From Publishers Weekly
Very much in the vein of Wright's classic Native Son and Black Boy , this posthumously published novella provides a brutal depiction of conditions facing young African American men in 1940s Harlem. Fifteen-year-old Johnny Gibbs, a successful student and generally good kid, is suddenly confronted with the revelation that the family he has been living with is not his own, but a foster family; Johnny's biological mother has been confined to a mental institution, his father is unknown. Rather than let the "City folks" from the welfare department place him elsewhere, the boy runs away and hooks up with a gang of violent misfit teens. Johnny proves his manhood by winning a vicious fight with Baldy, the gang's leader and, soon after, by taking part in a mugging. Such events are not redeemed in a tidy ending, however, and readers, along with the protagonist, are left to ponder how a troubled society has shaped the moral codes--if they exist--of young people. Although its portrayals of crime, alienation and adolescent disillusionment remain highly relevant, contemporary readers may shy away from some of the dated situations here (for example, Johnny knows nothing about sex). And today's urban slang makes Wright's "He's a fence, see? . . ." sound like a tame Jimmy Cagney movie. A substantial afterword by Princeton professor Arnold Rampersad places Rite in the context of Wright's other writings and experiences. While significant as an addition to the author's oeuvre, this slim volume may not pack enough punch for YA readers. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8 Up-Published posthumously, Wright's novel reverberates with despair and alienation. Johnny Gibbs, 15, arrives home jubilantly one day with his straight "A" report card to find his belongings packed and his mother and sister distraught. Devastated when they tell him that he is not their blood relative and that he is being sent to a new foster home, he runs away. His secure world quickly shatters into a nightmare of subways, dark alleys, theft, and street warfare. His feelings of estrangement, helplessness, and resentment explode into a physical battle with the head of The Moochers, and Johnny becomes the gang's leader. The boy's "rite of passage" is a bleak, heartrending awakening to a harsh world. Like the author's other books, this one illuminates and personalizes the effects of racial oppression. Although it is unlikely that today's welfare system would disrupt a positive foster care situation after 15 years, Johnny's victimization by society and his lack of resources still ring true. Striking characters, vivid dialogue, dramatic descriptions, and enduring themes introduce a new generation of readers to Wright's powerful voice.
Gerry Larson, Chewning Middle School, Durham, NCCopyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
