Books like Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers
Set in Harlem, "Scorpions" follows 12‑year‑old Jamal as he navigates a dangerous neighborhood where teachers, classmates, and even his father seem to dot his path. When his brother Randy gets involved with a local gang, Jamal is pressured to take control of the Scorpions and run crack. Faced with the lure of quick money and the promise of protection, Jamal wrestles with the decision to protect his brother and earn a living or to maintain his innocence and friendships. The novel explores adolescence, gang influence, and the cost of survival in an urban environment.
First publish date: 1990
Genre: Coming of Age/Childhood Coming of Age
Authors: Walter Dean Myers
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