Show and Prove

by Sofia Quintero

"A must-read for fans of Walter Dean Myer's All the Right Stuff and other lovers of proud urban realism." —Kirkus Reviews   The summer of 1983 was the summer hip-hop proved its staying power. The South Bronx is steeped in Reaganomics, war in the Middle East, and the twin epidemics of crack and AIDS, but Raymond “Smiles” King and Guillermo “Nike” Vega have more immediate concerns.   Smiles was supposed to be the assistant crew chief at his summer camp, but the director chose Cookie Camacho instead, kicking off a summer-long rivalry. Meanwhile, the aspiring b-boy Nike has set his wandering eye on Sara, the sweet yet sassy new camp counselor, as well as top prize at a breakdancing competition downtown. The two friends have been drifting apart ever since Smiles got a scholarship to a fancy private school, and this summer the air is heavy with postponed decisions that will finally be made.   Raw and poignant, this is a story of music, urban plight, and racial tension that’s as relevant today as it was in 1983.

Genres: Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Music, Realistic Fiction, Coming Of Age, Friendship

352 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 14, 2015

About the author

Sofia Quintero is the author of several novels and short stories that cross genres. Born into a working-class Puerto Rican-Dominican family in the Bronx., the self-proclaimed Ivy League homegirl earned a BA in history-sociology from Columbia University in 1990 and her MPA from the university's School of International and Public Affairs in 1992. After years of working on a range of policy issues from multicultural education to HIV/AIDS, she decided to pursue career that married arts and activism. Under the pen name Black Artemis, she wrote the hip hop novels Explicit Content, Picture Me Rollin and Burn. Sofia is also the author of the novel Divas Dont Yield and contributed novellas to the chica lit anthologies Friday Night Chicas and Names I Call My Sister. As an activist, she co-founded Chica Luna Productions (chicaluna.com), a nonprofit organization that seeks to identify, develop and support women of color who wish to create socially conscious entertainment. She is also a founding creative partner of Sister Outsider Entertainment, a multimedia production company that produces quality entertainment for multicultural audiences. Sofia is presently working on her first young adult novel Efrains Secret which will be published by Knopf in 2009. To learn more about Sofia and her work, visit blackartemis.com, sisteroutsider.biz or myspace.com/sofiaquintero."

Reviews

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

The characters are well fleshed-out, but fyi, both Smiles and Nike have also spouted misogynistic and racist bs, Nike especially.

Still, it’s a compelling story, and you get the feel what it’s like to live in poverty in 1983, what with Reaganomics, the AIDS crisis, slumlords torching apartments to get the insurance money, the stigma of living with addiction, and the stigma of being on welfare. Also gets into the Israel-Lebanon crisis at that time, which does affect Sara, Nike’s crush. Good that they don’t end up together; despite Nike maturing, spouting anti-Arab bs (while not knowing Sara was Palestinian) is never okay.

[Rich in Color is now on StoryGraph · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review copy: Purchased

Earlier this year Lyn Miller-Lachmann recommended Show and Prove. She spoke so highly of the book, I knew it was a must read. It did not disappoint.

Show and Prove allows readers to experience a summer in The South Bronx through the eyes of two young men learning about who they are and what matters most to them. The voices and personalities are distinct and Quintero’s characters have depth.

Smiles has that nickname because he is generally upbeat. He’s an idea man. Over the years he’s poured time, effort, and thought into the summer camp. He sees possibilities. That’s why he feels like he’s been kicked in the gut when Cookie is chosen to be the assistant instead of him.

Nike has an eye for the ladies and works on his break dancing moves to relax. Nike works, but mostly to buy the name brand clothing he loves. He feels trapped by his circumstances and doesn’t know what he can do to escape.

The young men have been friends for years, but have hit a rough patch. This summer is a transition for their friendship.

There is romance here for sure. Nike falls hard. I enjoy the words he used to describe the conversations with his love interest. She, “…asks me questions, and I have to think before I answer, not because she’s testing me and I’m trying to be fly, but more like we’re both digging into each other for treasure.” The romance is a major issue for Nike, but I it’s not the only issue. I appreciated that this is a well-rounded story going beyond that one aspect of his summer. Nike’s family life and friendship with Smiles also have weight along with the racial issues that each face.

I was sucked into the daily lives of Smiles and Nike and wanted the story to continue. I would certainly read another book with this crew.

Recommendation: Get it soon. This is a wonderful coming-of-age story with engaging characters and an intriguing storyline.

