Scorpions: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

These days, everyone seems to be getting on Jamal's case. The kids at school keep bugging him, his teachers won't leave him alone, and the principal's always giving him a hard time. Even his mama yells at him, upset because Jamal's brother is in the slammer. The only one he can count on anymore is his best friend Tito.

Now Crazy Mack wants Jamal to take over as leader of the Scorpions and run crack. Jamal doesn't want anything to do with the gang, but he doesn't have a choice - it's the only way to get the money for Randy's appeal. And as long as he's got Tito on his side, Jamal knows everything will be okay...