Dope Sick (Audio Book)

* Bibliographic information
Myers, W. D. Dope Sick. Recorded Books, 2009. ISBN: 9781436161404. Narrated by JD
Jackson


* Plot Summary
Lil J is running from the cops because they think he shot one of their own. His friend Rico, who shot the man, said J did it. Lil J is running scared and the only place he finds to hide is an old crack house with a mysterious man named Kelly living in it. At first J thinks the guy is a crazy homeless man, he soon realizes Kelly is much more than what he sees. Kelly uses a special TV to show Lil J important moments in his past that led him to the place he is now. J acts tough at first but eventually shares his fears and drug addiction with Kelly and asks him to help get him out of his current situation. J sees himself in the TV and does not want to be the man he has become. He wants to be someone better for himself, and his new child, but first he has to figure out what to do about the police outside who want to arrest him.


* Critical Evaluation
Myers does a great job of capturing the moments when a boy becomes a man; he does it with a complex character that has had to face numerous conflicts in his life. Lil J has an alcoholic mom, lives in a bad neighborhood, is addicted to dope and just became a father. This is a young man who is about to throw his life away because he wants to make money so bad; he chooses a quicker way by dealing drugs. I have never lived in Lil J’s world but the audio book made it possible for me to try and understand it. There were many words I had never heard before; street words. Hearing these words and the way the narrator used them allowed me to follow the events successfully. This is a great story of self-reflection, the author lets readers into the mind of a young man who is troubled and scared, looking for a way to change his life and who he has become.


* Reader’s Annotation
Lil J has made some bad decisions to avoid his problems and is heading down a dark path that will get him nowhere, except prison or dead. Through his discussions with a mysterious guy and his TV, Lil J sees himself as who he I,s and who he wants to be.


* Information about the author
Myers is a very joyful man. On his website, he writes about liking everyone he has ever met and how everyone is capable of being creative. Every bit of his bio section has a positive touch to it; it is inspiring to read about someone so happy. He writes because he loves it and wishes everyone could do something they love, the way he does. He grew up in Harlem and when he decided to give writing a try, professionally, he thought he should write about the hardest time of his life; his teen years. His first published book, in 1969, was actually a children’s book called, Where Does the Day Go? Myers has contributed numerous books to YA literature over the years; Dope Sick is his most recent novel.
http://www.walterdeanmyers.net/


* Genre
Teen Fiction; Multiple and Unique Issues, Crime and Criminals


* Curriculum Ties, if any
English, if it was allowed in a school setting.
According to the English–Language Arts Content Standards for California Public Schools, found at http://curriculum.suhsd.k12.ca.us/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&Itemid=66, this book would tie into the Literary Response and Analysis part of the curriculum, the student must “Analyze interactions between main and subordinate characters in a literary text (e.g., internal and external conflicts, motivations, relationships, influences) and explain the way those interactions affect the plot” (p.57). This entire book is centered on the interactions between Lil’ J and Kelly. The interactions are more of a self-reflection but they definitely affect the plot. The interactions with other characters in the story are what get him to the place where he has to figure out what he will do with the rest of his life and he figures that out by talking with Kelly.


* Booktalking Ideas
1) Discuss the character of Kelly and his “magical” TV.
2) Do you think Lil’ J will stay clean, why or why not?
3) Lil’ J would not discuss his drug addiction in the beginning, why did he lie about doing it?
4) Faced with the same problems as Lil J; having a child, an alcoholic mother, failing in school and not having any money, what would you do to avoid being sucked into a world of drugs?


* Reading Level/Interest Age
Grades 9-12 / 14 and up


* Challenge Issues and Defense
Challenge Issues: Violence, Crime, Drug Abuse, Murder, Guns, and Unwed parents.

Defense Ideas:
1) Ask the patron about the book and issue in question and find out how much they know about the book.
2) Help the patron become more familiar with the book and its content.
3) Show the patron positive reviews for this book, such as ones found on amazon.com; School Library Journal and Booklist, http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/product-description/0061214779/ref=dp_proddesc_0?ie=UTF8&n=283155&s=books.
4) If available, introduce the patron to people who have read it in the library or tell the patron what you thought of the book if you have read it.
5) Show the patron the collection development policy for that particular library. For example, the one for the San Diego County library, http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf
6) If they still want to file a grievance about the book begin the necessary paperwork by giving them the forms they need to fill out. In the San Diego County system, the grievance will then go to The Challenged Materials Team. If the committee cannot resolve the issue, it then goes to the County Library Director for a final decision. http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf


* Why did you include this book in your titles you selected?
I selected this book to read because I always see Walter Dean Myers’ books on the shelf at the library and the covers always look so interesting. I decided to finally read one of his books and selected this book based on its availability. I included this book in my blog because of its content. The series of events and situations that lead Lil J to the old house where he runs into Kelly are sad and horrible but the journey of self-reflection that Kelly takes him on is very interesting and educational.