In his first novel, the Coretta Scott King Author Honor winner evokes the bittersweet summer of transition for an LA teen, shooting the breeze with his boys, tightening his D on the court, and doing a colour check - making sure nobody's wearing blue or red, which some Crip or Piru carrying a cut-down golf club could see as disrespect. Then back to Auntie's, hoping she isn't passed out from whiskey at the end of the day. Now that Shawn is headed for high school, he wonders if he'd be better off at the school in Mama's neighbourhood, where he'd be free of Compton's hassles. But then he wouldn't be with his fellas - cracking jokes, covering each other's backs - or the fine Marisol, who's been making star appearances in his dreams. Dad says he needs to make his own decision, but what does Shawn want, freedom or friendship? With teasing, spot-on dialogue and an eye to the realities of inner-city life, Chameleon takes on the shifting moods of a teenager coming of age.

 

There are 464 pages in this book. This book was published 2009 by Walker Books Ltd .

Charles R. Smith is the author of Twelve Rounds to Glory: The Story of Muhammad Ali, winner of the 2008 Coretta Scott King Honor. He is also the author of Hoop Queens, Hoop Kings and Rimshots: Basketball Pix, Rolls, and Rhythms. He lives in New York, USA.