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If I Grow Up
"WHEN YOU GREW UP IN THE PROJECTS, THERE WERE NO CHOICES. NO GOOD ONES, AT LEAST."
In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Many teenagers drop out of school and join gangs, and every kid knows someone who died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis.
DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy fancy sneakers and big-screen TVs, DeShawn's family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry?
In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner city, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.
In the Frederick Douglass Project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Many teenagers drop out of school and join gangs, and every kid knows someone who died. Gunshots ring out on a regular basis.
DeShawn is smart enough to know he should stay in school and keep away from the gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy fancy sneakers and big-screen TVs, DeShawn's family can barely afford food for the month. How can he stick to his principles when his family is hungry?
In this gritty novel about growing up in the inner city, award-winning author Todd Strasser opens a window into the life of a teenager struggling with right and wrong under the ever-present shadow of gangs.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 24, 2009
127 people are currently reading
1525 people want to read
About the author
Todd Strasser
217 books788 followersTodd Strasser is an American author of more than 130 novels for adults, young-adults, and middle graders.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
His most recent novel is Summer of '69
Booklist review: "Drugs, sex, and rock 'n' roll, those hallmarks of the summer of 1969, are all here, but there's so much more. In this loosely autobiographical novel, Strasser introduces 18-year-old Lucas, who is bright and sensitive but also a screw up…. The picture painted of the Woodstock music festival shows the dark side of peace and love, and the prevalence of drugs is on almost every page…The best part of the book, however, is the one that transcends eras: Lucas' introspection as he contemplates his place in the world."
Kirkus review: "Strasser perfectly captures the golden haze of youth and life on the cusp of adulthood. Readers fascinated with this time period will find much to enjoy... Vietnam, Woodstock, road trips, and acid trips: a sweetly bittersweet, surprising, even melancholy bildungsroman set against a world in flux. Groovy, man."
His most recent young adult novel is Price of Duty:
2018 New York Public Library Best Book for Teens
“Compact and suspenseful, the novel raises important questions about war.” – Kirkus
“This thought-provoking book is both welcome and imperative.” – Booklist * (starred review).
"Rather than attempting to sway the reader, it offers awareness." - VOYA
“Tightly wound and compelling ... appropriate for an older middle school and high school audience. VERDICT: Highly recommended.” – School Library Journal
Bio: Todd was born in New York City. When he was young his parents moved to Roslyn Heights, New York (Long Island). Todd went to the I.U. Willets Elementary school and then attended the Wheatley School for junior high and high school. His best subjects were math and science. He also liked to read, but he had trouble with spelling and grammar, and didn't do well in English. His favorite sports were tennis, skiing and fishing. Todd went to college at New York University for a few years, and then dropped out. He lived on a commune, then lived in Europe where he was a street musician.
All the while, Todd wrote songs and poems and lots of letters to his friends back home. Finally he decided to try being a writer. He returned to the United States and went to Beloit College where he studied literature and writing.
After college, Todd worked at the Middletown Times Herald-Record newspaper in Middletown, New York, and later at Compton Advertising in New York City. In 1978, Todd sold his first novel, Angel Dust Blues. He used the money to start the Dr. Wing Tip Shoo fortune cookie company. For the next 12 years, Todd sold more fortune cookies than books.
Todd now divides his time between writing books and speaking at schools and conferences. When he's at home, he likes to spend time with his children and dog, Cooper. He still likes to play tennis and ski, but his favorite new sport is surfing.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 260 reviews
November 17, 2019
When my reluctant reader son came to me and told me I had to read this book... well, clearly I needed to see what it was that had made such an impression on him.
If If Grow Up is a tough, clear-eyed look at inner city life, as seen from the perspective of DeShawn. We meet DeShawn at age 12, still a child but growing up fast. He lives in the projects with his grandmother and older sister, and knows to drop to the floor when there's the sound of gunshots and to steer clear when the Douglass Disciples are coming through.
Death and violence are everyday facts of life. DeShawn goes to school, but there's little point when the teachers rotate out as soon as they can get a better assignment and most of the kids are there just to pass the time until they too can join a gang. DeShawn is determined to get an education and stay out of gang life, but with each passing year, his choices narrow further.
This book is devastating in so many ways. The author shows the hopelessness of inner city life, where children grow up without parents, where parents bury children caught in the crossfire, where murderous gang leaders may also be the only supportive adult figure for many of the kids who so desperately need someone to guide them. Through DeShawn, we see year by year as the goal of a better life dwindles away into impossibility, and we also see the inevitability of gang life for a kid who's forced to think about feeding his hungry family at much too young an age.
While parts of the book, especially the ending, felt kind of preachy, I had to remind myself that If I Grown Up is firmly aimed at teen readers, and that I needed to let go of my adult reader perspective and think about what this book might mean to a teen who hasn't seen life reflected on the page in this way before.
I know my son was really affected by the story. I've never seen him not be able to put down a book, or find a book so meaningful that he both wants to read it again and wanted me to read it right away so we could talk about it. And that really says a lot.
If If Grow Up is a tough, clear-eyed look at inner city life, as seen from the perspective of DeShawn. We meet DeShawn at age 12, still a child but growing up fast. He lives in the projects with his grandmother and older sister, and knows to drop to the floor when there's the sound of gunshots and to steer clear when the Douglass Disciples are coming through.
Death and violence are everyday facts of life. DeShawn goes to school, but there's little point when the teachers rotate out as soon as they can get a better assignment and most of the kids are there just to pass the time until they too can join a gang. DeShawn is determined to get an education and stay out of gang life, but with each passing year, his choices narrow further.
