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Scorpions
Scorpions, a Newbery Honor Book by National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Walter Dean Myers, is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary!
When it was first published in 1988, Scorpions amazed readers. It continues to do so today. This special twenty-fifth anniversary edition contains the original Scorpions novel, plus an extra Q&A with New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers—including questions about juvenile detention facilities, gang life today, and friendship.
Also included are a sneak peek at Kick, by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman, and an excerpt from Myers's New York Times bestselling novel Monster!
When it was first published in 1988, Scorpions amazed readers. It continues to do so today. This special twenty-fifth anniversary edition contains the original Scorpions novel, plus an extra Q&A with New York Times bestselling author Walter Dean Myers—including questions about juvenile detention facilities, gang life today, and friendship.
Also included are a sneak peek at Kick, by Walter Dean Myers and Ross Workman, and an excerpt from Myers's New York Times bestselling novel Monster!
216 pages, Paperback
First published June 20, 1988
About the author
Walter Dean Myers
221 books1,142 followerspseudonyms:
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
Stacie Williams
Stacie Johnson
Walter Dean Myers was born on August 12, 1937 in Martinsburg, West Virginia but moved to Harlem with his foster parents at age three. He was brought up and went to public school there. He attended Stuyvesant High School until the age of seventeen when he joined the army.
After serving four years in the army, he worked at various jobs and earned a BA from Empire State College. He wrote full time after 1977.
Walter wrote from childhood, first finding success in 1969 when he won the Council on Interracial Books for Children contest, which resulted in the publication of his first book for children, Where Does the Day Go?, by Parent's Magazine Press. He published over seventy books for children and young adults. He received many awards for his work in this field including the Coretta Scott King Award, five times. Two of his books were awarded Newbery Honors. He was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award and the Virginia Hamilton Award. For one of his books, Monster, he received the first Michael Printz Award for Young Adult literature awarded by the American Library Association. Monster and Autobiography of My Dead Brother were selected as National Book Award Finalists.
In addition to the publication of his books, Walter contributed to educational and literary publications. He visited schools to speak to children, teachers, librarians, and parents. For three years he led a writing workshop for children in a school in Jersey City, New Jersey.
Walter Dean Myers was married, had three grown children and lived in Jersey City, New Jersey. He died on July 1, 2014, following a brief illness. He was 76 years old.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 444 reviews
February 21, 2023
I tried reading the 1989 Newbery Honour winning young adult novel Scorpions as it is available on Open Library and we are reading the 1989 Newbery books in the Children's Literature Group on Goodreads for this month, for February 2023. But yes, I must admit that I did not get all that far with my perusal of Scorpions (about 90 or so pages I reckon) before doing a did not finish (or rather a could not finish) for Scorpions, since for me, there is just too much gang culture, guns, violence and urban poverty induced grittiness being textually presented by author Walter Dean Myers for my personal reading tastes (and this all coming at me rather rapidly and in fact often like the bullets of the described guns and which I do find textually freaky and unappealing, even if there is also much verbal brilliance here). And while I do believe that Myers writes eloquently and powerfully in and with Scorpions and as such equally tells a compelling, important and also a necessarily realistically brutal and authentic own voices story (of Jamal, Tito and of their many struggles and tragedies), sorry, but in particular my inner child is just not at all able and willing handle the above mentioned gang culture and the unrelenting gun violence and poverty at this specific point in time (so that while I do appreciate Scorpions for what is does and what Walter Deane Myers is trying to basically achieve with his featured text and his storytelling, I actually and realistically simply had to quit reading Scorpions in order to save myself from getting any more nightmares post reading).
However, while I would usually consider either a one or at best a two star ranking for a novel I am not able and willing to finish, with Scorpions my rating will actually and in fact be three stars. Because while my inner child most certainly and actively is refusing to continue reading and is unable to handle the thematics and the contents of Scorpions (and that she finds the level of violence for Scorpions too ever-present, too problematic, too beyond her personal reading comfort zone, even if realistic and totally authentic, and also not actually gratuitously violent but just too relentlessly gritty, depressing and in fact just too much urban horror story realism and starkness), yes, my adult reading self, although I have listened to my inner child and have decided to not finish with, to not continue with Scorpions, I do appreciate the brutal realism and exceptional writing quality of Walter Dean Myers' text and that Scorpions is a novel of significance and also of importance (even if I at present just cannot and will not in any way go on my perusal).
However, while I would usually consider either a one or at best a two star ranking for a novel I am not able and willing to finish, with Scorpions my rating will actually and in fact be three stars. Because while my inner child most certainly and actively is refusing to continue reading and is unable to handle the thematics and the contents of Scorpions (and that she finds the level of violence for Scorpions too ever-present, too problematic, too beyond her personal reading comfort zone, even if realistic and totally authentic, and also not actually gratuitously violent but just too relentlessly gritty, depressing and in fact just too much urban horror story realism and starkness), yes, my adult reading self, although I have listened to my inner child and have decided to not finish with, to not continue with Scorpions, I do appreciate the brutal realism and exceptional writing quality of Walter Dean Myers' text and that Scorpions is a novel of significance and also of importance (even if I at present just cannot and will not in any way go on my perusal).
August 2, 2024
A bit predictable and I wasn't a fan of the MC.
July 27, 2008
"In a moment that passed so quickly that it was almost a memory before it happened, Tito had turned and run back to the cab."
It wasn't until re-reading a few sections over again, over the phone with this young student's summer reader, that Myers hits you. If you read too quickly you miss some great moments from his seemingly subconscious rhyming within several different characters' dialogues. He perfects this in later novels, but it is still amazing how these little gems help construct their collective and individual characters. He also uses this cadence that really connects with target middle school-young teen audiences.
Some young people may be confused with some of the references to this 1988 coming-of-age novel. Myers is talking about a VCR and other antiquated recording devices that many may have to google to understand Jamal isn't dreaming of iPods or laptops, but things seemingly just as expensive for those times for us that were working toward those tools of the technologically advanced.
