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I feel that Jamal has the biggest transformation throughout the book because of the situation he was put into because of being Randy's brother. In the beginning of the book we get to get what type of Jamal really is and how he carried himself. Jamal went from watching his sister because his mother was at work to being the head of the scorpion gang. Jamal is becoming a young man now and is taking big opportunities like becoming the leader of the scorpion gang that his brother used to be the leader of before getting arrested. Poverty is another big problem in Jamal's life that he and his family deal with a lot and this is another problem that has been added to Jamal's life. Jamal is also a very talented basketball player but just lacks focus and discipline to stay connected to the game of basketball, and also gets interrupted by his gang violence. While learning to better himself Jamal learns by his interactions with other inmates , counselors, and teachers. Jamals starts to mature with lessons he learns from these interactions and starts to develop a sense of responsibility. Jamals starts writing and starts to gain a new sense of confidence and self love towards himself. Overall by the end of the novel, Jamal has changed himself for the better from being a troubled teen into a young man who has learned valuable lessons about life.

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Ultimately I would definitely recommend this book because of how unique the overall story is and the way the author adds details and situations that bring different styles of how people have to live their lives. After reading this book I feel that it is a very good book that helps you understand someone's struggles and how different situations can change someone's life, just like how Jamal's brother's wrongdoing got Jamal involved with the scorpions. Overall I feel that the book is very good for something new to learn about and The author really helps readers connect more with the story by adding more emotion to the characters more than any other author could do I feel, Characters express their emotions a lot in this story and it really helps me Understand and Enjoy the story more.

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After reading this book I could say that I and others I know have similar situations like that Jamal faces throughout the book. For example when living in a bad neighborhood it can get you caught up in bad things even if you're trying to stay on the right track, like gang activity and drugs. When growing up with the friends I had it was very fun while it lasted until we all grew up and faced situations that can get us in trouble or either killed. My old friends chose a bad road that I did not want to go down like how Jamal does in the story, so I kept myself away from them and those bad things that could maye impact my life in a bad way. Overall I understand what Jamal is saying in the book and I feel his pain and others I know do too.

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The author did a very great job at creating a realistic image of a teen boy that grew up in a dangerous neighborhood and got involved with gang violence in Harlem. The author captures the harsh realities of lower city life and struggles that younger people may face in finding their way out of poverty and dealing with other things like racism. I feel that this really gives the audience something new to learn about how others live and maybe can help others who deal with similar situations when living lower class. While the author brings unique themes of proving yourself and finding out who you really are with your education and personal life choices. Overall I feel that the author adds great detail to Jamals lifestyle and helps readers understand his life more throughout the book.

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One aspect of the story that was confusing to me was when Jamal's dad shows up out of nowhere at the detention center to have a conversation. In the beginning Jamal says that he doesn't want to see him and asks him to leave. Jamal's dad goes past that demand and tells him that he is dying. As the caring person Jamal is, he decides to actually listen to him. His fathers asks him to join a gang called the Scorpions because he believes it will help Jamal survive on the dangerous streets he was raised in. Jamal has mixed emotions between staying loyal to his father and his own sense of right or wrong because of the type of good person he is. I feel that this part of the book can seem confusing to other readers because of how it shows the intense relationships and pressures that happened to others and their families and other communities that impacted poverty and violence shown throughout the book.

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In the novel Scorpions by Walter Dean Myers, he talks about a Smart kid Jamal who is taking problems left and right from teachers and his home life. Jamal is only twelve running a gang called the scorpions. Jamal is out here risking his life to save up money for his big brother Randy's appeal, Randy was locked up for being involved in a robbery where a clerk was killed. Jamal looks up to his brother and wants to be good by him. Jamal becomes very brave throughout the book because of all the risks he is taking, he is sometimes carless like shooting a gun in central park one time. Later on Jamal has to deal with his alcoholic dad who was in and out of his life all the time, and this is another problem Jamal has to worry about in the story. Overall I feel that Jamal is a young man trying to do good by his brother but in a bad way because of everything he is being influenced by.