Scorpions

Reason I Chose This Book

I chose this book because of its early publication date (for this genre), because it received a Newberry Honor.

Bibliographic Information

Author: Walter Dean Myers

Publisher:  Amistad

ISBN-10: 0064470660

Copyright Date: 1988

Genre

Urban Fiction

About the Author

Walter Dean Myers is an African American author whom has written over thirty books, including fiction and non-fiction. He has won many awards including the Coretta Scott Award, The Newberry Honor, The National Book Award, The Michael L. Prince award, and ALA's Margaret A. Edwards Award for "lifetime contribution to young adult literature.". Many of his books are set in Harlem and are about street life.

Reader’s Annotation

Jamal is young. Can he lead a gang, save his brother from jail, take care of his little sister, keep a job, win fights on the playground, get through school, and not fire off the new gun he has hidden in his couch? At age twelve, can he do all these things? And better yet, should he?

Plot Summary

Jamal is a twelve-year-old African American teen, coerced into gang life by Scorpion gang member, Mac, and Jamal’s older brother Randy, whom is in jail for killing a man. Randy was the head of the Scorpions, but since he is in jail he is no longer able to play that part. Some of the gang members are happy about Jamal, whom is quite a bit younger than the other members, taking over. Other members are upset about this. Jamal, himself, is unsure if he wants to get involved. However, because Jamal needs to make money to help pay for Randy’s lawyer, he is lured by financial promises. Jamal’s mother, whom is wrought with stress over Randy’s incarceration, and short on cash, is counting on Jamal’s help and a part-time job isn’t bringing in a lot of money. Mac, whom Jamal realizes is “bad news” slips him a gun and throws him in the role before Jamal even has time to really think it over. Jamal’s friend Tito, reluctantly backs up Jamal’s decision, but things get kind of out of hand when Jamal is given the gun.

Critical Analysis

Jamal struggles with school, family life, and gang life. He has to deal with issues like helping his family out or keeping himself out of trouble. These issues are presented in a realistic way. A reader will not necessarily empathize with Jamal, nor be angry with him, but might find themselves somewhere in between. Jamal himself is “in between”, and in this way Myers does a good job of capturing his psychological state. Although this book was written in the eighties, it still tackles issues that hold true today for young teens growing up in gang ridden city neighborhoods. Also, even though Jamal is a young character, he seems relatable to older teens. The relationship between Jamal and his sister, and Jamal and his best friend Tito, are both interesting and dynamic ones. Myers brings me so close to having an emotional response to both relationships, yet seems to fall just a tiny bit short.

Themes/Issues/Tag

Gangs, Drugs (some), New York City, 1980’s, Poverty, African American, Guns

Controversial Subject Matter

Gangs

Defense: Not presented as glamorous.

Gun ownership

Defense: The power and danger the gun brings or possesses is fully explored.

The young age of the main character and his involvement in violence

Defense: The book focuses on his hard decision whether or not to get involved in the gang. The complexity of the issue is fully explored.

Booktalking Ideas

Topic hooks –

Being young and having to face people or be in charge of people who are older than you

Becoming your older sibling or choosing your own path.

Read a description of a scorpion (the actual bug). A description of Jamal. Is Jamal a Scorpion?

Curriculum Ties:

Community-Violence 

Reading Level

 13+

Interest Level

14-17