Tito, not Jamal, is my favorite character and in that quote above Myers shows how quickly, in a flash, one changes from boy to man.
It wasn't until re-reading a few sections over again, over the phone with this young student's summer reader, that Myers hits you. If you read too quickly you miss some great moments from his seemingly subconscious rhyming within several different characters' dialogues. He perfects this in later novels, but it is still amazing how these little gems help construct their collective and individual characters. He also uses this cadence that really connects with target middle school-young teen audiences.
Some young people may be confused with some of the references to this 1988 coming-of-age novel. Myers is talking about a VCR and other antiquated recording devices that many may have to google to understand Jamal isn't dreaming of iPods or laptops, but things seemingly just as expensive for those times for us that were working toward those tools of the technologically advanced.
Tito, not Jamal, is my favorite character and in that quote above Myers shows how quickly, in a flash, one changes from boy to man.
July 19, 2013
In this gripping urban tale, 12-year old Jamal is a protagonist growing up with many chips stacked against him. His single mother struggles to balance the duties of rearing 3 children (one of whom was recently imprisoned for murder) with the various responsibilities of life in the ghetto, where even finding steady employment is difficult. In the first chapter, while awaiting his mother's return from visiting his brother in prison, the
stresses of Jamal's life are made plainly clear: He tries to take care of and provide instruction to his younger sister Sassy, worried if she has gotten enough to eat and done her homework, while nonetheless attempting to put on a tough exterior and act like he himself is not a vulnerable child. He watches a drug addict from the window, nodding as he leans against a light pole.
The tale is full of the realities of urban life in America: poverty & economic exploitation, hunger, domestic violence, alcohol & drug abuse, crime, guns and gangs fill its pages. But it does not contain such explicit themes for the sake of shock, nor do they seem superfluous. Jamal has simply seen a lot for a child his age, the sad situation of so many American youth. He has to grow up too quickly, trying to be a man while still in 7th grade. And though he has the potential, he shirks/skirts his academic duties out of a sense of duty to more pressing responsibilities at home and on the street. He is basically forced to join a gang as its leader to fulfill the absent role of his locked-up older brother Randy (the most unbelievable part of the story, were it not for the intimidating character of Mack, the seemingly crazy, always drunk friend of Randy who backs Jamal's takeover of the Scorpions). But through his troubles, he can always count on his Puerto Rican buddy, Tito, whose honesty and friendly concern shine through the otherwise grim story.
A fairly deep read for a young adult novel, Scorpions even brings up such topics as racism and race-based stereotypes and invites the reader to ponder the effects of (over-prescription of) psychiatric medicine and (gun) violence on young boys in the midst of their childhood growing pains.
The main reason I didn't like it was because it provided little direction nor advice for either individuals who find themselves in such situations or society at large. While Myers intent may have been to paint a stark reality of urban life, it seems he could have done so while highlighting more positivity or hope.
stresses of Jamal's life are made plainly clear: He tries to take care of and provide instruction to his younger sister Sassy, worried if she has gotten enough to eat and done her homework, while nonetheless attempting to put on a tough exterior and act like he himself is not a vulnerable child. He watches a drug addict from the window, nodding as he leans against a light pole.
The tale is full of the realities of urban life in America: poverty & economic exploitation, hunger, domestic violence, alcohol & drug abuse, crime, guns and gangs fill its pages. But it does not contain such explicit themes for the sake of shock, nor do they seem superfluous. Jamal has simply seen a lot for a child his age, the sad situation of so many American youth. He has to grow up too quickly, trying to be a man while still in 7th grade. And though he has the potential, he shirks/skirts his academic duties out of a sense of duty to more pressing responsibilities at home and on the street. He is basically forced to join a gang as its leader to fulfill the absent role of his locked-up older brother Randy (the most unbelievable part of the story, were it not for the intimidating character of Mack, the seemingly crazy, always drunk friend of Randy who backs Jamal's takeover of the Scorpions). But through his troubles, he can always count on his Puerto Rican buddy, Tito, whose honesty and friendly concern shine through the otherwise grim story.
A fairly deep read for a young adult novel, Scorpions even brings up such topics as racism and race-based stereotypes and invites the reader to ponder the effects of (over-prescription of) psychiatric medicine and (gun) violence on young boys in the midst of their childhood growing pains.
The main reason I didn't like it was because it provided little direction nor advice for either individuals who find themselves in such situations or society at large. While Myers intent may have been to paint a stark reality of urban life, it seems he could have done so while highlighting more positivity or hope.
February 25, 2010
Jamal Hicks, the main character, is pressured to become leader of the Scorpions gang because his older brother who is 17 was the leader. His brother wanted someone to take that place while he was in jail because he held up a delicatessen and shot a person there. Jamal didn't like a boy name Dwayne, a kid who picks on him, but one time he tried to pick on him but he would not pick on him because he had a gun. Jamal gains a new level of respect from his enemies, but in a bad way. Jamal also worries about school, family, and the rough kids on the street. Finally, after all of this he learns that he has respect as anyone else.
May 15, 2015
IF YOU LIKE SURPRISES REAL LIFE RELATED SCARY AND APPALLING STORIES THAN SCORPIONS THEY CAN MAKE YOU ... OR BREAK YOU BY WALTER DEAN MYERS IS THE BOOK FOR YOU. TO ME THIS BOOK WAS AMAZING ITS JUST THAT AT THE END OF THE BOOK IT LEFT ME OPEN WITH A LOT OF QUESTIONS LIKE DID HIS BROTHER GET OF JAIL? DID THEY CATCH MACK? DID HIS MOTHER GET THE MONEY? DID JAMAL STOP TALKING TO MACK? OVER THIS WAS A REALLY GOOD BOOK TO ME I REALLY ENJOYED IT AND I READ IT IN TWO DAY AND THAT'S SURPRISING BECAUSE I REALLY TAKE MY TIME READING BOOKS BUT I REALLY JUST HAD TO GET TO THE END.***SPOILER ALERT***JAMAL THOUGHT HIS BEST FRIEND TITO WAS SCARED TO FIGHT BUT WHEN JAMAL HAD GOTTEN IN AN ALTERCATION WITH INDIAN AND ANGEL TITO ACTUALLY SAVED JAMAL'S LIFE BECAUSE ANGEL WAS GOING TO CUT JAMAL.
