Summary Of Scorpions By Walter Dean Myers

The story of one kid’s upside down life in the neighborhood of Harlem is told by Walter Dean Myers who creates a very interesting situation in a book called Scorpions. Jamal Hicks, a boy like no other, faces the choice of a life of peace or violence, especially when payback is so tempting. In addition, Jamal tries to avoid meeting the horrible fate of his older brother, currently in jail for stabbing someone. At home, Jamal is saddened by his mother crying because of Randy’s departure and her efforts for his reappeal. In school, Jamal is accused of not doing his homework and being late several times. His principal even tried to convince Jamal´s mother to take Jamal out of his school. Everyone, except dear old Tito who is Jamal’s only and best

In page 158, Tito asks about Indian ”What are you going to do?” While Jamal was busy focusing on his drawing of Tito, Tito cannot stop thinking about his friend. He cares about what actually happens to Jamal. “I think you should throw that gun away,” Tito warns Jamal. Tito is the difference between the fate of Randy and poor, confused Jamal. Loyalty is one of the most important aspects of any friendship and without it, not much can prosper. Jamal and Tito are bound by loyalty in multiple situations. AN example would be when Tito leaves his poor, sad Abuela for Jamal who picked a fight with Indian. “They get real calm, like she’s tired or something, only you know she’s not tired,” Tito says about Abuela on page 186. This shows how much Tito would risk for his best friend. Tito and Jamal’s altruistic behaviors are what made the pair truly unique. THis biggest example in the book is the following sentence. “They said that since I wasn’t so old, I could go to Puerto Rico and stay there with my father and then I wouldn’t be in trouble,” Tito, unfortunately, says on page 213. The reason for Tito’s departure is because of Jamal’s big mistake for keeping a gun after Tito says otherwise. Now Tito must leave Harlem, New York for “his” mistake. People say that you never know what you have until it’s gone. In this book, the sad truth is that it is