This book is devastating in so many ways. The author shows the hopelessness of inner city life, where children grow up without parents, where parents bury children caught in the crossfire, where murderous gang leaders may also be the only supportive adult figure for many of the kids who so desperately need someone to guide them. Through DeShawn, we see year by year as the goal of a better life dwindles away into impossibility, and we also see the inevitability of gang life for a kid who's forced to think about feeding his hungry family at much too young an age.
While parts of the book, especially the ending, felt kind of preachy, I had to remind myself that If I Grown Up is firmly aimed at teen readers, and that I needed to let go of my adult reader perspective and think about what this book might mean to a teen who hasn't seen life reflected on the page in this way before.
I know my son was really affected by the story. I've never seen him not be able to put down a book, or find a book so meaningful that he both wants to read it again and wanted me to read it right away so we could talk about it. And that really says a lot.
April 24, 2009
I loved almost all of this book. Strasser paints a very realistic picture of a good boy, a smart kid with potential, sliding down into perdition largely because of forces beyond his control. DeShawn tries different ways to get out of what seems like destiny for every black man in the projects, but his route is always blocked. A teacher advises him to apply to go to a magnet high school, but because of the bad education he got earlier, DeShawn's aptitude test scores aren't high enough. He tries to stay away from the local gangs as much as possible, but living among them, he can't help but get caught in their mess. His father is never mentioned, his mother is dead, his grandmother is on welfare and his sister has two kids by the time she's sixteen. And so, bit by bit, DeShawn disappears into the shadow of gangs and drugs and violence.
I was impressed that Strasser was able to keep profanity and graphic violence out of the story, given its setting. This book would be suitable for 12- to 13-year-olds and up.
I would have given it four stars, maybe five, but I hated the ending of the story. Not the fact that DeShawn ended up in prison -- that was quite a realistic outcome -- but the utter preachiness of the last chapter, where DeShawn quotes statistics and speculates about the future of the ghetto youth. This is Todd Strasser speaking, not DeShawn, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a pity, because the rest of the book was so good.
I was impressed that Strasser was able to keep profanity and graphic violence out of the story, given its setting. This book would be suitable for 12- to 13-year-olds and up.
I would have given it four stars, maybe five, but I hated the ending of the story. Not the fact that DeShawn ended up in prison -- that was quite a realistic outcome -- but the utter preachiness of the last chapter, where DeShawn quotes statistics and speculates about the future of the ghetto youth. This is Todd Strasser speaking, not DeShawn, and it left a bad taste in my mouth. It's a pity, because the rest of the book was so good.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 8, 2018
Case Marino
D period English
12/21/17
Ms. Vandenburgh
If I grow up
Imagine a book that follows the cities and slums no one talks about. Not the ones where you can live the American dream but the projects where dreams go to die.
If I grow up is a novel about a boy in the projects named DeShawn. DeShawn grows up in a poor, urban city with his sister and grandmother. The style of the writing very smooth and choppy at the same time. The book skips long periods of time because it only tells a snippet of the story at a time. About every forty-five pages the setting is moved to another year in DeShawn’s life. He starts out as a smart 12-year-old child with an offer to go to a better school out of the hood. With subtle but noticeable changes in DeShawns life such as the murder of his stepbrother LaRue.
DeShawn tries his best to fight the temptation of the promise of big bucks and a flashy lifestyle due to gang life. Early in his life, he was promised a better life by Marcus, the leader of the disciples, more money to provide for his family.
At 13 years DeShawn meets the love of his life, Tanisha. DeShawn wants to take Tanisha on a date but he doesn't have the money for it. He explains his problem to Marcus and he gives him $50 for the date.
The temptation and declining goes on for a few more years until DeShawn cracks. The sight of his step-brother being shot in the head by his rival gang broke him. He knew that his sister having to raise two twins kids without a father and being responsible for taking care of her grandmother who can no longer work because an illness wouldn't work for him. That night we went to the top floor of his apartment and asked Marcus for a job.
This was the turning point in the book for DeShawn. At this point, DeShawn turned from a good smart boy into a thug. Although this transformation seems out of the blue, it was expected from the start when Marcus and the Disciples were first mentioned.
The book has an overall depressing and hopeless theme to it. Although there are bits of hope, they are quickly overshadowed by the events that happen to DeShawn. At times the novel focuses on other parts of DeShawn’s life instead. A whole section focuses on his friends and the antics he gets himself into. For example at 14 Lightbulb got a dog and named it Snoop. But even with the focus on Lightbulb and Snoop the gang life is still present.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I would rate it 8/10. The early stages of the book is fairly boring but the later stages are action-packed. After finishing the book the early pages seem irrelevant to the end story. I will read more of Todd Strasser’s work if I’m put in a situation where I have to read a realistic fiction book for school.
Recommended age 12+
Author: Todd Strasser
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
D period English
12/21/17
Ms. Vandenburgh
If I grow up
Imagine a book that follows the cities and slums no one talks about. Not the ones where you can live the American dream but the projects where dreams go to die.
If I grow up is a novel about a boy in the projects named DeShawn. DeShawn grows up in a poor, urban city with his sister and grandmother. The style of the writing very smooth and choppy at the same time. The book skips long periods of time because it only tells a snippet of the story at a time. About every forty-five pages the setting is moved to another year in DeShawn’s life. He starts out as a smart 12-year-old child with an offer to go to a better school out of the hood. With subtle but noticeable changes in DeShawns life such as the murder of his stepbrother LaRue.
DeShawn tries his best to fight the temptation of the promise of big bucks and a flashy lifestyle due to gang life. Early in his life, he was promised a better life by Marcus, the leader of the disciples, more money to provide for his family.
