Spidertown

by Abraham Rodriguez Jr.

A vivid and provocative portrait of life in the South Bronx focuses on the difficult choice that Miguel faces between his life as a drug runner and the possibilities of his relationship with Cristalena. A first novel. Reprint. Tour.

Genres: Fiction, Novels, Latinx, Drugs, Crime

336 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1993

About the author

Author Abraham Rodriguez Jr. is an author well-versed in the hardships of city life. Born and raised in the Bronx, New York, he has opened the doors of inner-city America to the world by writing about an environment he knows best: his own.

Mr. Rodriguez is best known for his books The Boy Without A Flag, a 1993 New York Times Notable Book of the Year, and Spidertown, winner of a 1995 American Book Award, which has also appeared in British, Dutch, German, and Spanish editions. Spidertown has been optioned by Columbia Pictures.

Mr. Rodgriguez's newest novel, The Buddha Book, which will be published by St. Martin's Press, is scheduled for release this year.

His work has appeared in dozens of anthologies and literary magazines including Story, Best Stories from New Writers, Chattahoochie Review, and Alternative Fiction & Poetry. He was the recipient of a grant from the New York Foundation for the Arts in 2000, and he has served as a literary panel member on the NewYork State Council of the Arts.

Mr. Rodriguez's current projects include writing the narration for a film called "Chenrezi Vision," and starting an East-Coast small press named "Art Bridge."

- From http://www.nationalbook.org/arodrigue...

Reviews

[ron swegman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Real.

Authentic, earful (as in sonorous and natural), dialogue. Characters rendered in distinctive manner, set in motion with excellent rhythm and pacing.

Another story of New York, the city eternal, yet from a perspective fresh and relevant to its time.

[L.J. Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago but I still can’t get it out of my head.

[matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

i was lucky enough to get my hands on a copy of this book at a thrift store in rotterdam. while i found it to be a pretty typical story about a drug runner and his mentor, i was really charmed by the characters and witty dialogue. if i had read this at 16, it probably would have been one of my favorite books—and i'd definitely have a crush on amelia. even so, it was entertaining, and i still enjoyed it. and that the ending? it warmed my heart.
an unexpected prize.

[Tiffani Briggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Spidertown was like reading Never Ending Story and The Wire or Boyz in the Hood or Superfly.
I say Never Ending Story because every time I read it I was In the Story. Feeling and seeing everything . Like it was better than a movie. I say it's like the Wire and stuff because of the content and topic. I love the grittiness of the story. The Characters, the ploy, the story everything. Abraham Rodriguez Jr. writing reminds me of Baldwin it that they do a beautiful job of being truthful to the times and life of their characters.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good presentation of life in the South Bronx in the late 80's/early 90's. Miguel is a 16 year old living in an apartment with a friend of his, an arsonist called Firebug. Miguel is a runner for a crack dealer names Spider. Along comes Cristalena. Miguel falls in love and tries to get away from the drug-running to be right for Cristalena. Good gritty look at the "Life."

[Laurah · Rating 1 out of 5]

I found this book at Goodwill and bought it because it looked like a rip-off of Clockers by Richard Price. The kids are Spanish, live in a different borough, and they speak in less credible street slang. It pretty much stinks.

[Rebeka · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had read this in high school. Great young adult fiction. Some homophobic remarks here and there but that's in line with the gang/narco culture of the characters so I guess it's understandable. Fun little sex scenes for teenagers.

[Seven · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this book. Its gives you the hard life in the south bronx. The drug dealing that goes on. I teen or men would like this book.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant, moving, and so full of heart and soul. i literally couldn't put this book down. abraham rodriguez's work is pure genius, so real and so moving.

[Andre Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this some 10 years ago. I am excited to return.

[SashiFace · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites. Probably read it 7, 8 times.

[Lynette Diaz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Spanish book I read in middle school. I remember loving it. The struggle of a smart young teenage boy growing up in a rough neighborhood in love with two girls. It was great.

[Em Mirra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pending.

[Yvette Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

such a good book true story in south bronx