From the Publisher
Nate Whitely's life at a prestigious prep school in upstate New York takes him far from his Harlem home but not so far as to sever the strong bond he has to his neighborhood. Like his prep school friends, Nate is doing well academically and has his sights set on college. But complications from one life intrude into the other. His childhood friend Hustle won't give up his street-smart ways and doesn't want Nate to either. Nate's older brother, Eli, just can't seem to keep things together and is headed for major trouble. Will Nate be able to sustain these powerful ties without jeopardizing all that he's achieved?
This provocative story about a young man straddling two very different worlds unfolds against a backdrop of brotherhood and betrayal, friendship and loyalty, and captures the dilemma of those who would carve out a unique destiny for themselves.
Jean Boreen, Ph.D.
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Children's Literature
Nate Whitely has been given the opportunity to attend the prestigious Fletcher prep school on scholarship because of his intelligence and self-motivation. One of the few African-Americans at the school, Nate makes a comfortable place for himself at the school and with classmates of all ethnic backgrounds. But he has not forgotten where he came from, and when he returns to visit his Harlem home, he reverts back into "Harlem-acceptable" language and clothing. Nate's ability to move back and forth between worlds is something he tends to take for granted until he meets Willa, the daughter of wealthy African-American parents; Willa expects Nate to stick to his prep school behaviors and when she meets his friend Hustle, jumps to her own conclusions about "who" Nate really is. The tension is compounded when Nate finds out that his older brother Eli has gotten involved in a number of illegal activities. How Nate responds to both family and friends within these situations is the real strength and interest of this book. This is an excellent book about identity, intermingling of cultures, and loyalty to friends and family. 2004, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, Ages 13 to 18.
Lori Matthews
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VOYA
Nate Whitely is Harlem born and bred, but his life takes an unexpected turn when he is invited to go to a prestigious prep school in upstate New York on scholarship. Nate enjoys his school and his new friends. His parents, although reluctant at first, are very proud of all that Nate has accomplished. So why is Nate having difficulties? Maybe it is because his brother Eli cannot seem to stay out of trouble. Perhaps it is because Nate's neighborhood friend Hustle will not stop living the street lifestyle and also does not want Nate to do so. Nate loves Harlem and his friends there, but life soon becomes quite difficult when his two worlds collide, leading to hurt, betrayal, and trouble with the law. McDonald has another bestseller here. She astutely captures not only life in Harlem but also the attitudes and nuances of prep school life. In Nate, she illustrates the chasm between classes and then weds them seamlessly. McDonald deftly makes the point that it is important to remember one's roots but to not let them stand in the way of success. Nate's grappling with jealousy and betrayal is the background for his self-discovery and ultimately his coming-of-age. Teens will immediately identify with Nate's attempting to fit in with every group while trying to discover who and what is fundamentally important to him. This novel will be a surefire hit with teens from all backgrounds. VOYA CODES: 5Q 4P M J S (Hard to imagine it being any better written; Broad general YA appeal; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10 to 12). 2004, Frances Foster Books/Farrar Straus Giroux, 176p., $16. Ages 11 to 18.
Paula Rohrlick
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KLIATT
Nate lives in two very different worlds —he comes from Harlem but attends a prep school in upstate New York. At home, his older brother Eli is dealing drugs and making moves on Nate's girlfriend Shantay, while his old friend Hustle, who boosts and resells clothes, tries to involve Nate in his illegal schemes. At school, Nate is befriended by Spencer, a rich white boy, and starts a relationship with Willa, a beautiful African American girl from a wealthy suburban background. Lacrosse action enlivens the narrative as Nate tries to figure out where he belongs and what his future holds. McDonald, author of Chill Wind, Spellbound, and Twists and Turns, has the dialect of the different parts of Nate's life down pat. She also drops lots of brand names and describes in detail what everyone is wearing, which may not interest every reader. The central issue, however, of uncomfortably straddling different milieus, is something to which many readers may be able to relate. The Beast, by Walter Dean Myers (reviewed in KLIATT in September 2003), is another recent YA novel dealing with this important theme. KLIATT Codes: S—Recommended for senior high school students. 2004, Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 176p., Ages 15 to 18.
School Library Journal
Gr 6-9-Nate Whitely, 16, attends an exclusive boarding school on scholarship while trying to remain loyal to his Harlem roots. He gets along equally well in both worlds, with only a quick change from school uniform to do-rag and bomber jacket in the men's room at Grand Central Terminal. Like most of the novel, this symbol of Nate's conflicted identity hits readers over the head. McDonald's painstaking descriptions of the sights, sounds, and smells of Harlem, though authentic, grow tiresome and precious and take up space better used for character development, which is not to say that she doesn't offer plentiful detail, describing the characters' outfits down to the brand names. Though she may have intended to comment on the branding of teen America, the focus on the characters' fashions pegs them in exactly the stereotypes-thug, preppy, rich bitch, wanna-be-that Nate struggles against. Despite the author's mastery of the cadence and slang of black teenage speech, much of the dialogue is stilted and expository. Only Nate's interaction with Spencer, a Jewish student who passes as a wealthy WASP, is fresh and provocative enough to leave readers wanting more. Walter Dean Myers's The Beast (Scholastic, 2003) is a more graceful and satisfying story of a Harlem teen caught between opportunity and loyalty.-Johanna Lewis, New York Public Library Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Nate's dual life allows him to be comfortable at Fletcher, his exclusive, private boarding school, and on his home territory in Harlem. Different places require different threads, language, and behavior, and Nate switches, chameleon-like, between his two personas. McDonald shows his dexterity and makes clear the ease with which he juggles the two, while simultaneously revealing to the reader the upside and downside of both. The haughty elitism of some classmates and their parents, as well as the outright racism of an opposing lacrosse team, makes clear the difficulties of the situation. There is a lot of exposition about the environment of Harlem at the beginning and characters only slowly reveal themselves. The crucial conflict, which highlights the choices Nate must make and his moral responsibilities in both environments builds from this gradual revelation of each culture. This lacks the depth of romance and lyrical writing that was evidenced in Walter Dean Myers's Beast (2003), but has an authenticity and immediacy that will appeal as well as being a great title for discussion. (Fiction. YA)
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