Scorpions

Scorpions. 0-06-440623-7. Walter Dean Meyers. 1990. Newbery Honor Book. Ages 12-17.Contemporary Realistic Fiction. African- American youth, Multi-cultural urban residents, Lower-socio-economic status.

With his older brother Randy in prison for murder, twelve-year-old Jamal Hicks feels pressured to take over Randy’s gang, the Scorpions, to raise the money needed for his appeal. When Randy’s friend Mack hands Jamal the gun, he assures him the gun will command others’ respect. The only real support comes from Jamal’s best friend Tito, who joins the Scorpions even though he is afraid of drugs, guns, and gangs. Tito hides the gun for Jamal in the storage room so Jamal can scare the school bully and later shoots two gang members when they challenge Jamal, killing one of them. Mack becomes the Scorpion’s leader while Tito agonizes over and confesses to his role before leaving Jamal and the neighborhood forever.

Scorpions would be a good book to start conversations about the impact of poverty and single-parent households on families, the presence of bullying and weapons in school, or the realities of drugs and gangs in society. Young people can choose one issue, research the general statistics, write about the issue’s impact in their lives, and propose solutions to these social problems.

One of best elements in Scorpions is Myers’ realistic development of Jamal throughout the plot. This story highlights a turning point in Jamal's life: Is he old enough to join a gang, carry a gun, and take on the responsibility of helping his family? Instead of Jamal simply refusing to join the gang, Myers has his main character resolve this question through his interactions and dialogues with gang members, classmates, and his best friend. Myers’s strength is making these conversations more realistic by using the dialect that is associated with Harlem. Harlem is also essential as the setting because this well-known tough neighborhood reflects the tough choices Jamal needs to make. Readers may not agree with Jamal’s decisions to join a gang, keep the gun, and confront the gang members, but his character flaws and continual attempts to solve his problems are what make Jamal such a sympathetic character and Scorpions such a riveting story.

Myers connects with readers through multiple themes: friendship and loyalty, courage and difficult decision-making, and the struggle between the individual and society. Myers effectively contrasts the true bond between Jamal and Tito with the “friendships” of gang members, which are based on money and drugs. However, his story shows the tragic costs when loyalty is put in front of what is morally right. Myers also uses this book to reflect many situations that teenagers must make decisions about today, including peer pressure, trouble with authority figures, and bullying in school. Reading and discussing how Jamal handles these issues and the consequences of his decisions may help young people make better decisions in their own lives. Finally, through Myers’ subtle inclusion of the story line of Jamal’s drawing, readers can find the importance of following your dreams, not following the life that others, including family members, have decided for you.

Scorpions could spark a lively conversation in a middle school and high school classroom about the values of friendship, loyalty, and courage, and individualism. It could also be included in a historical unit on America or be extended into an art lesson based on Jamal’s passion of drawing landscapes and people.