Synopses & Reviews
"WHEN YOU GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS, THERE WERE NO CHOICES. NO GOOD ONES, AT LEAST."
In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Many teenagers drop out of school and join gangs, and every kid knows someone who died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis.
DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy fancy sneakers and big-screen TVs, DeShawn's family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry?
In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner city, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.
Synopsis
In his latest gripping novel with a plot pulled from the headlines, the acclaimed author of "Give a Boy a Gun" focuses on the pervasive but underreported problem of gang violence, in this eye-opening portrait of life in the projects.
Synopsis
In a gripping novel with a plot pulled from the headlines, Todd Strasser turns his attention to gang life in the inner-city projects. DeShawn is a teenager growing up in the projects. Most of his friends only see one choice: join up to a gang. DeShawn is smart enough to want to stay in school and make something more of himself, but when his family is starving while his friends have fancy bling and new sneakers, DeShawn is forced to decide--is his integrity more important than feeding his family?
About the Author
Todd Strasser has written many critically acclaimed novels for adults, teenagers, and children, including the award-winning andlt;iandgt;Canand#8217;t Get There from Hereandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Give a Boy a Gunandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Boot Campandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;If I Grow Upandlt;/iandgt;, andlt;iandgt;Famousandlt;/iandgt;, and andlt;iandgt;How I Created My Perfect Prom Dateandlt;/iandgt;, which became the Fox feature film andlt;iandgt;Drive Me Crazyandlt;/iandgt;. Todd lives in a suburb of New York and speaks frequently at schools. Visit him at ToddStrasser.com.