[Sean Marmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as my independent reading book for November-December. I found this book to be really enjoyable because of the characters and it also allowed for me to see America from another point of view. Since the characters are mostly all poor and make just enough money to get by it is a completely different showing of what life in America is like when I compare it to most of the books I have read in school or during summer reading. I enjoyed how their were to stories going on at all times. Both stories would link up when the two characters were both working as camp counselors. We had Nike's story where he was constantly trying to get the attention of this girl Sara. Another huge part of Nike's story is that he liked break-dancing and he as really good at it. Nike wanted to enter a break-dancing competition to prove how good he was and also to make money to pay for what his family needs. Near the end of the book Sara and Nike split up and at the end Nike figures out that he just needs to give her space. Smiles' story revolves around his life at Dawkins which is the school he attends. He is committed to finishing up his education at Dawkins because he promised his mother he would do it not long before she passed away. At the climax of Smiles story Mark who had been his friend for most of the book tries to kill him and his other friend Qusay. At the very end of the book for Smiles he goes and visits Qusay who was hospitalized to tell him that Mark was found dead.

I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it to other people. I thought that the characters development throughout the book was good even though the characters were all pretty good from the start and this just goes to show that they are really good in the end. I also found that the conflicts for both characters were well written and tied in really well to the way the characters were made. I also would recommend this book to people who want to get a better understanding of how some people are living in America so you can get a point of view of the day to day hardships some people go through living in a poor neighborhood.

[Jake Bedard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Show and Prove is a book written from the perspectives of two main characters growing up in the South Bronx during the 1980s. Smiles is a teen who faces a conflict with a summer camp counselor named Cookie Camacho, and Nike is another teen who wants to win a break-dancing competition and that likes a new camp counselor named Sara. Since Smiles earned a scholarship to a new private school, these two friends had started to drift apart. With war in the middle east, as well as the ongoing crack and AIDS epidemics, these two characters face many different struggles of growing up in a changing world, as well as struggle to deal with change within themselves.

I give this book four out of five stars. It was an enjoyable read and had very interesting characters. I liked how it was told from two different perspectives, because it showed how each character individually changed and viewed situations. It wasn't the best book I've ever read, and some parts were a little bit boring, but overall this was a very good book.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It's not my normal jam, beyond being own voices, and I expected to be out of my depth. There are layers here. My baseball geek partner was like, wait, that game they're at is important. A Google later and there's another layer. I can imagine there's a ton more I missed! You dont know what you dont know. Regardless, you'll be rooting for Smiles, Nike, Cookie, and Sara as you follow their last year as summer camp counselors in 1983. There aren't any punches pulled, and big topics get their space and their place in the characters' struggles. I'm mulling over if there is a good part to excerpt for my US History students too

[Jesten · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very educational book for me, as a 90s/00s child, because there was so much rap/hip hop/break dancing culture involved. I really loved the diversity and pace. The only things that held me back from giving it 5 stars were how similar the two characters' voices were and how unresolved some things felt.

[Pete Fanning · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was expecting a book about the Bronx in the early eighties. Breakdancing, hip hop, trends and nostalgia. And I got that, but this book is so much more! I loved following Smiles and Nike along their journeys, Sara's heartbreaking story, the dynamics of the neighborhood and all the references that made me well, smile. So glad I picked this up!

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit to skimming because I was in a scattered political mindset and the chapters felt long. But! My own readership is not as relevant as the opportunity and access this gem provides to other readers.

[Lulu (the library leopard) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked it but sometimes the narrators sounded too similar (which can happen first dual books in first person a lot, I guess.) It did help fill the void The Get Down left and I really liked the final scene with Vanessa at the end.

[Emily S.W. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book surprised me. Not gonna lie it took a bit of adjusting to get used to the language and the setting, but after that you were laid bare to all the things it had to say about the world. It was empathetic and very fast to dish out hard realities. It was just right.

[J E R S O N · Rating 2 out of 5]

Exactly wtf wants author punching us with this two stupids?. Both are so too misogynist being racist when the message is totally opposite. Interesting idea and plot to make worst MC ever made it.

Nope for me 🚩🚩

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It is where I grew up and also reminded me of the recent news with the teenager Junior.

