a poignant and touching fictional novel which reads like a true story. The storyline evolves around an unlikely bond between an African American father and the young African American teenager who killed his son.Henry Earl is a very special and unusual man. After his son and only child is murdered while working at a convenience store by D'Ray Reid, Earl decides to befriend the young D'Ray and become his mentor. While D'Ray is imprisoned it is Henry Earl who becomes his only visitor and his biggest champion. When young man D'Ray is released from prison it is Earl who gives him a place to stay and Somethings that D'Ray needs...a home, forgiveness, understanding and love. As another reviewer stated, the relationship that developed between D'Ray Reid and Henry Earl was nothing short of miraculous. A Life for a Life by Ernest Hill is a well-written book but one that's hard to fathom. As a parent, who loves her children dearly, I find it hard to believe that anyone would be able to form a bond, a friendship, a kinship with someone who killed their child especially their only child. Therefore, the more I read this story the more implausible it became for me. Unfortunately, in real life, I wouldn't have as much empathy, love or forgiveness. Maybe that's the lesson that Hill was trying to teach us. This aside, A Life For a Life is a universal read with a social message. I recommend this book to parents and children, students and teachers as well as anyone who likes a provocative and controversial storyline.
Rating:
Summary: Truly Thinking Outside of the Box!
Review: A Life for a Life by Ernest Hill is a poignant and touching fictional novel which reads like a true story. The storyline evolves around an unlikely bond between an African American father and the young African American teenager who killed his son. Henry Earl is a very special and unusual man. After his son and only child is murdered while working at a convenience store by D'Ray Reid, Earl decides to befriend the young D'Ray and become his mentor. While D'Ray is imprisoned it is Henry Earl who becomes his only visitor and his biggest champion. When young man D'Ray is released from prison it is Earl who gives him a place to stay and Somethings that D'Ray needs...a home, forgiveness, understanding and love. As another reviewer stated, the relationship that developed between D'Ray Reid and Henry Earl was nothing short of miraculous. A Life for a Life by Ernest Hill is a well-written book but one that's hard to fathom. As a parent, who loves her children dearly, I find it hard to believe that anyone would be able to form a bond, a friendship, a kinship with someone who killed their child especially their only child. Therefore, the more I read this story the more implausible it became for me. Unfortunately, in real life, I wouldn't have as much empathy, love or forgiveness. Maybe that's the lesson that Hill was trying to teach us. This aside, A Life For a Life is a universal read with a social message. I recommend this book to parents and children, students and teachers as well as anyone who likes a provocative and controversial storyline.
Rating: 
Summary: Powerful heartfelt story
Review: Ernest Hill's Life for a Life, was a powerful heartfelt story that tells a real story. I'm a 40 year old Black man, and I've never come across a story that I recommend to all my family and friends. Hill tells a story about a man who did all the right things to raise a black young man on the verge of becoming a success and his life is cut short by a hoodlum. You feel the pain and the hurt of this father, then the justice and then the love, which conquers all.
Rating:
Summary: A CLASSIC
Review: I am an avid reader who reads at least 100 books per year, most of them pretty mediocre. This book was a delightful exception. This book was so good, it has the makings of a modern day classic. The characters, the story were all very good. Mr. Hill is a great storyteller, I read his previous book and also enjoyed it. He does not pander to foolishness to get his books on the best-seller list. He just tells a great story. I would hope that he would be recognize by the mainstream because this work was a peice of art. You make all readers of African American ficition proud that there are a few good writers left.
Rating: 
Summary: Boring and Bland
Review: I am from a small Southern town, so I find it very easy to relate to what Mr. Hill has written. All the words ring with truth. All young people, but especially African American youth, should read this book as a source of life coping and self worth. I look forward to Mr. Hill's next novel!!!
Rating:
Summary: Ernest Hill has done it again!
Review: I am from a small Southern town, so I find it very easy to relate to what Mr. Hill has written. All the words ring with truth. All young people, but especially African American youth, should read this book as a source of life coping and self worth. I look forward to Mr. Hill's next novel!!!
Rating:
Summary: THE MOST SUSPENCEFUL BOOK EVER
Review: I THINK THAT THIS WAS ONE OF THE BETTER BOOKS I HAVE EVER READ. THIS BOOK WAS ONE THAT I WOULD DEFINITELY READ AGAIN. ERNEST HILL'S WRITING STYLE WAS ONE THING THAT KEEPS THE READER ENTERTAINED AND WONDERING WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT THROUT THE WHOLE BOOK. I LIKEDS THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT WAS ABOUT EVENTS IN THE WORLD THAT NOBODY LIKES TO THINK ABOUT, NAMELY THE MURDER OF AN INNOCENT PERSON.
Rating: 
Summary: Needs work
Review: In "A LIfe" there are some parts of the novel you can skip over without losing the essence of a good story. Although this book gives an example of a real-life situation with consequences and resolutions there are too many tangents. I believe it dosen't take that many pages to tell the story of D'Ray Reid. Mr. Hill writes good beginnings and great endings but loses objectivity in the middle. Even in the "despair" part of the book, D'Ray is having fun. After reading Ernest Hill's "Satisfied With Nothin'" and "A Life" I am now a little skeptical about buying hs next work.
Rating:
Summary: Needs work
Review: In "A LIfe" there are some parts of the novel you can skip over without losing the essence of a good story. Although this book gives an example of a real-life situation with consequences and resolutions there are too many tangents. I believe it dosen't take that many pages to tell the story of D'Ray Reid. Mr. Hill writes good beginnings and great endings but loses objectivity in the middle. Even in the "despair" part of the book, D'Ray is having fun. After reading Ernest Hill's "Satisfied With Nothin'" and "A Life" I am now a little skeptical about buying hs next work.
Rating:
Summary: Wow!
Review: This book is phenomenal. I am truly impressed by Ernest Hill and have kept my promise of getting all of his books because of that. This man has dialogue down as well as Langston Hughes, can tell a story better than Slick Rick (one of the most entertaining storytellers I've ever listened to), and always has an intriguing plot. I could've sat in the barbership all day and listened to those men argue, I wanted to hang out with the main character Outlaw, and...I just love everything about this story of a teenage boy trying to save his brother, his own life, and grant himself a future all with the obstacles of poverty, secrecy, trust, and danger lurking around every corner.
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