At 13 years DeShawn meets the love of his life, Tanisha. DeShawn wants to take Tanisha on a date but he doesn't have the money for it. He explains his problem to Marcus and he gives him $50 for the date.
The temptation and declining goes on for a few more years until DeShawn cracks. The sight of his step-brother being shot in the head by his rival gang broke him. He knew that his sister having to raise two twins kids without a father and being responsible for taking care of her grandmother who can no longer work because an illness wouldn't work for him. That night we went to the top floor of his apartment and asked Marcus for a job.
This was the turning point in the book for DeShawn. At this point, DeShawn turned from a good smart boy into a thug. Although this transformation seems out of the blue, it was expected from the start when Marcus and the Disciples were first mentioned.
The book has an overall depressing and hopeless theme to it. Although there are bits of hope, they are quickly overshadowed by the events that happen to DeShawn. At times the novel focuses on other parts of DeShawn’s life instead. A whole section focuses on his friends and the antics he gets himself into. For example at 14 Lightbulb got a dog and named it Snoop. But even with the focus on Lightbulb and Snoop the gang life is still present.
Overall I enjoyed reading this book. I would rate it 8/10. The early stages of the book is fairly boring but the later stages are action-packed. After finishing the book the early pages seem irrelevant to the end story. I will read more of Todd Strasser’s work if I’m put in a situation where I have to read a realistic fiction book for school.
Recommended age 12+
Author: Todd Strasser
Goodreads rating: 4.1/5
December 21, 2012
If I Grow Up is one of the books written by Todd Strasser, a well known teen book writer who has published several novels for teenagers. Todd was motivated by going to an inner-city school and reading about what gangs do and how life was like living in the Doughless apartments in the projects. This book is about a boy named Deshawn who grew up in the inner-city and he was a good kid until he was really hungry and didn’t have any money for food. But he found a girlfriend that they loved each other so much that they only went to school to see each other.
The book takes place in an area in the Doughless projects. The book talks about what goes on in a life living in the ghetto with gangers and having no money to afford food. But Deshawn had one thing in him and it was trust. The only person who trusted him the most was Marcus, Marcus was the head gang leader and he trusted Deshawn with a lot of money to test him if he would take it but he didn’t. Marcus was like the father or the big brother that Deshawn never had, He always cared about Deshawn and gave him money for what he needed. Then one day Marcus brought Deshawn to a job and Deshawn saw something bad happen to Marcus. If Deshawn told anyone about what he saw, Marcus’s gang the Disciples would kill him and know one would know what happened to Marcus.
If I Grow up is one of an action-filling book that was written by Todd Strasser. The message in the book was very clear at the end of the book. When every thing feels like it’s going down hill everything turns the other way and it’s a great feeling to feel for a person that grows up in a horrible like to a boss of the projects. When you’ve read the last line you’ll want to read more stories from Todd Strasser.
The book takes place in an area in the Doughless projects. The book talks about what goes on in a life living in the ghetto with gangers and having no money to afford food. But Deshawn had one thing in him and it was trust. The only person who trusted him the most was Marcus, Marcus was the head gang leader and he trusted Deshawn with a lot of money to test him if he would take it but he didn’t. Marcus was like the father or the big brother that Deshawn never had, He always cared about Deshawn and gave him money for what he needed. Then one day Marcus brought Deshawn to a job and Deshawn saw something bad happen to Marcus. If Deshawn told anyone about what he saw, Marcus’s gang the Disciples would kill him and know one would know what happened to Marcus.
If I Grow up is one of an action-filling book that was written by Todd Strasser. The message in the book was very clear at the end of the book. When every thing feels like it’s going down hill everything turns the other way and it’s a great feeling to feel for a person that grows up in a horrible like to a boss of the projects. When you’ve read the last line you’ll want to read more stories from Todd Strasser.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2010
this book was great. its abiut a young boy that lives in new york in and is very poor. he livs with his grandma and his aunt in a little appartment in the gehto. he meets this girl in his school. he likes her alot but the only problem is that she lives on the other side of town were the rivle gang is and her brothers apart of it. one day when there at her house her brother comes in and he aims a gun at him and questions him and thretens to kill hi if he ever sees him on that side of town again. they stop seeing eachother for a while but edventualy get back together.when he cant stand being poor anymore he goes to the gang leader and he gets in, scense the leader knows him and he trusted him with his bail money he doesnt have to get beeten up or hurt in anyway. the money he makes is fantastic untill one day when they have to go pick up guns from the dealer. it was a set-up and he got shot in the back of the head. he doesnt tell anyone except his friend wh then kills the man who did it which was the new leader at that time and after that he ran away to a safe place. after that he runs this gang and has a plan to join the two sides, at this time hes now 16 and was running the biggest gang in new york. then he says that hes in jail writting about his life and how he got there.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2012
IF I GROW UP is by Todd Strasser, who has many awards-wining novels, including BOOT CAMP, CAN’T GET THERE FROM HERE, and GIVE A BOY A GUN. He decided to write IF I GROW UP after visiting several inner city schools and reading about the growing problem of gangs.
This book about a kid named Deshwan, who lives in the Frederick Douglas Project where people shoot each other almost every day, and almost everyone is in a gang. But deshwan is smart enough to know that gang members always end up either in jail or dead. His family is very poor, and gangbangers seem to have everything they need. His family depends on an old grandma who can barely work, to help Deshwan’s family survive. Is he going to join the gang or will he go to school and have a better education.
