Response by Paul Volponi

The author is well acquainted with young people in less than idyllic settings. He has worked with troubled youth. Thus when he writes, the reader feels very much a part of what is happening. Mr. Volponi does not waste words, he simply writes it like it is. He does not embellish or is over descriptive of either characters or the settings.

Noah Jackson is a black high school student, who already has young daughter and is working at McDonalds to help with expenses in raising his daughter. His girlfriend makes him feel guilty for not providing enough money, so Noah decides he needs to get the money anyway he can. Unfortunately, that means going into a white neighborhood and steal a car. Noah and his buddies almost get caught so they start back to their own neighborhood. As they are leaving, three white boys spot them and start chasing them.

It looks like they might get away safely with only epithets being hurled at them, but Noah winds up tripping and gets a trip to the emergency as a result of the severe beating he incurs. One of the other boy uses an aluminium bat on Noah. Miraculously he survives and a trial ensues.

The beating, the media coverage and trial causes tensions to rise even higher. Volponi, during this time, lets the reader experience the emotions, attitudes, perceptions and prejudices of the the black and white communities. We also see how Noah begins thinking about what has happened to him and we see how he begins to change his outlook on his life and the world in which he lives. His family's expectations of him and the values his grandmother, who is an exceptional woman, has tried to instill in him begin to make sense to Noah.

It is hard to read, knowing that although people have changed, there are still those who have not. As a person of color, I want a better world for everyone, but I know that there are still battles to be fought. Noah realizes that and he also knows that in order to both honor his grandmother and to make a better world for his daughter he will have to work hard.

I ended the book rooting for Noah and hope that he realizes his hopes to become an engineer. I would certainly not mind finding out what happens to this young man. Perhaps Mr. Volponi might write another book and let us know what happens to Noah Jackson.

Hollywood and Maine

Charmaine Upshaw in the 1970's in Pennsylvania. With typical teenage concerns like getting a first "real" boyfriend and having to put up with a younger brother and cousin. She has indeed got her first boyfriend. A very intelligent, well-manner, vegetarian boyfriend, Raymond. What she did not count on what having to give up her room to her ex-convict uncle!

Maine as she is called by her family, seems to be a fairly well grounded girl. She is intelligent, well read and has ambitions on becoming a famous model or famous actress. Maine has a strong family ties and her dreams include helping her family.

The characters are all likable. The changes Maine goes through because of her uncle E and Raymond are what most teens in the 70's would probably have gone through. It is kind of interesting because these changes seem rather mundane compared to what life is like for the teens of today.

There is not a great deal of action just a picture of one family's life in the late 70's. It is a fast read and one I enjoyed. I also was glad to see how Maine changed for the better at the end of the book. There is a previous book "Sweet Thang" in case anyone is interested in reading another book about Maine.