Somewhere in the Darkness-- a review by Maquille Gatlin

Somewhere in the Darkness
by: Walter Dean Myers
***** stars


Jimmy Little, a 14 year old African American kid from New York City has gone through a lot of pain, but being surrounded by ones who love him; he has learned to accept life and be happy. Jimmy lives with his grandmother, Mama Jean in a run down tenement. The tenant is described as being filled with junkies and drug sellers. Jimmy goes through seeing these things everyday. Jimmy is described as being a very smart individual, but in a very weird way. Jimmy daydreams about things like unicorns and other mythological creatures. Mama Jean loves Jimmy to death and would do anything she could for him.

When Jimmy was a little boy his mother died and he finds out that is father is locked up. Towards the middle of the story Jimmy's father, Crab makes a surprise visit to the tenement and tells Jimmy that he's his father. At this point I was wondering why Crab would think that Jimmy would believe he was his father and Jimmy can't even recognize him. Crab tells Mama Jean he has a job in Chicago and has to take Jimmy with him. Jimmy and Mama Jean are iffy about this but Crab "promises he'll keep Jimmy safe." Somewhere in the Darkness consists of characters that you can really understand because of how life-like their feelings are. The ways they speak to each other and hold conversations is very similar to a real life dialogue.

Jimmy and Crab go to Chicago. Jimmy figures out that Crab has been acting very weird on the way there. Crab admits to Jimmy that he is wanted and being looked for by the police! This puts Jimmy in tears and now the two are on the run and Jimmy has to make the decision of staying with his father or going back to NY with his grandmother. I won't tell why he's being chased by the police, this is for you to figure out, but I will say that he was accused for robbery and murder. Read Somewhere in the Darkness and find out if Jimmy survives being pitted in the crime filled life of his father crab.

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very relating and understandable. The story had me on the edge of my seat and I couldn't wait for what happened next. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.