Two the Hard Way

July 15, 2010

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)

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August 1, 2010
Grades 10-1 Honor student and star quarterback Romeo has big college plans, but can he survive the dangerous streets of the Atlanta projects where he lives? His big brother, Kwame, 19, is released from prison after serving two years for something he did not do, and he is determined to help his community and keep Romeo out of trouble. Told in the alternating first-person narratives of the two close brothers, Hunters debut YA novel about family, friends, lovers, and official corruption moves quickly, with dialogue that is angry, hilarious, heartbreaking, and mean (no invective, though). The often violent action builds to a stormy climax with shoot-outs, car crashes, and dramatic turnarounds, but it is the tender, personal elements that are unforgettable: the brothers love for Nana, who raised them; Romeos relationship with his beautiful girlfriend, Ngiai, who is not ready for sex. With discussion questions at the end, the intense contemporary drama is sure to engage teens.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)