Dear Dad: Growing Up with a Parent in Prison -- And How We Stayed Connected - by Jay Jay Patton & Antoine Patton & Kiara Valdez

About the Book

"'...Your dad is coming back home.' As far back as nine-year-old Jay Jay Patton can remember, her dad, Antoine has been in prison. Growing up in Buffalo, New York with her mom and younger brother, she's only been to visit him twice. Instead, the two have sent each other numerous letters -- Jay Jay's letters can take weeks or months to reach her dad, and some never even get delivered. What's it going to be like having Dad home? This powerful coming-of-age graphic novel memoir tells Jay Jay Patton's life of growing up with a dad in -- and out of -- prison. How she and her dad were able to develop a powerful father/ daughter bond and create Photo Patch -- a life-changing application that connects children to incarcerated parents. Because no child should have to grow up unable to engage with their parents. As Jay Jay says: 'It's not a privilege for a kid to be able to talk to their parent. It's a right'"--

Book Synopsis

A stunning graphic novel memoir about growing up with an incarcerated parent.

" ...Your dad is coming back home."

As far back as nine-year-old Jay Jay Patton can remember, her dad, Antoine has been in prison. Growing up in Buffalo, New York with her mom and younger brother, she's only been to visit him twice. Instead, the two have sent each other numerous letters -- Jay Jay's letters can take weeks or months to reach her dad, and some never even get delivered. What's it going to be like having Dad home?

This powerful coming-of-age graphic novel memoir tells Jay Jay Patton's life of growing up with a dad in -- and out of -- prison. How she and her dad were able to develop a powerful father/daughter bond and create Photo Patch -- a life-changing application that connects children to incarcerated parents. Because no child should have to grow up unable to engage with their parents. As Jay Jay says: "it's not a privilege for a kid to be able to talk to their parent. It's a right."

Review Quotes

Praise for Dear Dad:

2025-2026 MI Great Lakes Great Books Award - Nominee: Grades 4-5

2025 TLA Texas Maverick Reading List Selection

American Library Association 2025 In the Margins Book Awards List: Young Adult Nonfiction - Top 10 Selection

2024 NPR Books We Love Selection

"An uplifting memoir that works to destigmatize incarceration." -- Publishers Weekly

"...the journey is a satisfying one that exudes feelings of love and empathy, and it illuminates a challenge that affects many families but isn't often addressed in literature." -- Kirkus Reviews

About the Author

Jay'Aina "Jay Jay" Patton is an 18-year-old coder, app developer, youth leader and entrepreneur. She's a big fan of anything tech-related and especially loves getting hands-on. Jay'Aina is an advocate for diversity in the tech field and beyond and aspires to make real impact on the world. She also enjoys a multitude of activities such as singing/rapping, dancing, piano and volleyball. Jay Jay is a super goofy, kind-hearted, and overall a very happy girl who loves to keep herself and others smiling.

Antoine Patton was born on an army base in Fort Ord, California. He grew up in rough neighborhoods across Buffalo, New York, and ended up incarcerated at age 20 for eight years. While in prison, he learned to code and taught his daughter after his release. They collaborated to build Photo Patch - an app that allows families to freely send photos to their incarcerated loved ones.

Since coming home from prison, Antoine has become a prolific entrepreneur, software engineer, and published author. In 2018, Antoine launched Unlock Academy, an online learning platform and community to do good. Antoine is the author of From Cages to Stages: How I Used S.T.E.M. to Liberate Me From the Prison Within. He is also an avid investor and the creator of T.Bot - an Algo trading software that automatically trades stocks, crypto and forex instruments.

Antoine resides in Atlanta, Georgia with his partner Gina and their 4 kids.

Kiara Valdez is an Afro-Dominican writer and editor from New York City. She has a love for the color lilac and spends her free time reading, writing, and enjoying a long list of other hobbies she can't keep up with.
Markia Jenai is an African American illustrator from Detroit, Michigan. She works in the realm of historical fiction and nonfiction. Markia has illustrated artwork for middle-grade chapter books such as Lena and the Burning of Greenwood, the picture book The Story of Juneteenth and the graphic novel It's Her Story: Josephine Baker.