Harlem Hustle by Janet McDonald

2006, Farrar, Straus and Giroux

main character: Eric “Hustle” Samson

Audio Reading by the author

Eric is a hustler. His parents abandoned him and school is not for him, yet there is something about him, a sincerity, that one has to admire. One night when out with his partner, Ride, he stumbles into a private party for rappers and into what he thinks will be a rap career. McDonald weaves New York City history into a tale about the power of words. Throughout history, those who use all the words, who put the ideas into words are often taken advantae of by those with greater power. Through education, we can learn how to choose the correct word to say what we mean and how to have power through our words. McDonald effectively gets her message across in her character’s voices. While much is delivered through the grandmother of the young lady in whom Hustle is interested, much of the message comes from Hustle himself as he begins to take in all the life lessons around him. By reading works of great Black poets, and by going back to school, Hustle begins to learn how to effectively represent himself to others.

McDonald, a lawyer living in Paris has done an amazing job of acquiring the language of American streets to tell this tale.

themes: history/poetry/empowerment/ coming of age