Homeboys
By Alan Lawrence Sitomer
Hyperion Paperbacks for Children (2007) ISBN: 9781423100317
Homeboyz, once a YALSA “Top 10 Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers,” depicts the tragic murder of Teddy Andersons’ little sister, Tina. Deeply saddened by Tina’s untimely death, the Anderson family must grieve for Tina, yet another innocent victim of But Teddy, opts for revenge. After conducting some late-night reconnaissance, Teddy plots to retaliate against his sister’s murderers and winds up in juvenile court for attempted murder. Luckily, Teddy avoids serious jail time when he becomes a mentor for a 12-year old, up and coming gangbanger, Micah. In an ironic twist, Micah happens to be involved with the gang, Serpent Street, that killed Teddy’s sister. Teddy, still consumed by anger, continues to plot his revenge, which ends with a violent street brawl against Tina’s killer, Eevil. Although this is a work of fiction, Homeboyz portrays the reality of gang violence for young men growing up in poor, urban neighborhoods, but beyond that, it shows that hope and friendship exists in the most dire of situations.
Quantitative: Lexile Level--860L; ATOS--5.5
Qualitative: When considering interest level, Homeboyz is directed towards an upper grade audience (9th-12th grade). This what would be considered to be a “hi-lo” read--high interest, low level of difficulty. Language could pose a level of complexity for readers due to the urban dialect and street slang. Those unfamiliar with impoverished urban communities may be lacking in cultural knowledge necessary to comprehend the nature of the story. The genres of “hi-lo” and real-world fiction offer a chance for struggling readers to explore the themes these books present more in depth.
Content Area: English; Peer Resource
Curriculum Suggestions: This book could be used in variety of ways. In order to get the most from this book would be to have this available for 9th graders or classes with a large percentage of reluctant readers. Some schools offer English courses designed for the struggling reader in mind. These classes promote reading skills and interaction that help students prepare for the more rigorous reading that occur in other subject areas. Teachers could:
- Create literature circles
- Create thematic reading lists
- Conduct research on juvenile justice
- Research and discuss hip-hop and its connection to literature
Common Core Standards: RL.9/10.2-4, 6-7.
Additional/Digital Content:
- Hip Hop Helps Teach Everything from English to Algebra-- http://www.edutopia.org/hip-hop-high
- Goodreads: Popular Hi-Lo Books--http://www.goodreads.com/shelf/show/hi-lo
- YASLA 2104 Top Ten Quick Picks-- http://www.ala.org/yalsa/2014-top-ten-quick-picks-reluctant-young-adult-readers
Personal Thoughts: Homeboyz has the potential to qualify as a “home run” book for reluctant readers. Most students that read this book come back to the library looking for more just like it.
*Meets the "Reading for Fun HS/MS" requirement
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