Criminal Minded [Library Binding]

Tracy Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 9, 2008

Lamin Michaels learned at his mother's knee the importance of chasing paper, so it's no surprise he gets into the drug game when he's just a teenager. When he meets Zion, a product of the New York City foster care and prison system, Lamin knows that he has meet the perfect partner in crime. Together, they build a huge narcotics empire.

Then, Lamin falls hard for a beautiful girl named Lucky. Lucky makes Lamin realize that there is more to life than cash and more cash. When Lamin goes legit with a career in the entertainment industry, Zion tries to keep their business going on both the street and the boardroom. It's not long before Zion becomes the target of a corruption scandal involving murder, extortion and money laundering. Once the dirt is exposed, will Lamin and Zion be able to remain one step ahead, or will their paper chasing days haunt them forever?

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Adult/High School–Lamin and Zion meet in church, where they've been dragged by their grandmother and foster mother, respectively. Their fast friendship grows even tighter after Lamin is put out of his home by his mother and her abusive boyfriend. He joins Zion in a crack-dealing scheme, and soon the teens are living large. Lamin finds romance with rich girl Lucky, and Zion secretly spends time with his friend's younger sister, Olivia. But after Lamin gets shot in a club, he realizes that it's time to get legit. While he is able to use his drug money to finance a career in music videos, his hustling life always threatens to catch up with him. Lamin, Zion, Lucky, Olivia, and Lamin's ex-con cousin take turns narrating the story, a tactic that makes an already fast-paced tale even more of a page-turner. Each character's perspective illuminates the misguided decisions the others make. However, despite their bad choices, readers will root for them. The language and situations are occasionally explicit, but also perfectly in character for these Staten Island young adults. While some of the story lines are pulled from a variety of rap videos and rapper bios, the plot also has unique twists that will keep readers going. Urban fiction is hotter than ever with teens of both sexes, and this is a strong entry in the genre.–Jamie Watson, Harford County Public Library, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist

Lamin and Curtis are cousins and have been raised like brothers. When Curtis goes to jail for defending himself and killing a high-school bully, their lives are forever changed. Lamin starts spending Sundays with his grandfather and visiting Curtis. When a new guy shows up at church, Lamin finds a lifelong friend in Zion. Zion has passed through the foster care and prison system and has never really had family. So they become brothers and start a drug-trafficking enterprise that provides big money and a comfortable lifestyle. When Lamin gets shot, he decides to give up the life of a drug dealer and go legitimate. During his recuperation, he begins reading up on the one dream he has always had--to be a film director. Zion is not ready to give up the hustler life but becomes Lamin's silent partner. When Curtis gets out of jail, he is jealous of Lamin's success and his friendship with Zion. Each of these men is forced to deal with his past and pay for his sins. Lillian Lewis
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 292 pages
• Publisher: Paw Prints 2008-05-09 (May 9, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1435270452
• ISBN-13: 978-1435270459
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,258,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tracy Brown is the author of several best selling novels and short stories. She lives in Staten Island, New York, and is currently working on her next novel. Visit her on Facebook (Author Tracy Brown) on Twitter (IAMTRACYBROWN) or on her website (www.tracybrownbooks.com).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Urban Masterpiece!!!, June 6, 2005

By 

Delonya Conyers {Hotchklate} "Coast2CoastReaders" (Bronx, N.Y.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Criminal Minded: A Novel (Paperback)

With so many authors attempting to capitalize on the growing trend of urban lit, Tracy Brown has taken the game to a new level. Writers who think that a simple tale from the hood can appease street lit fans need to think again and follow Ms. Brown's lead. Criminal Minded's characters are so strongly developed that the novel transcends the street lit genre and crosses over into contemporary lit.

Criminal Minded tells the story of Lamin and Olivia Michaels being raised by their mother, Nadia Micheals, the queen of governmental assistance. Far worse than her schemes to support her family on free money is the revolving door to her bedroom. Which infuriates a teen age Lamin prompting Nadia to kick him out.

Lamin turns to the street but only as a means to an end for his grandfather Papa has schooled him well. With a a team consisting of his best friend Zion, his sister Olivia, his true love Lucky and his cousin Curtis Lamin turns his illegal ventures into a legal empire. But old habits die hard and jealousy can crumble an empire. Or will it?

Readers will put this book down with a newfound respect for the urban lit genre. Wishing all urban lit authors could spin a tale so enthralling. Don't forget the kleenex cause I haven't boo-hooed so hard since Quadir died in True to the Game.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars off the chain, May 16, 2005

By 

Greeneyedrican - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criminal Minded: A Novel (Paperback)

I love street lit but I love it when street lit has a believable story line.
Tracy Brown is a master storyteller I was so impressed when I read this story that every book I have picked up since has been uninteresting.
I think Tracy Brown is the female Kwan of Street lit and will not only be a household name but will see the number one spot on all the best seller lists.
Tracy please keep the ink spilling.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tracy dose it again, May 24, 2005

By 

VIRGO "COAST2COASTREADERS" (SAN FRANCISCO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Criminal Minded: A Novel (Paperback)

Wow... Tracy has done it agian. Tracy has blessed us(readers) with this wonderful writing novel. This is one of Tracy best books yet to come. Criminal Minded will take you there and back (and thats a good thing). Criminal minded is the type of book that you can relate to at lesat one of the charchters. I would tell anyone to get this book because it is wroth the money and the time. I read this book in less then four hours. Now that Tracy has writing and let the world read Criminal Minded it only show's that Ms.Brown has Skills and is one of the best writer's yet to come. I gave this book 5 star's if I could I would give it more. I said it once and i'll say it again TRACY has a pen of MAGIC!!!!!!!