Red midnight

the long version

"When Red Midnight begins, young Marcus Oday is newly paroled from prison. In some ways, he would like nothing better than to go back. In a fit of rage over an insult to his father's grave, Marcus killed his friend Obie's father, was convicted of manslaughter, and sentenced to a term in the state penitentiary.". "Sensitive, vulnerable, and afraid, Marcus is rescued by an older convict named Mims, who tenderly shields him from harm. In the turbulent prison world where the jolting code phrase of "Red Midnight" is the signal that a prisoner has escaped, an intimate, soulful affection develops between Marcus and his guardian. It blends brotherhood, friendship, and love.". "Charged with mystery and vivid characterizations, the novel is a distinctive coming-of-age story that examines the bonds between family members and between friends and exposes the tensions that can tear them apart."--BOOK JACKET.