Reviewed by Juan Pitre

 

I think that the book Rite Of Passage, by Richard Wright is very interesting. The book is about a fifteen year old boy who discovers that the people who he has considered as family was not really his family. This led to his downfall. Anyone interested in reading a novel about a young man going through a difficult stage in life should consider this book. Richard Wright was born in 1908 at a plantation in Natchez, Mississippi. In 1927 me moved to New York city in pursuit of his career as a writer. His first book was Uncle Tom's Children, published in 1938. Richard Wright continued to write until his death in 1960. Johnny Gibbs is fifteen years old, he is doing good in school, loves his family and has respect for everyone. One day, Johnny comes home and finds all of his things packed. Johnny asked his mother "Ma, what's the matter." His mother told him the truth: "Johnny you are leaving us tonight." She told him how he was adopted as a baby and that the city people were now taking him to a new home. Johnny went hysterical: he started turning things over he; hit his mother and ran away. Later on Johnny met with his best friend Billy. Johnny explained his problems to Billy. Billy took Johnny to a secret hiding place, where Johnny was going to join a gang of orphans. Johnny was put to a test by the gang. He had to fight the leader of the gang, "Baldy." After the test Johnny was an official Moocher (the name of the gang). Johnny had to learn their rules and way of surviving. He and the rest of the Moochers beat people up and took their wallets. That was the way the Moochers survived. Whatever they stole that was not money, was sold to a friend of the gang called Gink. Gink would take the stuff and let the gang stay at his place. That was the beginning of Johnny's life of crime. I liked this book because the author used many interesting characters. He gives good description of the characters and of the way things were done in their lives. The theme of the story is one that would interest people of all ages. The vocabulary was fairly easy, which made it easy and comfortable to read. I recommend this book to anyone interested in reading a book about a young man having difficulties with his life. I think the message of this story is not to destroy your life because of the new challenges you are faced with every day.