IF I GROW UP is a good story for everyone to read. It has some very good lessons people can learn from. This is a good book for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adult because the author is very clear on what he want the read to understand. A story about gangs is something that everyone should know about be aware of.
If people knew a lot about gangs, and how to avoid them then maybe there wouldn’t be so many crimes. To understand what life is like being a gang members, and what are the consequences.
This book about a kid named Deshwan, who lives in the Frederick Douglas Project where people shoot each other almost every day, and almost everyone is in a gang. But deshwan is smart enough to know that gang members always end up either in jail or dead. His family is very poor, and gangbangers seem to have everything they need. His family depends on an old grandma who can barely work, to help Deshwan’s family survive. Is he going to join the gang or will he go to school and have a better education.
IF I GROW UP is a good story for everyone to read. It has some very good lessons people can learn from. This is a good book for middle schoolers, high schoolers, and adult because the author is very clear on what he want the read to understand. A story about gangs is something that everyone should know about be aware of.
If people knew a lot about gangs, and how to avoid them then maybe there wouldn’t be so many crimes. To understand what life is like being a gang members, and what are the consequences.
November 4, 2010
Through the fictional characters of DeShawn, his best friend, Terrell, and the gang leaders in If I Grow Up, Todd Strasser gives the reader a vivid picture of the pressures people face living in poverty with gang members ruling the neighborhood in the inner-city. I really liked this book because it followed DeShawn and Terrell as they grew up in the projects and let me see a world I am totally unfamiliar with; on the other hand, it is disturbing that people in America are actually living like this in some places.
Although DeShawn and Terrell were best friends, they had different goals. At age 12, Terrell looked forward to getting into a gang while DeShawn wanted to stay out of it. DeShawn was generally a kid who just wanted to help out his family, stay alive to see another day, do the right thing and stay out of trouble. Had he made some different choices, he may have succeeded. Strange how things turned out. You trust the wrong person, and boom—you’re dead.
If I Grow Up story kept my interest all the way through, right from page 1. It’s well written and has clean language. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about teenagers.
Although DeShawn and Terrell were best friends, they had different goals. At age 12, Terrell looked forward to getting into a gang while DeShawn wanted to stay out of it. DeShawn was generally a kid who just wanted to help out his family, stay alive to see another day, do the right thing and stay out of trouble. Had he made some different choices, he may have succeeded. Strange how things turned out. You trust the wrong person, and boom—you’re dead.
If I Grow Up story kept my interest all the way through, right from page 1. It’s well written and has clean language. I recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about teenagers.
December 28, 2010
This is a MUST read. This is a book about a young African American boy living in the projects. Faced with his mothers death, drive bys, a selfish sister, and battling gangs, DeShawn struggles with things kids shouldn't have to even think about. He is thrown in to the gang world for reasons that are out of his control. Falling in love for the first time is a beautiful roller coaster. But when the one you love is the sister of a rival gang member things can get pretty dangerous. DeShawn wants more for himself. He knows there's more to life than drugs, violence, and hate. The problem is, for him, becoming a member of the Fredrick Douglass "family" is the easiest way to provide for his family. I talked outloud to DeShawn on several occasions. Your anticipation, worry, and disbelief will propel you through this book.
May 29, 2016
For upper middle and high schoolers. It's about gang life in the projects, family, hopelessness, poverty, and growing up. but it is really about surviving. Strasser did his research to imagine DeShawn's life from from 12 to 28, but I was always aware of the author's voice rather than getting lost in the narrator's telling. There was a didacticism to the story that felt more like the author's project than the narrator reflecting on lessons learned. That said, I do see this book as a powerful book group text for students mature enough (or experienced enought) to make sense of the graphic details and be a little critical of the book's representation of gang life and the projects. I'd also encourage readers to do further inquiry into the facts that begin each chapter regarding the history of housing projects. This book will start an important social justice conversation.
November 15, 2016
If I grow up was a book that talks about kids growing up in rough parts of a city like Chicago. A family of four living with their grandma, lives where all the gang members work. It is very dangerous when they start to shoot because it's near. As the grandmother protects them, they stay in side the house and are not allowed to leave. As David, one of the four children, asks the go out side because his friends has something for him, he begged his grandma to go until she said yes. He goes out side and his friends take him to were all the gang members go. The brake in and hide in parts inside the wall so they won't get cought or else get killed until unfortunately one of the gang members come home and starts looking around for a gun. Both the friend and the boy are terrified and do not move until he leaves. They run out the house and David goes back home.
December 3, 2010
This was a short read and it read very quickly. DeShawn lives in the projects and the novel starts out with him at age 12. He wants to get out and do something with his life, but living in a place where gangs rule, he grows up and soon finds he has no choice. I thought the story was very well done and while it was sad and infuriating and DeShawn often left me annoyed at his choices, I understood why he made them. I also felt the author really did his research and wrote a story that felt real. I just wish there would have been more explanation at the end about those who got out of the projects-I wanted to know how. What did they do? What choices did they make? I do think it's a book that needs to be read.
December 3, 2014
After reading "If I grow up", what I feel the most is that our current lives are really blessed. People in the book don't really have choices, even they are smart enough to have a better life such as the main character. DeShawn tries different ways to get out of what seems like destiny for every black man in the projects, but his route is always blocked. However the book don't really have a good ending, it is predictable. Because i picked the book randomly, the plot is not what i thought, so it made me a little bit disappointed. Overall, the book describe a sad story but shows how people fight for living.
October 7, 2017
Powerful little book. The main character DeShawn wants to resist gangs but is drawn into them slowly because of peer influence. The most interesting character was Marcus, the leader of the Disciples, whom the author made very human and all the more magnetic to both us and DeShawn because of that. The author included little non-fiction snippets of info about incarceration, poverty, and black men in between chapters. I think the intensity of the story would speak to kids, who could also learn from the info along the way.
