About This Book
Reach for this book when your child is starting to notice social hierarchies, financial differences, or the pressure to fit in with a tough crowd. It is a powerful tool for middle-schoolers who are beginning to navigate the gray areas between right and wrong and who need to see that their environment does not dictate their character. Set in a gritty urban environment, the story follows Rocky, a boy struggling with poverty, a missing father, and the allure of a charismatic but dangerous local gang leader. Through Rocky's eyes, the book explores themes of loyalty, the reality of hardship, and the courage it takes to walk away from a path that seems easy but leads to trouble. While the setting is stark, the emotional core is one of resilience. It serves as a conversation starter about why people make bad choices and how a young person can maintain their integrity when resources are scarce. It is a realistic, grounded look at growing up fast in a world that isn't always fair.
