"Dope Sick" by Walter Dean Myers

The main character in the book, “Dope Sick,” is Lil J; he is 17 and still living at home with his mom. He is always trying to do the right thing, but the right thing never tries to do him. Lil J is growing up in the “hood” and always trying to make a quick dollar or two. He is always applying for a real job, but being an African-American male living in the ghetto, it is hard to find a steady job. His friend Ricco is a drug dealer, makes about 300 dollars a day with ease, with a little peer-pressure, he has Lil J doing a side job with him. Ricco is a drug dealer, and a thief. He “taps” the bags of heroine. And then goes for this deal. He and Lil J are high, and when the deal goes south, things get out of hand. They are dealing to an undercover cop and get him on the ground, threatening to take his life if he makes a noise. So they hand cuff him to a banister, and go to run out the back. But Ricco is tripping, he goes back, and wastes the poor guy. Running with a “hot” gun, and a bullet in his arm, Lil J finds himself in an abandoned crack house, with a dude named Kelly, (God), whom gives him the chance to changes things for the better. There are many conflicts throughout the story; the main conflict is Lil J changing his life around for the better. He constantly runs into evil such as, doping up, not knowing how to say no, putting his life in danger, and not being able to find a steady job to support his mom. But Lil J is finding the good in life, thanks to Kelly. But Lil J needs to have faith in Kelly; he is constantly questioning and doubting him. He does not truly believe that Kelly has the ability to change things around. And by Lil J treating Kelly as Judas treated Jesus, it all makes sense. He betrayed God but all the wrong doings, and finding the good in his life is like going to reconciliation for the first time. I have many likes and dislikes…The likes of the book would have to be how Lil J could be a real person, and that this situation could be happening to anyone at this exact moment, the story is life for some. A dislike of mine being the reference to drugs a lot. Although Lil J betrayed God, Kelly still accepted him for him.