Dodgers, by Bill Beverly

REVIEW: On the one hand this was an enthralling story and on the other rather difficult to read.  It described a world that is entirely foreign to me, but the author described it in such a way that I could emphasize with the main character and, in some ways, understand the choices he had to make.  I wouldn’t categorize it as a crime novel, but rather as a story of a young boy trying to find himself and have a life under his control and not others.  Would I recommend this book to others?  Not to someone who was expecting a crime story, but maybe to someone interested in the inner city, gang life or overcoming odds to establish a life.  I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for this review.

Characters
The Boxes – Los Angeles, CA	Eastern US
East – age 15 Ty – younger brother – age 13 Fin – boss, East’s uncle Sidney Johnny  Girl from Jackson, Mississippi – killed on street	The Van East Ty Michael Wilson Walter - age 17 Judge Carver Thompson - target Melanie – daughter Nebraska – Maggie – girl who got in car Iowa – Martha Jefferson – woman in car at airport Stone Cottage, Ohio Perry Slaughter – Slaughterrange Martha – wife Arthur – son

For discussion:

1. East’s job was to organize the crew that guarded Fin’s house.  What skills did East have that he could have used for legitimate purposes?  Could he have used these skills and succeeded if raised elsewhere?
2. When the four were on the road, why did Michael stop at the Casino?  He said it was to try to form the four into a team.  Do you think that was the real reason?
3. What did you think about the four boys on the trip, their personalities, their skills, etc.?
4. Was it possible for the four boys to trust each other?
5. Discuss the relationship between East and his brother, Ty?
6. Was it realistic that Martha Jefferson gave the boys a ride to the airport?
7. When East was working at the paint ball range, were you surprised that he was such a good and honest employee and worker?   Why did he not steal from Perry?
8. Why do you think Perry trusted East when he did not know him?
9. How was East able to understand people so well at the paint ball range?  Was that a skill he learned watching the houses in LA?
10. Were you surprised at the ending?  How did you think the novel would end?
11. What do you think happened to East after the novel ended?
12. Did the author do a good job of describing a world different from the one you, the reader, know? 

*****

First Semester Success: Learning Strategies and Motivation for Your First Semester (or Any Semester) of College, by Dr. Arden B. Hamer, is available at amazon.com, wordassociation.com and barnesandnoble.com.  Click on the upper right  link.