This Book Doesn't really explain where it took place, The main problem in his life is trying to get his brother, Randy, out of jail. Randy is a 17-year-old who is the leader of the Scorpions, a local gang. The gang's motive is to make money by selling cocaine or "crack". His family includes himself, Mama, his 8-year-old sister Sassy, Randy,and his father, Jevon Hicks. Jamal's father used to be an alcoholic after losing his job and started abusing Jamal's mother Mama until she moved away from him with the kids. This happened while Jamal was very young. Now Jamal's father only comes to visit the family "once in a while".Jamal is not a very troubled kid but he does make some very bad decisions such as scaring Dwayne with the gun or even getting Tito in trouble by making him hold the gun.This Book Has All Type of conflicts For Example one of the conflicts in this book is Person vs Person & that's because When Jamal Goes to school he get bullied about every little thing he do even if he's right. Theirs only Really Only one bot in particular that bullies Jamal and he Dwayne,Dwayne is this big 7th grader who is always bullying Jamal For who Knows what reason and Jamal Sticks Up For Himself Most of the time but when Dwayne picks on Jamal all the others kids start joining in with Dwayne.Well This book Is mostly Person Because because Jamal has problems in the story with other characters Such As This Boy Name Indian.Indian Is A 14-Year-Old boy who is in the scorpion GANG he's very naive cruel and disrespectful. Jamal's Brother Randy is in jail and Randy was the leader of the scorpions and their looking for a leader to be over the Scorpions. When mama goes to see Randy in jail randy tell mama to tell Jamal to go see his (best friend) Mack now Mack is the reason Randy is in jail but randy Reason doesn't have any feeling about that but anyways Jamals goes to see Mack with his Bestfriend Tito and Macks Tell Jamal that Randy Wants Him To Run / Take over the scorpions.Indian Thinks Jamal is to little because he's only 12 and doesnt have what it takes to run the gang Buck Mack Doesnt And Indian Doesnt Want Mack To run the gang Because They Say He's to old and its quick enough anymore but he's only 18.
My Favorite Part Of The Book Was When Tito And Jamal Threw The Gun Away In The Dumpster Because After That I Really Thought Jamal Was Being Very Smart
Again I say this book really left me open with a lot of questions like did they ever find out Mack killed Indian? Did they get the money to get randy out of jail? Did randy get out of jail? I would recommend this book to my cousins and all of my friend because this book could really teach everyone of them some/ a lesson. I would rate this book 4 stars because this book was really interesting and good to me & I know it was very interesting because I read this book in 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This Book Doesn't really explain where it took place, The main problem in his life is trying to get his brother, Randy, out of jail. Randy is a 17-year-old who is the leader of the Scorpions, a local gang. The gang's motive is to make money by selling cocaine or "crack". His family includes himself, Mama, his 8-year-old sister Sassy, Randy,and his father, Jevon Hicks. Jamal's father used to be an alcoholic after losing his job and started abusing Jamal's mother Mama until she moved away from him with the kids. This happened while Jamal was very young. Now Jamal's father only comes to visit the family "once in a while".Jamal is not a very troubled kid but he does make some very bad decisions such as scaring Dwayne with the gun or even getting Tito in trouble by making him hold the gun.This Book Has All Type of conflicts For Example one of the conflicts in this book is Person vs Person & that's because When Jamal Goes to school he get bullied about every little thing he do even if he's right. Theirs only Really Only one bot in particular that bullies Jamal and he Dwayne,Dwayne is this big 7th grader who is always bullying Jamal For who Knows what reason and Jamal Sticks Up For Himself Most of the time but when Dwayne picks on Jamal all the others kids start joining in with Dwayne.Well This book Is mostly Person Because because Jamal has problems in the story with other characters Such As This Boy Name Indian.Indian Is A 14-Year-Old boy who is in the scorpion GANG he's very naive cruel and disrespectful. Jamal's Brother Randy is in jail and Randy was the leader of the scorpions and their looking for a leader to be over the Scorpions. When mama goes to see Randy in jail randy tell mama to tell Jamal to go see his (best friend) Mack now Mack is the reason Randy is in jail but randy Reason doesn't have any feeling about that but anyways Jamals goes to see Mack with his Bestfriend Tito and Macks Tell Jamal that Randy Wants Him To Run / Take over the scorpions.Indian Thinks Jamal is to little because he's only 12 and doesnt have what it takes to run the gang Buck Mack Doesnt And Indian Doesnt Want Mack To run the gang Because They Say He's to old and its quick enough anymore but he's only 18.
My Favorite Part Of The Book Was When Tito And Jamal Threw The Gun Away In The Dumpster Because After That I Really Thought Jamal Was Being Very Smart
Again I say this book really left me open with a lot of questions like did they ever find out Mack killed Indian? Did they get the money to get randy out of jail? Did randy get out of jail? I would recommend this book to my cousins and all of my friend because this book could really teach everyone of them some/ a lesson. I would rate this book 4 stars because this book was really interesting and good to me & I know it was very interesting because I read this book in 2 days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
March 20, 2022
بعد از دیو این کتاب رو خوندم و حقیقتا و بدون شک و بدون تعارف، فوقالعاده و شاهکار بود و به جرئت میگم که از دیو هم بهتر بود🥺🥺🥺😍😍😍😍😍
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November 3, 2016This novel tells the moving story of two best friends, Jamal and Tito. Jamal’s brother has been recently convicted of murder and is trying to get him to take control of his gang, the Scorpions. Jamal is a sweet boy, but the stress of his brother’s imprisonment and potentially expensive appeal weigh on the entire family. That stress is one factor in his struggles in school. He is also a target of a bully. With his grades lagging, a few fights and other disciplinary problems, and his brother’s record, the principal is convinced that he is nothing but trouble and hopes to have him moved to a different school. Seeing the principal’s view of Jamal is very powerful because it is obvious (at least to an older reader) why the man has made certain assumptions about him, but it’s also clear to the reader that his prejudices are unfair and misinformed.
