Phase 1 A quote that I found that sums up the whole book is "It's a hard life sometimes and the biggest temptation is to let how hard it is be an excuse to weaken.  This quote sums up the novel because it embodies how Jamal acted and was thinking throughout the novel. Jamal accepts a gun so that he can get his way as leader of his brother, Randy's, old gang. He accepted the gun because in the novel he feels weak compared to others like the bully Dwayne and other members of the scorpions. People were skeptical of the idea of Jamal becoming the new leader of the scorpions and challenged him. This is the reason for which he got the gun to silence opposition to him becoming the new leader. Physically, Jamal was smaller than Dwayne and some other members of the scorpions. The fact that the principal of his school is against his attendance and that other kids laugh at Jamal makes him feel lonely. The only time he was not scared to fight Dwayne and won, was in their second fight when Jamal threatens Dwayne with a gun. I think that this was also weak because it was the only way he could beat Dwayne, by threatening. The only times I see Jamal acting differently are when he is with his Family. He does everything he can to help his mother, and takes care of his sister. Jamal feels weak or small compared to others in the scorpions gang because he felt he was too young to be the leader and not mature enough. Jamal was not the gang member type, he was not violent and did not want to hurt people. As the novel goes on he changes to try to prove something to the gang members. Eventually him trying to impress the gang members goes too far because he loses his innocence and friendship with his best friend Tito. Phase 2 I chose the song "Lil' Ghetto Boy  by Dr. Dre featuring Snoop Dogg. Some lyrics that relate to the novel are "Getting a rep as a young hog. It ain't nuttin like the street life. Betta be strapped wit yo clip, cuz ain't no fist fight. So I guess I gots ta handle mine.  The song is saying that he got respect when he was younger by having his gun on him, instead of b