Avi V’s Reviews > If I Grow Up > Status Update

"I didn't think a shot would follow, but if it did, I would grab William's gun and kill Rance, or die trying. Because I wouldn't want to live knowing i was responsible for Tanisha's death." -pg.185
I chose this golden gem because it wraps up a lot of what's going on. DeShawn is involved with Tanisha which has also involved him in the gang rivalry. He loves her and doesn't care about anything else.
Now he's reckless

DeShawn is in conflict with himself. He knows what's right and how far he can go with his life by going to school and working hard. But living at the projects, it seems like gangbanging is the only way to survive. He's been put in situations where he has to straighten up the shoties before they get killed. its like he is in the gang.
its amazing how the author shows his self-conflict in his actions.

I really like how the author shows the contradiction in DeShawn's actions. He's changing, like getting more into the gangbangers' life style. He's a little more rebellious, but the author mentions how he feels guilty about it. DeShawn has good morals, but his environment persuades him to be different. I hope he realizes he's going in the wrong path, because he has potential, and he has people who support him.

This book is pretty good so far. The main character DeShawn is a boy born in the projects. There's gang wars and everywhere around him there is violence. It seems to me like everything that goes on around him doesn't affect him. He sees shootings and people getting killed all the time and he's alright. He told the cop he would stay in school and be good, i wonder if he will after all.