The two boys’ relationship and their struggle to do what’s right and find their identity are moving. Once more, Myers’ writing is powerful enough to make these characters relatable, even to female readers and others who may have little in common with them. The book encourages readers to think about the different choices the characters face (as well as the apparent lack of choices, at times). Although certain choices have severe consequences, the book is not preachy but seems realistic and depicts situations where there is no easy, good choice and when even the better options are fraught with unpleasant consequences.
The two boys’ relationship and their struggle to do what’s right and find their identity are moving. Once more, Myers’ writing is powerful enough to make these characters relatable, even to female readers and others who may have little in common with them. The book encourages readers to think about the different choices the characters face (as well as the apparent lack of choices, at times). Although certain choices have severe consequences, the book is not preachy but seems realistic and depicts situations where there is no easy, good choice and when even the better options are fraught with unpleasant consequences.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2010
This book takes a look at gang culture in New York. On a personal level, I didn't like it. I had a hard time liking Jamal, the main character, and the story and plotline were so far removed from my own experiences that it was more fantastic than fantasy. Gnomes and fairies and other dimensions are more real to my sheltered suburban existence than gangs and guns and holdups; this isn't the kind of story I would imagine myself. While I didn't like the story, I know it has a place on the shelf of a library, and it probably did open my eyes wider to some of the problems that kids deal with.
This might reach kids who are interested in real-life action and excitement. I hate to say violence, but if a reader enjoys modern gangster-type stories, this is it, although I don't think Myers glorifies the violence. And while the book does have 12-year-old Jamal trying to step up and be the leader of the Scorpions, he is also an aspiring artist, he does ultimately turn his back on the gang, and his best friend Tito suffers some serious consequences from the experience.
Gangs. Guns. Violence. Death.
This might reach kids who are interested in real-life action and excitement. I hate to say violence, but if a reader enjoys modern gangster-type stories, this is it, although I don't think Myers glorifies the violence. And while the book does have 12-year-old Jamal trying to step up and be the leader of the Scorpions, he is also an aspiring artist, he does ultimately turn his back on the gang, and his best friend Tito suffers some serious consequences from the experience.
Gangs. Guns. Violence. Death.
April 25, 2008
I thought this book was poorly written. I didn't like it at all. It took me a lot of energy to sit down and read it, I kept getting up and walking away.
Plot Summary:
Jamal, a 12 year old boy, has lost his brother to the law. His brother was part of a gang called the scorpions and was put in jail for "running crack". Now Jamal has to act like an adult, watch over his young sister, worry about his mother and about getting money to get his older brother out of jail, and finally to make the decision to join a gang.
Jamal has a good head on his shoulders but ultimetly decideds to join the gang. When School starts to become a problem for him and his best friend ends up getting sent back to Puerto Rico he finally realizes this is not what he wants.
Plot Summary:
Jamal, a 12 year old boy, has lost his brother to the law. His brother was part of a gang called the scorpions and was put in jail for "running crack". Now Jamal has to act like an adult, watch over his young sister, worry about his mother and about getting money to get his older brother out of jail, and finally to make the decision to join a gang.
Jamal has a good head on his shoulders but ultimetly decideds to join the gang. When School starts to become a problem for him and his best friend ends up getting sent back to Puerto Rico he finally realizes this is not what he wants.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 4, 2009
I absolutely hated this book. Walter Dean Myers uses completely random descriptions and seems to be obsessed with toilets and bathroom scenes. The best part was the end (spoiler) not only because it ended but also because there was a sweet moment between Jamal and Tito. It looked like the book would end on a positive note, and then Jamal goes and glares at some random person. Horrible.
November 4, 2009
I don't know why on earth this book got a newbery honor. for me this book was extremly boring and a painfull read. if you read any of his other books alot of them are the same story. evrybody is poor they always live in harlem and theres always somewone in jail.oh yha i dare youu to try and count how many times the auther writes said.
December 11, 2009
I didn't like this book at all. It was so depressing and predictable that I literally had to force myself to read it. I do think middle grade and high school reluctant boys would love this book and it was for that reason that I read it. Definitely a good book to put in front of a kid who struggles in school and feels like the odds are against them.
October 11, 2017
I read the Book “Los Escorpiones” Writer by Walter Dean Myers. Los Escorpiones is a good book, it starts off a little slow but it grabs your attention once you get more into it. I would rate the book I read a ten out of ten because it’s a good book. The book I read was about two brothers, one was the boss of a gang called Los Escorpiones and the other brother would always walk with his older brother. One day the older brother decided to go rob a store with a friend and that day something shocking happened, The older Randy killed the guy that owns the store it was something no one was expecting and the police took olmo and two other friends that walked with him but the case of randy’s two friends were set free except for randy because they had proof that he was the one to shoot and randy said he was innocent. Randys mom is the kind to do whatever it takes to get her son out of jail, She worked very hard. He tells his mom to tell his younger brother (jamal) that he is gonna have to be the king of los escorpiones and jamal accepted the offer. Jamal had his best friend named tito but one day jamal and tito decided to go to the park because they had to fix a problem but once they got their they found out that the problem is that the people in the gang did not want jamal to be the leader of the gang Los Escorpiones. One of the members wanted to stab jamal but tito was hiding and had a gun that he shot so everyone started running, they escaped but then later randy was stabbed in jail. So tito’s grandmother found out that tito had a gun in the house so she decided to call the police and after that she decided to send tito back to puerto rico because he was becoming a problem. Jamal went to go say goodbye to tito and both of them were very sad, Does randy come out of jail or what happened to him??
