Scorpions. 0-06-440623-7. Walter Dean Meyers. 1990. Newberry Honors. Ages 12-13. African American Working Class.
Jamal is faced with a decision that could change his life. His family has been in the courtroom finding out Randy's future, prison time. They want to help him make an appeal but they have to come up with the money to pay the bill. Mack tells Jamal that Randy wants Jamal to take over the Scorpions and if Jamal does he can get the money to pay for Randy's lawyer fees for the appeal.
Jamal gets involved with the Scorpions, is given a gun and becomes the leader to many of the members disaproval. Indian and Angel make it very clear they do not like this and Indian wants to be the leader. It doesn't take long before Jamal does not want to be apart of the Scorpions gang and decides to tell Indian he can take over the leader possition. At 11:30pm, Jamal and Tito go to meet Indian and Angel at the park. Tito stayed out of sight with the gun and Jamal went into the park on his own. Indian and Angel began beating Jamal and took out a knife. When Tito saw this, he used the gun and left the park with Jamal.
In the end, Mack took over leadership and Jamal got out of the scorpions.
Scorpions would be a good book to use for social studies. There are many lessons that can be learned and it can be used to work through the decision making process. If you read it to the class as a whole, the class can work through what should be going through your mind when you are making decisions such as what the consequences are of your decision.
Critique:
The characters were very real. They spokek the way you would think people would who are under-educated and living in a rough part of town. It was real as far as the gang being part of their lives too because many times in poor areas there are gangs that have a strong hold in the area.
The problem of money is something everyone faces and can always be solved in many ways. Throughout the book, there were many options mentioned for getting the money. Some of these ways are: Jamal's daddy said he would earn some money for it, Jamal's mama said she was working to earn the money, Jamal got a job to help, Jamal could join the Scorpions, or Jamal and Tito could work.
One theme is to tell the truth. Tito killed one boy and really hurt another. He was so guilt ridden it was ruininig his life so he told the police and Abuela. This helped him to heal and move on with his life. Another theme is to do what is right for you. Throughout the book Jamal listened to what other people told him he should do. He listened and got himself in trouble. If he would have listened to what he thought he would not have gotten into so much trouble and would have been able to keep his job.
The language is rough and it can be a little distracting because the reader can get hung up on the words not being as you expect.
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Anna, I admire the way you've jumped in to catch up with the class. You've designed an engaging blog that is sure to attract readers.
ReplyDeleteIn your critiques of Scorpions and Monsters you succinctly capture the the essence of plot and character. You give several good examples of how Meyers' so successfully pulls un into the life of these urban boys.
I love your idea of having students write a letter as if to a younger brother or sister, from the point of few of Steve or Jamahl.
You are correct in pointing out that truth telling is an important theme in both stories, but especially in Monster. Meyers' does such a wonderful job of showing Steve trying to figure out FOR HIMSELF what the truth is, whether he colors it in his own favor rather than truly being innocent of the felong with which he has been charged.
You also point out that Meyers' creates authenticity by having the characters speak African American Vernacular. It is important, however, to understand that this is not the language of "the uneducated," but rather a complex language that developed out of the coming togeter during the slave trade of Africans from many different countries, who combined the English of their "masters" with their native languages. It is one of a great many legitimate variations on "the King's English" (which, of course, none of us speak).
Good Work! Bonnie