[ryn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slang was overdone, but the story was genuine. The characters felt real. The author did well to capture the world through adolescent eyes.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been on the look-out for good YA books with people of color protagonists and authors, especially ones that deal well with the complexities of race and poverty and language and family like this one does. Recommend.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

The South Bronx in 1983 is not the safest place to be in the summer, and as changes occur in the wider world around them, two friends find satisfaction in their jobs and their future ambitions. I liked how the author deftly threaded pieces of popular culture and politics into this very personal story about Raymond (Smiles) King and Guillermo (Nike) Vega. Smiles attends a challenging prep school, and as he is drawn to a community activist group, he questions whether he really belongs there. He also battles with his former friend Cookie Camacho for supremacy at the summer camp where all three teens work. Nike loves to dance, and he's sure that he will dazzle new girl Sara with his break dancing at a competition. Told from the alternating viewpoints of Smiles and Nike, two young men just trying to survive and have a little fun, the story contains rich layers of self-exploration that reveal how much of an impact those who are missing have on those they've left behind. Neither one reveals everything about himself to the others, especially the pain of being misunderstood or realizing the racism and intolerance that lies within. The author propels readers back in time quite effectively, making some feel nostalgic for the Reagan era and others glad to have left those times far behind. I was captivated by the adults in the lives of these adolescents and found myself intrigued by how many of them do the best they can under very difficult situations.

[Beverly · Rating 5 out of 5]

How quickly we forget significant events that did not directly impact our lives. 1980's South Bronx. Unless you were there, you probably don't remember much from this transformative era. Run DMC, break dancing, Reaganomics, the AIDS crisis, and the introduction of crack are all events that changed life for Guillermo, Raymond, Sara, and Cookie. Yet their teen angst is universal. Told from the points of view of Guillermo and Raymond, this tight-knit group of friends worries about their families, plans for their future, and tries to make a difference in their community. They want to support each other, but each is keeping secrets and hiding feelings that push their closest friends away. Each is taking a different path to adulthood and sometimes the others don't approve. At times, each of the characters is very hard to like, but still an admirable example of teen perseverance and righteousness. They are not perfect, but they are sincere and 100% realistic. I loved all of these teens and very much want to read more about their journey. Please let there be a sequel.

[Diane Ferbrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

Smiles and Nike are friends from the block. They are spending the summer trading rhymes and acting as counselors at day camp. In alternating chapters they share their stories of old friendships and new alliances, break-ups and new love.
Set in 1983, this summer story is filled with 80s music, TV, and movie references. Although reviews were universally positive, I couldn’t finish it. The pop culture references were distracting, the large number of characters, over reliance on slang and Spanish was just too much for me. It did make me question whether modern teens would relate. For teens looking for a diverse cast of characters and who are interested in 80s hip-hop and urban life, this is a good choice. Perhaps I’m just a bit old and suburban.

[Salsabrarian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set in the Bronx of the 1980s at the height of hip-hop and b-boys, Smiles and Nike are teenage boys just trying to survive and get by in the 'hood where crime and crackheads are prevalent. There's not a strong plot; the boys deal with family issues, girl trouble, their changing friendship, dodging the local thugs, and finding their places in the world. The b-boy slang flies fast and furious and the dramas of the 'hood are loud and lively--no upper middle-class hand-wringing here. Teens who prefer an urban edge to their reading will reach for this.

[Everett Coonradt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly thought this book was pretty good, but I did not like the nicknames. I understand that they are in the Hip-Hop era and people have gangster names, but I still didn't love it. The plot was pretty good and I can relate to it because each year I go to the same summer camp for a week. I have always loved stories about summer camp because so many funny, sad, and fun things happen so it was a good thing to be able to relate to. I gave this book 3 stars because I have read much better books and I did not enjoy the gangster names, and when they say "Word" because it is kind of silly.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very accessible main characters in Smiles and Nike. I can see the teens in the juvenile detention center where I teach being able to relate to these characters. The only negative I have with the book is that the setting in the 1980's sometimes felt forced. Then again, it would not hurt my teens to have a mini history lesson hidden in a good story.

[Zacarias Rivera, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's 1983; the South Bronx; hip-hop; a stirring YA novel that focuses on relationships between friends, guys and girls, and family members. I would, without vacillation or hesitation, teach this novel to my high school students. It's copasetic!

[Jacqueline · Rating 3 out of 5]

The alternating voices in this book distanced me from the characters. I would have preferred a book solely from the viewpoint of either Smiles or Nike. Both characters had important stories to tell.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I feel like this is something teenage me would have read growing up. I know it's set in the 80s, but it also has that 90s feel. The characters are lively and so are their struggles.

[Hannah]

Reviewed in the Horn Book.

[Anthony Otero · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. This made me relive much of my childhood in ways I haven't thought of in a long time. The pacing is great and I loved the different perspectives of Smiles and Nike.

[Sarita · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it. It completely brought me back to the early 80s. I'll be thinking about Nike, Smiles and Sara for a long time. Highly recommended.

[Crystal]

See my review at Rich in Color: http://richincolor.com/2015/11/review...

[Kim B. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really glad I went back to this one.

[Fiorella Casella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like it but i feel like it took a bit to get into the real action. More on my blog: theslowreader.com

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this, though there is a lot going on.