May 30, 2021
12-year-old Jamal is facing stressful situations on all sides: he's having trouble at school. which is exacerbated by the casual racism of his principal; his older brother is in jail for killing a man during a robbery; he feels a low-grade constant worry for his mother, who works too hard out of necessity and is herself worried sick over her oldest son; and he is now facing pressure from his brother's old gang not only to join them, but also to take his brother's place as their leader. When the neighborhood gang lord gives him a gun to help solidify his new position, Jamal at first balks, but then becomes dependent on the gun for a feeling of security, forming a love/hate relationship with the weapon. The gun, of course, leads to nothing but trouble, and Jamal's only constant - his sweet and kind and loving best friend, Tito - gets caught up in the consequences.
This one feels pretty heavy for a Newbery Honor Book, but then again, if there are middle grade kids getting pulled into such a violent life, then there should be middle grade books out there tackling the subject. There's no happy ending here, but it's an important read, nonetheless. Jamal feels very real, and his emotions and reactions to the situations he finds himself in are believable, which is not an easy writing goal to accomplish. Overall, recommended.
This one feels pretty heavy for a Newbery Honor Book, but then again, if there are middle grade kids getting pulled into such a violent life, then there should be middle grade books out there tackling the subject. There's no happy ending here, but it's an important read, nonetheless. Jamal feels very real, and his emotions and reactions to the situations he finds himself in are believable, which is not an easy writing goal to accomplish. Overall, recommended.
October 20, 2023
This book really tore at my heartstrings. Even though it was written in the 80s, a lot of the character development and themes could relate to younger teens today. We see Jamal and his family trying to make it through the daily struggle, which becomes complicated as his brother's gang attempts to recruit Jamal to lead them. Myers does a superb job of writing the voice of his protagonist while simultaneously showing how Jamal moves through life and how life moves around him. I appreciate that Myers calls our attention to aspects such as Jamal's antagonizing peers and a suspect education system without using Jamal's voice to do so. Instead, we read of his experience and his actions without reflection on how things should be--as if it's not Jamal's job to show us that; it's our own.
March 6, 2022
Self note: fascinating representation of drug selling as the limited option entrepreneurship, the crack epidemic, and a final fascinating point about over-prescribing Ritalin in lieu of more holistic methods.
February 3, 2023
When Jamal's brother, Randy, goes to jail he expects Jamal to take over as the leader of the Scorpions. The Scorpions are used by dealers to carry drugs because they can't be forced to testify. But not all the Scorpions want Jamal as their leader, so he has to prove himself.
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January 20, 2014Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers is a look into friendship and Loyalty, and how far some is welling to go to help the ones they love.
The Scorpions is a tough Harlem gang, and Jamal Hicks is about to become involved in this gang from the sins of his older brother. Pushed to his limits by a bully named Dwayne , and being told everyday by his principle Mr. Davidson that he won't amount to anything and will only end up dead or in a prison , Jamal is having a difficult time staying in school, and staying true to who he is. His life at home isn't bring any joy his way either , with his mother breaking her back to try and feed her family and get a lawyer to get a apple for his brother Randy who is in jail,and The leader of the Scorpions, he wants his younger brother to take his place till he is out. But the other gang members, more so Angel and Indian, don't wanna take the back seat to a kid who they see as weak. Only Mack who is Randy's so called best friend thinks Jamal should be the leader. Mack gives Jamal a gun which causes problems for him throughout the book.
Myers uses a very laid back style of writing which helps connect to younger readers, I like his style because it opens my eyes to something I wouldn't think about happening could actually happen to a young kid around my age.The book is more so sad and heart racing than anything because as you read on you don't want any harm to come to Jamal you fell as though he is a younger brother to you and you want him to be safe,so your eyes are wide open whenever you read of something going wrong.The narrator is both Myers and Jamal and both are very different, Myers is calm and straight to the point of whats happening, but Jamal is full of worry anger, and sometimes happiness when his with his friend Tito.
Jamal is a very hardworking, worried kid he went out his way to find a job to help at home but when he was confronted by Two members of the Scorpions at his job he felt weak and helpless. Tito is a very loyal and helpful friend when Jamal had a problem with hiding the gun Mack gave him Tito hide it at his house so his friend wouldn't use it or get caught with it. I feel Jamal gets his friend into way to much trouble than he should, and I feel Tito should try harder to set his friend
straight.
Jamal's world compares to the one I know for the simple fact a person can be pushed to do wrong by people not believing them or them being put in a situation where it seems they can't win so why should they be the good person society wants them to be when society doesn't give them a chance.Myers descriptive language makes Myers makes me feel as though I am taking the roller coaster journey with Jamal as he battles with who he is and what he will do next to help his family, through ethos and his use of strong language. This book can connect to how any child who grows up in hard times faces what is going on when all he wants to do is protect his mother and family..As Myers uses very descriptive words to highlight the parks, homes, and even the school Jamal went to I felt as though I have been there once in my life.
Jamal hicks is a 12 year old boy who is facing a tough battle with who he is and only seems to have his best friend Tito is his Corner both young men don't have a father in their homes, they face problems everyday but their friendship and loyalty get them through it all. The story is so well written readers can see the message of how both of the two main figures in the boys life Jamal s Mom deal with the fact of her eldest son is imprisoned, and how Titos Grandmother deals with the tragic event that happens to her grandson.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books about something real and something that can open their eyes to the troubles in the world, this book opens your heart to the women who have to raise boys to be men by themselves and what they face in doing this.
Myers makes me feel as though I am taking the roller coaster journey with Jamal as he battles who he is and what he will do next to help his family, through ethos and his use of strong language. This book can connect to how any child who grows up in hard time faces what is going on when all he wants to do is protect his mother and family. This compa
The Scorpions is a tough Harlem gang, and Jamal Hicks is about to become involved in this gang from the sins of his older brother. Pushed to his limits by a bully named Dwayne , and being told everyday by his principle Mr. Davidson that he won't amount to anything and will only end up dead or in a prison , Jamal is having a difficult time staying in school, and staying true to who he is. His life at home isn't bring any joy his way either , with his mother breaking her back to try and feed her family and get a lawyer to get a apple for his brother Randy who is in jail,and The leader of the Scorpions, he wants his younger brother to take his place till he is out. But the other gang members, more so Angel and Indian, don't wanna take the back seat to a kid who they see as weak. Only Mack who is Randy's so called best friend thinks Jamal should be the leader. Mack gives Jamal a gun which causes problems for him throughout the book.
