Common Sense Media Review
By Mary Eisenhart
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Challenging ideas, big issues buoy story of Harlem teen.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Sixteen-year-old Paul DuPree and his mom are awakened one night at 3 a.m. by New York City cops, breaking the news that Paul's dad, who's been in and out of their lives, was just killed during a robbery. Paul's determined to be a better person and have a better life than his often-jailed father, but he hasn't thought much about how to make it happen. The summer job he's landed through his school's community program, which has him helping an opinionated old man make soup for senior citizens, soon has him asking big questions about life and the people in his neighborhood.
Is It Any Good?
Some may find this book long on discussion and short on action, but others may find it a good modern-day addition to the Socratic dialogues. Walter Dean Myers is the current National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, appointed by the Library of Congress, and the recipient of multiple Newbery and Coretta Scott King awards, among other honors. (His books include Monster and Sunrise Over Falluja.) He's zealous about the vital importance of reading, especially to economically disadvantaged people, and ALL THE RIGHT STUFF, packed as it is with challenging ideas set in the context of urban life, walks the talk.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the rules, written and unwritten, that determine who wins and loses in life. If you get off to a "bad" start, is there anything you can do to change things, or are you just doomed?
Do you think Paul will have a better life than his father? Why or why not? Do you think Keisha will make it to college?
Sly seems to have gone to college, gotten a good education, and turned to crime anyway. Why do you think this might be the case?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Coming of Age
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Amistad
- Publication date : April 24, 2012
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 13 - 17
- Number of pages : 224
- Last updated : June 19, 2019
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate