High-school football star Romeo Braxton has more than the game on his mind. His older brother, Kwame, jailed on a disputed drug charge, is up for a parole hearing, his unreliable mother has come around and there are rumors that he is going to be a father. The excitement of Kwame’s return is shattered when their mother is found beaten, and the brothers must try to unravel an incident that is more than a case of random street crime. In this example of urban literature, Hunter does a fine job of illustrating how easy the dreams and aspirations of black males can be derailed by societal pressure, family issues and bad decisions. The two main characters are well rounded, and secondary characters are colorful and integral to the plot. The Atlanta setting provides an additional level of rich detail. The dialogue is authentic, and the relationships ring true. The didactism that is an element of this genre is here handled with a deft touch and never gets in the way of the storytelling. (Fiction. YA)