Myers uses a very laid back style of writing which helps connect to younger readers, I like his style because it opens my eyes to something I wouldn't think about happening could actually happen to a young kid around my age.The book is more so sad and heart racing than anything because as you read on you don't want any harm to come to Jamal you fell as though he is a younger brother to you and you want him to be safe,so your eyes are wide open whenever you read of something going wrong.The narrator is both Myers and Jamal and both are very different, Myers is calm and straight to the point of whats happening, but Jamal is full of worry anger, and sometimes happiness when his with his friend Tito.
Jamal is a very hardworking, worried kid he went out his way to find a job to help at home but when he was confronted by Two members of the Scorpions at his job he felt weak and helpless. Tito is a very loyal and helpful friend when Jamal had a problem with hiding the gun Mack gave him Tito hide it at his house so his friend wouldn't use it or get caught with it. I feel Jamal gets his friend into way to much trouble than he should, and I feel Tito should try harder to set his friend
straight.
Jamal's world compares to the one I know for the simple fact a person can be pushed to do wrong by people not believing them or them being put in a situation where it seems they can't win so why should they be the good person society wants them to be when society doesn't give them a chance.Myers descriptive language makes Myers makes me feel as though I am taking the roller coaster journey with Jamal as he battles with who he is and what he will do next to help his family, through ethos and his use of strong language. This book can connect to how any child who grows up in hard times faces what is going on when all he wants to do is protect his mother and family..As Myers uses very descriptive words to highlight the parks, homes, and even the school Jamal went to I felt as though I have been there once in my life.
Jamal hicks is a 12 year old boy who is facing a tough battle with who he is and only seems to have his best friend Tito is his Corner both young men don't have a father in their homes, they face problems everyday but their friendship and loyalty get them through it all. The story is so well written readers can see the message of how both of the two main figures in the boys life Jamal s Mom deal with the fact of her eldest son is imprisoned, and how Titos Grandmother deals with the tragic event that happens to her grandson.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves to read books about something real and something that can open their eyes to the troubles in the world, this book opens your heart to the women who have to raise boys to be men by themselves and what they face in doing this.
Myers makes me feel as though I am taking the roller coaster journey with Jamal as he battles who he is and what he will do next to help his family, through ethos and his use of strong language. This book can connect to how any child who grows up in hard time faces what is going on when all he wants to do is protect his mother and family. This compa
February 15, 2023
This book Scorpions is a really good book in my opinion I like the drama and how much it relates to the real world. I would definitely recommend this book to readers who like drama, or are in situations like this or been in situations like this, and finally just like books that relate to the real world.
April 24, 2021
I didn't like this book, mostly because it bummed the hell out of me. I read books to learn new things and escape, not to be depressed. Walter Dean Myers is a good author, he has this lovely, flowing way of writing, but I think the only reason I made it through this book was the well-done audio. I also think that helped me with the slang. I always have a hard time reading dialogue like that.
Jamal is 12 years old and the "man" of the house. He does what he can to look out for his mom and sister. His brother Randy is in jail for murder. Now one of Randy's friends, Mack, shows up and says that Randy wants Jamal to take over his gang, The Scorpions. (I'll be honest, I didn't really buy this, it didn't make any sense to me that they'd want a 12 year old with no gang experience to run the gang.) Mack gives Jamal a gun and the whole book becomes what life is like for Jamal owning a gun. I thought there were some insightful moments and the overall message is about how guns and violence can destroy a life.
I think I just had a hard time relating to anything in this book. I couldn't connect to the characters. I didn't understand why the family was so desperate to pay this money for an appeal for the murdering brother. I don't want murderers out on the street, regardless of my relationship to them. It was looking for money for Randy's appeal that started the whole situation in the first place.
Jamal's friend, Tito, was a sweetie and his whole story just made me sad. Myers did build up the story in a way that the reader could see Jamal didn't have much of a chance. Everything seemed to be against him.
Not the worst Newbery on the list, but definitely not one of my favorites.
Newbery Honor 1989
Jamal is 12 years old and the "man" of the house. He does what he can to look out for his mom and sister. His brother Randy is in jail for murder. Now one of Randy's friends, Mack, shows up and says that Randy wants Jamal to take over his gang, The Scorpions. (I'll be honest, I didn't really buy this, it didn't make any sense to me that they'd want a 12 year old with no gang experience to run the gang.) Mack gives Jamal a gun and the whole book becomes what life is like for Jamal owning a gun. I thought there were some insightful moments and the overall message is about how guns and violence can destroy a life.
I think I just had a hard time relating to anything in this book. I couldn't connect to the characters. I didn't understand why the family was so desperate to pay this money for an appeal for the murdering brother. I don't want murderers out on the street, regardless of my relationship to them. It was looking for money for Randy's appeal that started the whole situation in the first place.
Jamal's friend, Tito, was a sweetie and his whole story just made me sad. Myers did build up the story in a way that the reader could see Jamal didn't have much of a chance. Everything seemed to be against him.
Not the worst Newbery on the list, but definitely not one of my favorites.
Newbery Honor 1989
July 27, 2009
Scorpions is about a boy, Jamal that becomes the leader of a dangerous gang in order to raise money to buy a lawyer for his brother. Jamal’s brother Randy was once the leader, until he was arrested for killing a man. Jamal’s family has no idea about him leading this gang, but his younger sister Sassy finds out once she sees that Jamal has a gun hidden. The guys in the gang aren’t okay with their new member, but once Jamal wants out, they don’t make it easy for him. The setting takes place in Harlem, New York City and the main characters are Jamal, Tito: Jamal’s best friend, Mama: Jamal’s mother, Sassy: Jamal’s sister, Blood, Indian and Mack: Scorpions. Jamal’s main external conflict is being abused by his rival gang members and kids at school. Jamal’s main internal conflict is deciding whether he should stay in the gang and risk going to jail, or leaving and get beaten to an inch of his life.
