Most of the stories in A Matter of Souls are snapshots, of an event, a character, a time in the lives of African Americans. Patrick does a remarkable job infusing each story with the hope, courage, and despair of the characters who are faced with relentless prejudice. Some of the characters defeat it, some are defeated by it, but all of them have something to teach us. One, a woman considered “simple” by the community, defends her husband from attackers and calculates how to use the law to their advantage. Another, a young woman who desperately want to be beautiful which to her means to be light-skinned, almost kills herself trying to attain her ideal but learns what is important in the process.  The stories are incredibly moving although librarians and readers should be warned that some are violent. This will be an excellent addition to a school library.