susanne jacoby hale

Shades of Gray, a debut novel by Susanne Jacoby Hale, is continuing to inspire the hope of teachers regarding the impact they can have within the lives of their students. Originally released in 2011, Susanne Jacoby Hales’ novel has received rave reviews from critics and was a finalist in the 2012 Indie Excellence Book Awards.

The novel illustrates the story of Olivia, a dedicated inner-city teacher in New York who works with at-risk high-school students as they struggle through family hardship, violence, drugs, and teen pregnancy. Meanwhile, Olivia and her husband, Tom, struggle to conceive their first child and face the frustration and disappointment that comes with it. The storyline follows the unpredictable journey of Olivia as she becomes entrenched in her students' lives, simultaneously managing the anguish of her personal life.

Shades of Gray is based on real life events which mimic the experiences of Susanne Jacoby Hale as a drop-out prevention teacher in a New York City high school. After completing her master’s degree at New York University in education and writing, she took the position as a way to get back in the classroom. Unknowingly, the experiences she had while helping her students ultimately changed her life forever, prompting her to eventually capture the essence of her journey within the pages of Shades of Gray. In addition to being a gripping read, Shades of Gray was written to praise teachers within a culture where they are often unappreciated.