“Ghetto Kidz (If I grew up)” by Morton Rue

Gangstar's Paradise


"Ghetto Kidz" is about Kalon, a black boy who was born into ghetto life. He lives together with his grandma and his sister in the city's ghetto between warring gangs. Kalon's mother was killed by one of the gangs, so he tries to stay out of them. But after his grandma has lost her cleaning job, Kalon has to do something because his family won't survive without money...

The message of the book is shocking and very sad: If you are born into violence and gangs, you can't stay out of them. Morton Rue did everything possible to give the reader a good insight into gang life. He talked to real gang members, read many newspaper articles and wrote the novel in a style and language that is common in gangs.

Although there are many words you don't learn at school, you can easily understand the plot because some of those words are used here, too.

I would recommend this book to boys at my age (15+) because the story is mostly about Kalon aged between 14 and 18. You learn much about gang life in the USA and if you aren't interested in things like that the story will catch you from the first page on anyway.  It's a story about racism, poverty and violence, which is more likely to be interesting to boys.

I tell you: Read it!

Henrik (15)