Nelson Beats the Odds Compendium Two

The Nelson Beats the Odds Compendium Two features Ronnie Nelson Sidney, II’s latest graphic novel, Carlos Crosses the Border. The story follows Carlos, a Honduran migrant, whose family is forced to flee their home when gangs threaten his brother. Carlos and his family face a dangerous journey to the United States, traveling in a caravan, riding the freight train La Bestia, and crossing deserts and rivers, confronting fear and uncertainty along the way.

This Nelson Beats the Odds series includes Amazon Best-Seller Nelson Beats the Odds, about Nelson, a young boy with ADHD and a learning disability who overcomes stigma in special education; Tameka’s New Dress, which follows a confident girl confronting bullying and childhood trauma; and Rest in Peace RaShawn Reloaded, which was selected for the Recommended Book List for the 2018 In the Margins Book Award.

Together, these books inspire confidence in children—especially children of color—encouraging a love of reading while fostering social awareness. Sidney’s stories help young readers better understand contemporary American culture and society.

Ronnie Sidney II, LCSW, is a 2014 graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Social Work master's program. In 2017, Sidney became a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and was recognized as one of 15 Black Male Therapists You Should Know by HuffPost. Sidney spent nearly two decades working in mental health with youth & adults.Sidney is both a best-selling and award-winning author. He released Amazon bestseller Nelson Beats the Odds in 2015, a semiautobiographical comic book about a young man who struggles with the shame of being placed in special education. Old Dominion University honored Sidney with the prestigious Darden Award in 2017. The award is given to Darden College of Education alumnus who have made outstanding achievements. In 2020, Virginia Commonwealth University featured Sidney in the Shafer Court Connections magazine. He was one of 200 VCU Alumni featured in The Power Issue, which honored inspiring alumni. In addition to his professional and academic life, Sidney is a loving husband and father. He enjoys exercising, attending broadways plays, and listening to music. Sidney is a member of several boards, including the advisory board for VCU's Center on Transition Innovations (VCU-CTI). The Center on Transition Innovations (CTI) at Virginia Commonwealth University provides evidence-based resources and information along with emerging practices in the field.