September 25, 2015
We often read stories of people escaping their childhood and creating something of their lives. This book shows that it is very hard to escape your culture and make something different of your life. "Three times more black men live in jail cells than in college dorms." Education equals power and freedom. This would make a great read aloud in a junior high or high school classroom.
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September 8, 2016this was an awesome book i liked the action that was in the book also i liked that when he had no choice to join he had to take care of his family too.
November 21, 2017
The book was good. It made me think about my own life.
I would recommend it to anyone who likes drama and a bit of mystery
I would recommend it to anyone who likes drama and a bit of mystery
August 16, 2018
No no no...I didn't like this book at all.
This book is the story of DeShawn, a kid growing up in a housing project in an large, unnamed American city (many details in the setting, however, seem to suggest that the book takes place in Chicago). When the story begins he is a wide-eyed 12-year-old, living in poverty with his grandmother and watching the violence and gang warfare around him. It ends 5 years later with the main character at 17, now a hardened gang leader and participating the same violence he once feared.
This is a quick read aimed at lower-level young adult readers. While I can understand the simplicity of it to certain degree, for me it was way too simple. There were far too many stereotypes here to be of any teachable use, i.e., a kid living in the hood, watching people die, no money to eat, hates school, learns how to hustle, joins a gang, etc. It's too predictable--nothing we or his youth audience haven't already read before or know by heart from a song by their favorite rapper. The language is also dreadfully out of touch for the lifestyle the author's describing, even by 2009's standards. Girls are "shorties," crackheads are "hypes," and if you act up, you'll get your "butt" kicked. LOL urban teenagers don't talk that way. Just sayin.'
There are sections throughout the book and at the end in which the author uses stats to make political arguments about inequity, crime, education, etc. These blurbs don't belong here. It's as if the author doesn't trust his own story to make his point and let the reader get it.
In the back of this book, the author says that he wrote this because he was shocked by what he found in speaking to impoverished urban teens. White suburban ignorance is exactly why this book is one of the reasons why I feel diverse literature BY diverse authors is so important. While I am not saying that white authors cannot write about black people, his lack of true understanding on the culture of Black poverty is apparent. Giving statistics on drop out and incarceration rates to a young and presumably black audience does not necessarily inspire them to stay in their failing schools or away from the gangs that feed their families, particularly if they are from the very doomed neighborhoods he's writing about. What you get here is a tone of pity and not empathy, which is the opposite of what was probably intended.
Don't read this book.
This book is the story of DeShawn, a kid growing up in a housing project in an large, unnamed American city (many details in the setting, however, seem to suggest that the book takes place in Chicago). When the story begins he is a wide-eyed 12-year-old, living in poverty with his grandmother and watching the violence and gang warfare around him. It ends 5 years later with the main character at 17, now a hardened gang leader and participating the same violence he once feared.
This is a quick read aimed at lower-level young adult readers. While I can understand the simplicity of it to certain degree, for me it was way too simple. There were far too many stereotypes here to be of any teachable use, i.e., a kid living in the hood, watching people die, no money to eat, hates school, learns how to hustle, joins a gang, etc. It's too predictable--nothing we or his youth audience haven't already read before or know by heart from a song by their favorite rapper. The language is also dreadfully out of touch for the lifestyle the author's describing, even by 2009's standards. Girls are "shorties," crackheads are "hypes," and if you act up, you'll get your "butt" kicked. LOL urban teenagers don't talk that way. Just sayin.'
There are sections throughout the book and at the end in which the author uses stats to make political arguments about inequity, crime, education, etc. These blurbs don't belong here. It's as if the author doesn't trust his own story to make his point and let the reader get it.
In the back of this book, the author says that he wrote this because he was shocked by what he found in speaking to impoverished urban teens. White suburban ignorance is exactly why this book is one of the reasons why I feel diverse literature BY diverse authors is so important. While I am not saying that white authors cannot write about black people, his lack of true understanding on the culture of Black poverty is apparent. Giving statistics on drop out and incarceration rates to a young and presumably black audience does not necessarily inspire them to stay in their failing schools or away from the gangs that feed their families, particularly if they are from the very doomed neighborhoods he's writing about. What you get here is a tone of pity and not empathy, which is the opposite of what was probably intended.
Don't read this book.
September 7, 2018
The book If I Grow Up by: Todd Strasser was honestly one of the best books I’ve read. There was so much realism and I feel like this book would leave a major impact on how people perceive certain areas. This book was written in the perspective of a boy named Deshawn who lives in the projects. In a dog eat dog world he doesn’t have many choices. He can either keep going to school and have a job that could barely get him by or he could choose to join a gang and fight his way up to the top. “ In the projects you don’t have any choices. Not any good ones anyways.” That is something that is said throughout the book and I feel like that helped further show the struggle that Deshawn went through trying to stay out of trouble.
Personally, I didn’t really like the ending of the book but the ending did make sense. The reason I didn’t like it was because I had grown so attached to Deshawns’ character and I wanted him to get the life he deserved after all he sacrificed for everyone he loved. However, I see why people wouldn’t agree with me because there is a logical reason on why the book ended the way it did. Obviously if you commit a crime there will be consequences, that’s just how life works. I am not justifying his actions at all but, after everything he went through it made me sad to see his journey ended the way it did.
