Truth, this was a little to hip for me! I could barely keep up with the slang. Man, I am truly old. Anyway, this 4-star rating is not for me. It is for all those boys and girls out there who need books like this, who need to read about characters that reflect their lives. Also, Maldonado rings pretty true with his insight into urban classrooms and the mind of middle-schoolers. This was a really enjoyable book with no easy answers. Highly recommended.