Justin

Gr 8 Up—Justin is having a tough summer in his gritty Oakland neighborhood. In order to distance himself from his alcoholic father and his boring stepfather, he has a list of goals for himself but is torn between his love of video games and literature and his desire to fit in with the other teens in his neighborhood. When Justin's attempt to earn points with the local gang by vandalizing a store ends poorly, his friend Frank decides that the two can prove themselves by defending the neighborhood basketball court against the rival Ghosttown players. They find enough misfit members to make a team, and Justin discovers that even though he hasn't achieved his goals, he has made progress toward them. This is a quick read with uncomplicated prose, and the basketball descriptions, as well as the theme of identity, will resonate with readers who are interested in urban fiction. Justin isn't caught for setting the store on fire, and he doesn't experience any guilt over destroying his friend's livelihood, which is disturbing, and the anachronistic use of the term Negro is confusing.