Throughout the book but more towards the end there is a lot of talk between Deshawn and his friends about how school is just setting you up for working in a white man's world. This was then emphasized when the police showed up to Frederick Douglass Project where a nine and ten year old accidentally shot a pregnant woman. After this happened Deshawn talked about how people are always saying they want to make a change in the projects but never do because of fear. Another example is when a lady had overdosed and the paramedics were too scared to go up and help the girl because they thought that it was a set up. This really opened my eyes to realize that, that happens in our everyday lives. We have the attention span of a goldfish when it comes to those types of things.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book. It is a very realistic and powerful book and will open your eyes to real world problems not everyone things about.
Personally, I didn’t really like the ending of the book but the ending did make sense. The reason I didn’t like it was because I had grown so attached to Deshawns’ character and I wanted him to get the life he deserved after all he sacrificed for everyone he loved. However, I see why people wouldn’t agree with me because there is a logical reason on why the book ended the way it did. Obviously if you commit a crime there will be consequences, that’s just how life works. I am not justifying his actions at all but, after everything he went through it made me sad to see his journey ended the way it did.
Throughout the book but more towards the end there is a lot of talk between Deshawn and his friends about how school is just setting you up for working in a white man's world. This was then emphasized when the police showed up to Frederick Douglass Project where a nine and ten year old accidentally shot a pregnant woman. After this happened Deshawn talked about how people are always saying they want to make a change in the projects but never do because of fear. Another example is when a lady had overdosed and the paramedics were too scared to go up and help the girl because they thought that it was a set up. This really opened my eyes to realize that, that happens in our everyday lives. We have the attention span of a goldfish when it comes to those types of things.
Overall I would definitely recommend this book. It is a very realistic and powerful book and will open your eyes to real world problems not everyone things about.
May 15, 2019
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to grow up in the inner-city projects? Have you ever envisioned a life in the projects from the point of view of another? Well, the book "If I Grow Up" by Todd Strasser puts all of those thoughts to rest. "If I Grow Up" is about a 12 year old boy named DeShawn who struggles to get by each day while growing up in the projects. It was common for DeShawn to see a fight, a drug deal, a death, and a shootout all in the same day. Each day, he endures the possibility that he will be caught in the crossfire between the two rival gangs in his territory, the Douglas Disciples and the Gentry Gangstas. Growing up, DeShawn and his friends face the challenges of poverty, peer pressure, and conformity while deciding their future...and possibly their fate. They talk about going to better schools, getting real jobs, and living a luxury life. However, in the back of all their adolescent minds, they understand that the only way they can live a luxury life in their position is to join the business. One by one, the people around DeShawn get swallowed up by the business until there is no one left around who is not carrying a firearm or dealing drugs. When DeShawn and his family suffer an income drought and begin to waste away, DeShawn is forced to determine the fate of himself and for his family. Will DeShawn join the street life of the Douglas Disciples? Or will DeShawn prove to the street that he is better than them and then go on to a normal life? I finished this book in almost one full sitting! The beginning of the book was a little slow which tempted me to put it down most days when my time was constricted. However, once the reader begins to understand the writing style and they begin to get involved with the plot, they will not be able to put it down! This book kept me thinking about what is going to happen next. The characters were very mysterious and almost hidden to the reader which kept us guessing on what their next action is going to be. The book's storyline was excellent as it started when DeShawn was 12 and ended when he was a young adult. The conflict between the two local gangs was thrilling and unexpected. Overall, I recommend this book to a reader who is interested in learning about the other side of a typical daily life; a life in the inner-city projects. I loved the concept of trying to understand life in the projects.
October 24, 2019
It was good
May 16, 2017
IF I GROW UP by Todd Strasser is a realistic fiction Set in New York. This book is about teenagers who live in the hood they were poor no one want to go nearby because is danger is full of gangster. But they only allowed peoples live there if they know them. Kids or teenagers who live in this place call Frederick Douglass project will never have good education or become good person.
DeShawn was the main character lives with his gramma and sister no parent. He the only good kid in Frederick Douglass he has so many friends also he went to school not as many as teacher was except but is fine least he went. This book told by third person. There is lot of character get evolve because of the gang and drug(Larue,Lightbulb,Marcus,Darnell,Laqueta,Jamar,Terrell and more..). Marcus was the leader in Frederick Douglass his has lot of disciples to service him. Gun was fired almost every 30 min. DeShawn knows all the people in Frederick Douglass matter fact he know the gang leader too. There two gangster team Marcus team and other one is DeShawn girlfriend brother team. They don’t like each other they were enemy. But DeShawn don’t want to be enemy with them because he data Tanisha. One day DeShawn and his friend Terrell get in to trouble because they steal something and they are tie up.
Marcus got kill by his own gang member because they don’t like what he doing. He always takes easy never go to war with other gang and his disciples get kill most of time. DeShawn know who kill Marcus he start to tell his friend and disciples some of them believed him some of them don’t. After they found out it was Jamar His kill Marcus because he wants to take over Marcus place and make a war.
Later on they are fight each other and get spread out some of them went to jail and some of them choose new life to live. DeShawn became father his has one child. This book is actually great book they are so many things to learn from. How life be like live in the place that is full of gangster. I recommend to you guys please read this book. It has much interest stuff you can’t believe after you read you will know how is like to be a gang member.
DeShawn was the main character lives with his gramma and sister no parent. He the only good kid in Frederick Douglass he has so many friends also he went to school not as many as teacher was except but is fine least he went. This book told by third person. There is lot of character get evolve because of the gang and drug(Larue,Lightbulb,Marcus,Darnell,Laqueta,Jamar,Terrell and more..). Marcus was the leader in Frederick Douglass his has lot of disciples to service him. Gun was fired almost every 30 min. DeShawn knows all the people in Frederick Douglass matter fact he know the gang leader too. There two gangster team Marcus team and other one is DeShawn girlfriend brother team. They don’t like each other they were enemy. But DeShawn don’t want to be enemy with them because he data Tanisha. One day DeShawn and his friend Terrell get in to trouble because they steal something and they are tie up.
