Cheekie: Child out of the Desire [Hardcover]

Clarence Nero (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

A young black man writing in a voice that pulses with the energy and life of the streets, tells the story of his remarkable childhood in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America.

The Desire project in New Orleans, once the pride of public housing, was home for Cheekie, as it had been for his parents and grandparents before him. But now it is the 1970s, a time when Desire has degenerated into a world of violence, drugs, and poverty. Still, Desire is full of life as well, and of people whose vibrant energy and love of fun transcend their oppressive surroundings.

Cheekie is a personal and powerful day-by-day account presented as the journals of a boy growing up in the Desire. Told with the wonder and freshness of a growing boy's perspective, Cheekie brings it all to life -- the abuse and the love, the neglect and the nurturing, the violence and the inspiration through which a child came to manhood.

Cheekie is a tale of hope, for it is the story of one young man's escape from the violent world of the Desire, and his journey toward success in the larger world.

Editorial Reviews

Book Description

A young black man writing in a voice that pulses with the energy and life of the streets, tells the story of his remarkable childhood in one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America.

The Desire project in New Orleans, once the pride of public housing, was home for Cheekie, as it had been for his parents and grandparents before him. But now it is the 1970s, a time when Desire has degenerated into a world of violence, drugs, and poverty. Still, Desire is full of life as well, and of people whose vibrant energy and love of fun transcend their oppressive surroundings.

Cheekie is a personal and powerful day-by-day account presented as the journals of a boy growing up in the Desire. Told with the wonder and freshness of a growing boy's perspective, Cheekie brings it all to life -- the abuse and the love, the neglect and the nurturing, the violence and the inspiration through which a child came to manhood.

Cheekie is a tale of hope, for it is the story of one young man's escape from the violent world of the Desire, and his journey toward success in the larger world.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Council Oak Books; 1st edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1571780637
• ISBN-13: 978-1571780638
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.7 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #293,810 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clarence Nero Inspires, August 17, 2005

By 

Qevin Oji "bookthang" (Angel City) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cheekie: Child out of the Desire (Hardcover)

I meet Clarence Nero on a Greyhound bus trip in the midwest. He had his manuscript for CHEEKIE with him. He allowed me to read some of it. It was well-written, honest and touching. He held that stack of papers like it was his baby. And look, he has given birth. Such an inspiring man he is.

*NOTE: This book is even more relevant now in light of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Katrina. CHEEKIE unfolds in the Desire Housing Project of New Orleans. In all likelihood, that community will be razed in the reconstruction. Along with its demolition goes a community, personal histories, a place generations called home. It is all preserved for posterity in Nero's CHEEKIE.

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Characters galore!, January 12, 2002

By 

Luv2Read (MD United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cheekie: Child out of the Desire (Hardcover)

This book will touch the soul of all readers. From the beginning, I was immersed in the drama of Cheekie, Safot, Cheekie's mom, brothers, and a variety of other friends and relatives. From feeling sorry for Safot, happy for Cheekie's accomplishments, and scared for Cheekie's mother in her search for a stable relation, I was eventually empowered by Cheekie's life story. The child's tone of voice was life-like and made you feel as if you were experiencing challenges from a 12 year old perspective. Cheekie's success proves that whether you come from the Desire Project or any other ghetto, life is what you make of it. I wish the best of luck to this phenomenal writer!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A hauntingly dramatic and compellingly moving book, April 28, 2000

By 

james cooper (Arlington, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cheekie: Child out of the Desire (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I could not put it down. It was definitely a page turner. It delves right into the heart of the drama, chronicling Nero's life growing up in the Desire Project. The characters are authentic and literally jump off the page! From the sassy Li'l Soul to sweet, sassy Ms. Saphena, I just love these characters. It shows that no matter where you grow up, you can make it out of any circumstance--with faith and God. Best wishes to this new author who is already on a roll!