While readingScorpions I made a text-to-text connection. Jamal wanting to leave the gang and have a better life remind me of Ponyboy Curtis from the book, The Outsiders. In the outsiders, Ponyboy begins to think the gang he is in, the Greasers, is a bad way to live life, so he decides he should leave. In both texts, the characters want something better than a gang, they want freedom.
I gave this book five stars because it was so realistic and heart warming. The fact that Jamal and Tito’s friendship was so strong, and Jamal’s family was poor, and that Jamal is in a gang was so suspenseful and sad it made me want to cry. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading books about tragedies and family and life issues.
While readingScorpions I made a text-to-text connection. Jamal wanting to leave the gang and have a better life remind me of Ponyboy Curtis from the book, The Outsiders. In the outsiders, Ponyboy begins to think the gang he is in, the Greasers, is a bad way to live life, so he decides he should leave. In both texts, the characters want something better than a gang, they want freedom.
I gave this book five stars because it was so realistic and heart warming. The fact that Jamal and Tito’s friendship was so strong, and Jamal’s family was poor, and that Jamal is in a gang was so suspenseful and sad it made me want to cry. I would recommend this book to people that enjoy reading books about tragedies and family and life issues.
December 17, 2013
Why did i pick this book? well because it looked like a good book to read so i decided to read the back of the book to see what it was about abd sure enough i checked it out. It looked like a book that i would want to read or could read and mainly because i had to pick a book for my project.
The book was really good because it really relates to what is happening on the streets today because kids are having to make life changing actions in a split second and having to deal with a bullys. That could get them killed,in jail,living on the streets or make them one of the famous people alive. I think the sadest part of the book was that Jamal (a main character in the book) had to do something he didnt dream of doing which was runing crack for a gang he didnt want anything to do with just to make money for Randy (Jamal's brother) court appeal.
The book takes place in harlem, most of the action happends in there appartment and part of the conflict happends in the scropions crack house. jamal is the main character the whole book is based off of him, tito is his bestfriend he can always count on no matter what he is always there for him, jamal's brother is always in and out if jail,
For the most part the book was good but i think if the author gave me more back ground on jamals brother. other then that the book was good.
One of the themes were frendship, tito was always there for him when ever he needed him where ever jamal was he was there helping him i would say tito was is "brother from another mother" thats how close they were.
The book was really good because it really relates to what is happening on the streets today because kids are having to make life changing actions in a split second and having to deal with a bullys. That could get them killed,in jail,living on the streets or make them one of the famous people alive. I think the sadest part of the book was that Jamal (a main character in the book) had to do something he didnt dream of doing which was runing crack for a gang he didnt want anything to do with just to make money for Randy (Jamal's brother) court appeal.
The book takes place in harlem, most of the action happends in there appartment and part of the conflict happends in the scropions crack house. jamal is the main character the whole book is based off of him, tito is his bestfriend he can always count on no matter what he is always there for him, jamal's brother is always in and out if jail,
For the most part the book was good but i think if the author gave me more back ground on jamals brother. other then that the book was good.
One of the themes were frendship, tito was always there for him when ever he needed him where ever jamal was he was there helping him i would say tito was is "brother from another mother" thats how close they were.
February 1, 2016
1989 Newbery Honor Book
I've been wondering what Mr. Walter Dean Myers' writing was like ever since he was talked about extensively in Love That Dog.
This book follows Jamal, a twelve year old boy who's older brother, Randy, is in jail for allegedly killing someone in a robbery gone wrong and whose father only comes around occasionally. He has a younger sister as well. Randy was the leader of the Scorpions gang until he was jailed.
There are several events happening in the novel. Jamal gets a hold of a gun and that causes issues. There's also Jamal's friendship with Tito. The family wants to get Randy an appeal and it is supposed to cost $2000 (but $500 to start) and Jamal wants to earn money for the family so he's torn between trying to get a "real" job or join the Scorpions and run drugs to earn the money. A minor point of contention is Jamal's treatment in school by his teachers who have an attitude toward him (that part made me mad).
This book reminded me a lot of That was Then, This is Now which also had themes of peer pressure and drugs. I give the book two stars because I really didn't enjoy it. It's just not my thing (my apologies to Mr. Walter Dean Myers - I hope I enjoy your other Newbery honor book more). However, the writing itself was really good so I give it two stars instead of one.
I've been wondering what Mr. Walter Dean Myers' writing was like ever since he was talked about extensively in Love That Dog.
This book follows Jamal, a twelve year old boy who's older brother, Randy, is in jail for allegedly killing someone in a robbery gone wrong and whose father only comes around occasionally. He has a younger sister as well. Randy was the leader of the Scorpions gang until he was jailed.
There are several events happening in the novel. Jamal gets a hold of a gun and that causes issues. There's also Jamal's friendship with Tito. The family wants to get Randy an appeal and it is supposed to cost $2000 (but $500 to start) and Jamal wants to earn money for the family so he's torn between trying to get a "real" job or join the Scorpions and run drugs to earn the money. A minor point of contention is Jamal's treatment in school by his teachers who have an attitude toward him (that part made me mad).
This book reminded me a lot of That was Then, This is Now which also had themes of peer pressure and drugs. I give the book two stars because I really didn't enjoy it. It's just not my thing (my apologies to Mr. Walter Dean Myers - I hope I enjoy your other Newbery honor book more). However, the writing itself was really good so I give it two stars instead of one.