Marcus got kill by his own gang member because they don’t like what he doing. He always takes easy never go to war with other gang and his disciples get kill most of time. DeShawn know who kill Marcus he start to tell his friend and disciples some of them believed him some of them don’t. After they found out it was Jamar His kill Marcus because he wants to take over Marcus place and make a war.
Later on they are fight each other and get spread out some of them went to jail and some of them choose new life to live. DeShawn became father his has one child. This book is actually great book they are so many things to learn from. How life be like live in the place that is full of gangster. I recommend to you guys please read this book. It has much interest stuff you can’t believe after you read you will know how is like to be a gang member.
May 19, 2017
This book was an incredible read and it is about this kid named Deshawn and he lived in a really tough neighborhood in Chicago and the name of this place is called Fredrick Douglas Projects and it was definitely really tough living there. The author of this book is named Todd Strasser. Mike strasser has also made other books related to this book such as Give a Boy a Gun and Fallout.
It starts of as a boy named Darnell getting thrown off of a building from the Douglas Disciples rival gang the Gentry Gangstas. The leader of the Disciples goes by the name of Marcus and the leader of the Gangstas was a guy named Rance. Then from there it just keeps going downhill from there especially when Deshawn decides to join the Disciples as well. Deshawn started off as a really good kid, he was actually one of the smartest kids in his school and his teachers wanted him to go to a better school than where he was at so he could have more of a challenge. Deshawn was really on a good path but the deeper and deeper he got into the gang the worse he got. Everyone thought he was going be a kid to go down the right path and do the right thing but he just let all the money and perks get to him. Deshawn also ends up having a kid as well but you have to read the book on that point of the story.
I really didn’t think that Deshawn would be the one to go down this path because he was actually smart and he actually had the ability to do something with his life. I feel like the author was really trying to get to people by showing what going down a bad path could do to people and how dangerous it really is to be in a gang and not realizing your consequences if you get caught up. There is a lot of plot changes in this story and I really believe it is a great book and think everyone should at least try reading the book because it really shows how your life could turn out if you take the wrong path. I feel like the book is written really well because every time you think about just setting down the book you just keep on reading because there is always something good that is going on in every moment of the book. It really was kind of an easy read as well.
It starts of as a boy named Darnell getting thrown off of a building from the Douglas Disciples rival gang the Gentry Gangstas. The leader of the Disciples goes by the name of Marcus and the leader of the Gangstas was a guy named Rance. Then from there it just keeps going downhill from there especially when Deshawn decides to join the Disciples as well. Deshawn started off as a really good kid, he was actually one of the smartest kids in his school and his teachers wanted him to go to a better school than where he was at so he could have more of a challenge. Deshawn was really on a good path but the deeper and deeper he got into the gang the worse he got. Everyone thought he was going be a kid to go down the right path and do the right thing but he just let all the money and perks get to him. Deshawn also ends up having a kid as well but you have to read the book on that point of the story.
I really didn’t think that Deshawn would be the one to go down this path because he was actually smart and he actually had the ability to do something with his life. I feel like the author was really trying to get to people by showing what going down a bad path could do to people and how dangerous it really is to be in a gang and not realizing your consequences if you get caught up. There is a lot of plot changes in this story and I really believe it is a great book and think everyone should at least try reading the book because it really shows how your life could turn out if you take the wrong path. I feel like the book is written really well because every time you think about just setting down the book you just keep on reading because there is always something good that is going on in every moment of the book. It really was kind of an easy read as well.
April 26, 2010
If I Grow Up chronicles the teenage years of DeShawn he is a boy living with his grandmother and sister in Frederick Douglas projects, douglas is a place run buy gangs and when drug dealer had nice shoes and big tv DeShawn could hardly affored food. DeShawn is 12 when the book begins but when it ends he is 28 and the time chgange between each chapter dramatically showing how quickly things can go wrong a caring mother becomes a prostitute a promising student becomes a drug pusher and fighter but instead focusing on his schoolwork while watching his best friend Terrell work his way up the hierarchy he does poor in school and then something dramadectly happens in the end the changes completly.
i love this book i took it home even when you told me not to and i started reading it and i got hook on it is just a really quick read and is event after event and it just doenst get boring i was a little surprice of how it end i was expecting something else but steal is a really good book and i recomeded to everyone who hates to read because i dont like to read but this is a really good book.
i love this book i took it home even when you told me not to and i started reading it and i got hook on it is just a really quick read and is event after event and it just doenst get boring i was a little surprice of how it end i was expecting something else but steal is a really good book and i recomeded to everyone who hates to read because i dont like to read but this is a really good book.
April 1, 2011
This story is about a young boy, DeShawn, growing up in the projects in NYC. He has some good influences in his life (such as a grandma that holds the family together) and tries to resist the gang life that surrounds him. Ultimately, though, poverty and lack of perceived choices test that resolve.
I didn't really like the book because it's not the kind of story I normally would read. That said, the characters were interesting. Strasser portrays them as multidimensional - they are not all strictly "bad" or "good". And it was an interesting portrayal of life in the projects and what environments/obstacles these kids have to deal with. Strasser puts some interesting twists into the end of the story. Hopefully readers will take away the message he intended.
I think this book appeals to several subgroups - reluctant readers, urban and/or male readers - that may not relate to your typical middle class, surburban (often female lead) storyline. There is definitely a lot to discuss in this book, making it a good choice for a book club or book report.
