Reviews for:
Bound by Honor, Betrayed by Trust

Author: James Dale
Publication date: Apr, 11 2021
Reviews: 1
89% RV Score
This story is about redemption and the atonement of past transgressions. Bound by Honor, Betrayed by Trust follows the story of Jean-Jacques, the son of Haitian immigrants who came to the United States seeking a better quality of life. His parents discovered at a young age that he was a gifted musician. Through music, he made friends, and those friends became foes.
His father, Henri, experienced racism and discrimination by his colleagues while working as a professor at MIT. They were wroth with anger and exhibited xenophobia against foreigners taking advantage of all the great opportunities here in the States that should only be available to Americans.
To avoid any further criticism or conflict with others on campus, he accepted a new position as a professor at NYU. At the same time, the change in scenery was good for him and his wife. The vicious cycle of bigotry continued with his son, Jacque, while attending a NYC private school.
His son Jean Jacque, angry about how narrow-minded the world was towards foreigners, embarked on a journey where a system that swore to protect and serve forced him to participate in a program designed for gifted foreign exchange students. He was charged with assault and battery in grade school for defending himself against being brutalized by a few privileged American students.
Jean Jacque uncovered the despicable truth behind The Program. Through his resolve, he was able to atone for his involvement. The program was not at all what it seemed to be. With the help of a few good friends, he revitalized it to lend a helping hand to future foreign exchange students seeking a better education in the United States. Jean-Jacques vowed to change the narrative of being called a foreigner in a place where dreams become a reality, by the people.
Overall ReaderVerified Score
89%

Review 01

ReaderVerified Score
89%
Reviewer: John F. Noone 01/24/2026
Verified Purchase

4.0 out of 5 stars: A traumatic immigration story that seeks justice at any cost.
Reviewed in the United States

My ReaderVerified score is 89%. Bound by Honor, Betrayed by Trust, by Matthew and James Dale, is an exciting and fast-paced drama about a Haitian family that migrates to the US with all of the best intentions of making it in America. But they soon run into extreme racism and hardships that derail their dreams. Over time, their son Jean-Jacque, through unimaginable obstacles, slowly makes his way as a prominent man in his South Bronx community.
I really enjoyed all of the local flavor of this novel. Being a New Yorker, the descriptions of the streets, the food, and the culture really kept me engaged.

'The Program' in this novel is its dark underbelly. But, somehow, most of the characters think it is a fair trade-off, in order to succeed and sometimes even skip 'the Ladder' altogether. This is a challenging question throughout the novel for some of its victims.

Overall, a very enjoyable story with many twists and turns. The inclusion of 'The Program' makes it, oh so now!

Reviewer: John Noone 01/27/2026
Verified Purchase

Hi James and Matthew,

I really enjoyed your book. In the future, you may want to avoid so many idioms like "I dropped him like a sack of potatoes." When you describe an action scene, use your own vernacular, as you did on many other occasions, it is much more effective and feels more real. Just my opinion, of course, but most importantly, keep on writing. Peace and Happy New Year!