November 8, 2018
Scorpions is a Young Adult Fiction written by Walter Dean Myers. Scorpions is 240 pages. This book is based around a young boy named Jamal. The story takes place in Harlem, New York in the 1980’s. The main characters are Jamal, Tito, Randy, and Dwayne. The plot of this story is based on Jamal and his struggles with violence. Jamal was faced with many challenges some even life threatening.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great thriller and exciting book. My favorite part of the book was when Tito saved Jamal’s life. It was my favorite part of the book because it was so impactful on Jamal and the book as a whole. My favorite character in the book was Tito. Tito was my favorite because he was always there for Jamal and he even saved his life. I can relate to Jamal the most out of all the characters. I can relate to Jamal because have you ever been with your friends and they want to do something bad and you don’t want to do it but you are forced to. That was like Jamal when he was forced to be leader of the Scorpion’s. I learned a lot from this book. It taught me how some people are just born into the gang life and don’t get a say if they want in or out. These were just some of the reasons on why I liked Scorpions.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a great thriller and exciting book. My favorite part of the book was when Tito saved Jamal’s life. It was my favorite part of the book because it was so impactful on Jamal and the book as a whole. My favorite character in the book was Tito. Tito was my favorite because he was always there for Jamal and he even saved his life. I can relate to Jamal the most out of all the characters. I can relate to Jamal because have you ever been with your friends and they want to do something bad and you don’t want to do it but you are forced to. That was like Jamal when he was forced to be leader of the Scorpion’s. I learned a lot from this book. It taught me how some people are just born into the gang life and don’t get a say if they want in or out. These were just some of the reasons on why I liked Scorpions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 11, 2013
Scorpions was a book about a boy named Jamal who lives in Harlem, New York who lives with his mom and his younger sister. Everybody is getting on Jamal about his school work and bullying him. His dad ,his principal and this bully at school. Jamal also has an older brother names Randy and he is in jail. His mom works hard hours to try to get Randy out of jail. Since his brothers in jail Randy sends message to Jamal asking him to take his place in this gang he is in . Jamal joins the gang and one of the gang members CrazyMack gives him a gun which may get him in a lot of trouble. Jamal ends up meeting this freind and they go together running the streets of Harlem feeling like hes at the top of the world. This gun ends up getting him and his in trouble and Jamal learns that a gun wont get you anywhere in life. He ends up being a SCORPION.
This book i really liked because it had some suspense and you didnt know what jamal would do next. I really like books by Walter Dean Myers so i already knew i would like it.
This book i really liked because it had some suspense and you didnt know what jamal would do next. I really like books by Walter Dean Myers so i already knew i would like it.
July 22, 2017
this was a one-day quick read ---- I am reading some YA books for a friend who is putting together a curriculum to motivate some non reading middle school kids, and I think this book would work well! First, it is about 75% dialogue, which reads really fast. Second it has interesting characters --- Jamal, a 12 year old, his little sister (about 8), the mom (who works in a variety of jobs), the older brother Randy who is in jail for shooting someone, and Jamal's best friend, Tito (a puerto rican) and various members of the Scorpions gang, which Randy led before going into jail. the conflicts seemed very real and a useful one to talk about with kids --- the power of carrying a gun. Jamal shows how he gets the feeling of power when he is carrying and threatening to use a gun, but then presents many consequences of carrying it. And that's the point and a good one to hit with middle schoolers. I would recommend this book ---- good discussions between layered characters, who seemed to be a based on real people.
January 31, 2018
Gritty. I was expecting a less edgy Myers book, like his other Newbery Honor, Somewhere in the Darkness, but no. Jamal's story is about the consequences of gangs, guns, and living in a society that expects you to fail. Myers gives us a painful tour of Jamal's home, his family, his school, and his neighborhood to show us why Jamal is likely to make poor choices, then he shows us the outcome of those choices. The outcome is both practical- legal, financial, and academic- and personal- guilt, social and familial.
*Moderate spoiler.
At one point, Jamal takes a gun to school and hides it in case he feels threatened. This portion is more shocking now than when the book was published, but it fits the rest of the book well. Sadly, it's all too easy to believe. The gun is a seductive, evil object, like a drug.
*Moderate spoiler.
At one point, Jamal takes a gun to school and hides it in case he feels threatened. This portion is more shocking now than when the book was published, but it fits the rest of the book well. Sadly, it's all too easy to believe. The gun is a seductive, evil object, like a drug.
May 8, 2012
Reading Scorpions was like experiencing a very realistic and insightful week into the life of a poor black family living in a low SES neighborhood and the experience of one young boy in dealing with the local gang that seems to be involved in every aspect of life. When Jamal’s older brother is put in prison, he is asked to take over the Scorpions drug cartel in his city. Lucky for Jamal, a faithful friend and a healthy conscience helps him to make decisions in situations that will decide if he and his family lives or dies. A touching, insightful, realistic book that conveys culture as well as teen challenges that are faced every day in this country through the eyes of a young boy.
Scale of 1-10
Violence: 5 (gun violence and shootings)
Sex: 0
Language: 2 (mild)
Alcohol: 1 (mild)
Drugs: 3 (drug cartel, gang members addicted to crack)
Scale of 1-10
Violence: 5 (gun violence and shootings)
Sex: 0
Language: 2 (mild)
Alcohol: 1 (mild)
Drugs: 3 (drug cartel, gang members addicted to crack)
October 29, 2012
Jamal, joins a gang called the Scorpions after his brother tells him that he is now the leader. Jamal, thinking he now has all this authority and power begins to gain confidence and starts doing things he would have never done before. It isn't until he kills someone and that his best friend, Tito takes the blame for him that he realizes his mistake. Jamal wishes he can take everything back, but he can't. He lost the best friendship that he could ever have and regrets it dearly.
Scorpions is an amazing book that Walter Dean Myers wrote. He really focuses on teenagers,their reactions and emotions. He persuades his that gangs are bad and to not be easily tricked by them. Even, Jamal, a sweet and good kid fell into the wrong crowd, so anything can happen. We got to be cautious of our own actions. Our actions might affect others. This is what this book has taught me.
Scorpions is an amazing book that Walter Dean Myers wrote. He really focuses on teenagers,their reactions and emotions. He persuades his that gangs are bad and to not be easily tricked by them. Even, Jamal, a sweet and good kid fell into the wrong crowd, so anything can happen. We got to be cautious of our own actions. Our actions might affect others. This is what this book has taught me.
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