I didn't really like the book because it's not the kind of story I normally would read. That said, the characters were interesting. Strasser portrays them as multidimensional - they are not all strictly "bad" or "good". And it was an interesting portrayal of life in the projects and what environments/obstacles these kids have to deal with. Strasser puts some interesting twists into the end of the story. Hopefully readers will take away the message he intended.
I think this book appeals to several subgroups - reluctant readers, urban and/or male readers - that may not relate to your typical middle class, surburban (often female lead) storyline. There is definitely a lot to discuss in this book, making it a good choice for a book club or book report.
June 4, 2012
I like to read books that can really happen in real life. The book, "If I Grow Up" looked like a unique book. This book was about a boy, DeShawn, who tried to be a regular person, like us, but didn’t have choices that would lead to a great future (surrounded by gangs and dangerous neighborhood). DeShawn and everyone else have to constantly be scared of dying. DeShawn starts to be like everyone else around him but helps his friend have a life like us. "When you grow up in the projects, there were no choices. No good ones, at least," this quote revealed how DeShawn couldn't stop himself from being like everyone else. To eat and live he had to be part of a gang (it was his only choice). The author, Todd Strasser, wrote the book confusing. I didn’t know that DeShawn and everyone else the author was talking about were black and gangsters until the middle of the book. I think the author could have written it more clearly. I recommend this book to people who like books about regular kids surrounded by a weird, dangerous neighborhood. I loved the ending of the book but also hated it!
June 9, 2010
Honestly, I can understand why this book is "great." I can understand why people consider this YA novel important reading. It gives a brutal, gritty look at a young boy's life in a housing project and explains why it is almost impossible not to join a gang or get pregnant under such conditions. BUT--sorry, I guess this makes me a shallow person--I just don't like depressing books like this. I was not entertained. So I realize that "entertainment" is not the purpose of such a novel as this, and I think it is worthwhile reading. But again, don't read this novel if you're just looking for something fun and entertaining. This ain't it. Another problem I had is that things get a little too Law & Order toward the end when DeShawn decides to stage a coup against the local gangs. It's just a little hard to believe, a little too dramatic to be realistic. But overall, I would recommend this book to teens who think they want to be gangbangers.
May 10, 2011
This book is so realistic. It makes me think about my life, and how sheltered I have always been. I feel bad for the people who think that the only way that you can live is in a gang. I wish we could get over the fact that everyones skin is colored differently. Everyone cries racist if a white person gets mad at a black persont, but when it is the other way around they aren't. It is just so confusing to me. But not really about the book, this was a really good book, and it told a good story. I was hoping that with all of the people reaching out to him Deshawn would not get sucked into the world of gangs, killed or sent to jail, and that he would not end up as he did. It shows that even if someone wants to do better than everyone else it is hard to avoid all you know. Hard to get away from what you grew up with.
I would recommend this book to any of my friends, and I will, I hope you find it as...err enlightening as I did.
I would recommend this book to any of my friends, and I will, I hope you find it as...err enlightening as I did.
February 22, 2013
This book was a short read. I liked that I could learn from this book. The author has sources in the back of the book for books on the problems in the book, which happen in the real world.What are the problems you may ask? Children in bad environments. Children growing up in environments like DeShawn's. An environment were most people you know are poor, doing drugs, or in a gang. Other problems include schooling, drugs, poverty, and the biggest of everything, gangs. I felt that even though a lot of the people DeShawn knew had some of the same problems and same events in their life's, that everyone still had very different personailtys. I did like this book but I was sad by the outcome of DeShawn's life. I always thought it would be Terrell in jail, Tarrell even said it himself. I thought DeShawn would live happy with Tanisha and Simon. Overall, this was an interesting and well written book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 8, 2015
I was hooked instantly on this book. It entertained me the whole way through and opened my eyes to an overlooked problem in the U.S. The whole book covers much of the protagonist, Deshawn's life from when he was around the age of ten to his early twenties. Deshawn was born into an unfortunate situation of gang violence, drugs, and crime. Raised by his grandmother with his older sister, Deshawn grew up in the projects. By growing up in a world filled with poverty, Deshawn felt like he had to provide for his family. The only way he could quickly get money was by joining his local gang. As Deshawn aged he also became higher ranking in his gang and he would eventually become the gang leader. This book concluded with Deshawn being sentenced to prison for a very long time and looking back at his life. I really liked this book as it showed how it is nearly impossible to make it out of those awful neighborhoods, but at the end Deshawn gave a solution to making it it out.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2018
In the inner city project where DeShawn lives, daily life is ruled by drugs and gang violence. Gun shots ring out on a daily basis, and the cops never do anything about it. Most teenagers he knows drop out of school and join gangs. And everybody knows someone who has died because of it. DeShawn is smart, he knows he should stay in school and keep away from gangs. But while his friends have drug money to buy expensive shoes and flat-screen TVs, DeShawn’s family can barely afford food. How he stick to his morals when his family is hungry?
This book gives readers insight into a problem that many teenagers must face in reality, having to give up school and safety in order to take care of their families. It is very well written and talks about an issue often overlooked in young adult writing.
Fans of Todd Strasser will love this new book that makes us question how well our society really works.
https://www.jocolibrary.org/teens/rev...
This book gives readers insight into a problem that many teenagers must face in reality, having to give up school and safety in order to take care of their families. It is very well written and talks about an issue often overlooked in young adult writing.
Fans of Todd Strasser will love this new book that makes us question how well our society really works.
https://www.jocolibrary.org/teens/rev...
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