Genre: young adult novel sub genre: drug use and abuse
Theme: Drinking and driving - Underage drinking - African American- Social issues
Primary and Secondary Characters: Andy Jackson, Robert Washington, Keisha, family, friends
Awards: Coretta Scott King Award
Date of Publication: 1996
Publishing Company: Simon Pulse
Summary of Book: This book is a story of a few African- American teenagers who realize how fast everything can change by making a bad decision. One night the group of boys decide to get some beer, illegally. Andy, who has been drinking, drives the boys around. Dangerously drunk and driving, the boys are driving around having what seems to be a good time, but later get in a wreck where they have to watch their friend burn to death in the car. There was nothing the boys could do to get him out of the car. Andy, the driver, goes into a deep depression. Nothing can help him feel better. He even loses his girlfriend because of all the anger and guilt that he has built up inside. This book could most definitely be used to help young adults through problems that they will face in their teen years. If I am one day a high school teacher, this will be a book that I suggest to the students and read in class. It is also a great teaching tool because of all the differing points of view styles that the book is written in. It is a great book to illustrate how decisions can effect lives so quickly. It makes all of the things students are lectured to about more realistic. I think it really would touch home for high school students. I highly recommend this book.
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