Takedown

July 15, 2013
Multidimensional characters convincingly play on the sympathies of readers in this realistic and suspenseful urban drama. After being released from juvenile detention, Darren vows revenge against the leader of the drug-dealing gang for whom he took the fall. He's an intelligent young man with dreams of making it in the music world, a sweet adoration for his young brother, and a magnetic attraction to Jessica, a girl at school; Darren's also an informant for the police. By becoming a dealer for the same gang that pinned the blame on him, he hopes to provide tips that will help bring down the head of the organization, Diamond Tony. Short, action-filled chapters are expertly crafted to urge readers on, and the gradual revealing of details about Darren's family and background adds a layer of depth. Many chapters end with raps penned by Darren, often expressing his feelings about what's going on in his life, and while these fit well with his constructed persona, they feel a little awkward at times--perhaps since they are meant to be heard over a beat instead of read. While this does interrupt the flow of the narrative a bit, it does not detract overall from what is an exceedingly readable novel. A smart and believably gritty tale of the streets with genuine heart. (Fiction. 14 & up)

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October 1, 2013

Gr 9 Up-When he was 15, Darren was locked up for his involvement with Toronto's most notorious drug cartel, despite the fact that he was only working as a lookout at the time. He knew that talking was suicide, so he kept his mouth shut and served his time. But during his two years in juvie, Darren quietly plotted his revenge. Now, he's a confidential informant for the police, working to take down the cartel's kingpin, a powerful drug lord named Diamond Tony. Darren finds himself in dangerous territory, however, when Tony's men gun down his supervising police officer for getting in their way. Darren is terrified that it's only a matter of time before his secret is out. Left on his own, caught in the middle of a turf war between Diamond Tony's operation and the Bloods, he has a decision to make. Should he continue with his plan to take down Diamond Tony, or should he get out while he can, before his family or his girlfriend is caught in the crossfire? Van Diepen has created a gritty, suspenseful, character-driven story that reveals the complexity of life in the projects in a major city without coming across as preachy. Drugs and violence are never glorified or presented in an overly graphic manner, and sexuality is also downplayed. This is a strong choice for reluctant readers. Purchase where urban fiction is popular.-Liz Overberg, Darlington School, Rome, GA

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