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The Boys of Alpha Block

The Boys of Alpha Block

A gripping tale of resilience, rebellion, and redemption.

The last place Tarvis wanted to be was Alpha Correctional Center, and he's not the only inmate to feel that way. As he meets the other boys on Alpha Block—Jesse, Rick, and Julius—he's able to offer the final piece of their developing plan to break out. After all, he wants to spend the next three years doing anything other than sitting in a prison cell, even if their English teacher does seem to care for them more than anyone else in charge.

Caroline McBride strives to create a sanctuary in her classroom—a place where literature can spark change and foster healing, but she has been locked in a battle of wills with the deputy staff over treatment of the young prisoners, book availability, and education policy. Amidst the tension of the prison and her growing romance with the Treatment Team Counselor William Bonner, she catches wind of the escape plot. She finds herself at a crossroads. Will she uphold her commitment to these boys, or will the looming threat of violence and betrayal shatter the fragile trust she has built?

The Boys of Alpha Block is a poignant exploration of second chances and the transformative power of education in the face of adversity. Perfect for readers interested in criminal justice, social work, and psychological portraits of marginalized youth, this book is a powerful reminder that even in the most unforgiving environments, hope and resilience can prevail.

About the Book

Paperback ISBN: 9781611536386
eBook ISBN: 9781611536393
Large Print ISBN: 9781611536409
Distributed to the trade by IPG and Ingram

“…beautifully written and a powerful, mesmerizing story. You really brought the characters to life and made the reader — at least this one — care about “the boys.” —Staff, University of Rochester, New York

Details
Author: Nancy Nau Sullivan
Genres: Fiction, Mysteries and Thrillers
Tags: 2026 Releases, New Releases
Publisher: Torchflame Books
Publication Year: May 5, 2026
ISBN: 9781611536386
Nancy Nau Sullivan

Nancy Nau Sullivan is the author of memoir, mystery, and a novel. She began writing in high school and college for the newspapers. Later, she worked as an editorial assistant at New York magazines and as a print journalist throughout the Midwest.

Nancy was born in San Francisco, grew up outside Chicago, but often visited Anna Maria Island, Florida. She returned to the island with her family and wrote an award-winning memoir, The Last Cadillac, about the years she cared for her father while her children were still at home––a harrowing adventure of travel, health issues, adolescent angst, with a hurricane thrown in for good measure. She kept the Florida setting for her first cozy mystery, Saving Tuna Street, creating the fictional Santa Maria Island for the Blanche Murninghan mystery series, now in its fifth installment with Hot Tango in Argentina. Blanche’s other adventures have taken her to Mexico City, Vietnam, and Ireland. Nancy also wrote a suspense novel, The Boys of Alpha Block, based on her experience teaching in a boys’ prison near Tampa.

Nancy lives near the Florida Gulf Beaches. She is a graduate of the University of San Francisco (San Francisco College for Women, Lone Mountain) with a double major in Spanish and political science and holds a master’s degree in journalism from Marquette University. She later attended the University of Florida in English and education. Find Nancy at nancynausullivan.com, on Facebook, and @NauSullivan.

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