Rooftop

Review: Rooftop by Paul Volponi

After reading Rooftop, I enlightened by impact drug have on a person. I've never been exposed to drugs and the effects on a person's mental, social and economic status. This book Rooftop reveals how Clay allows drugs to write his story. Nevertheless, drugs brought Clay allows drugs to write his story. His father began to understand him more, and his mother opened the lines of communication. The tragic death of Addison brought the other family members together. When Addison dies his brother, Darrel, starts to sell drugs because he likes the money that Addison was bringing home. He felt that if he got more money than Addison all the pain would go away. Clay told Darrel's father get more money than Addison all the pain would go away. As Darrel's fathers get more into the picture, he and Darrel immediate started to get closer. Darrel was put into Daytop for selling drugs, and he and Clay got closer. Their family disagreement was pushed to the side as the family got together. He took his GED.I felt this was an excellent read, page turner and never a boring event. To know why it's called Rooftop you have to read the book.

Very Good Book

The part that surprised me was the part were his cousin got shot. I thought it was going to be Clorox the one who came in through the door but It turned out to be the police. Also the part were he lied to the police about his cousin taking out the wallet, I thought he was going to tell them the truth, also the part were one of the police that shot his cousin was on the rooftop and clay found him there. For me the best part of the book is the part were his cousin gets shot. It was very suspenseful, because you didn't know if he would live or die. Another part was were he confronts Clorox about the money that his cousin died for and were he tries to keep his little cousin from becoming a drug dealer just like his brother. I didn't like the ending because it doesn't say if he said anything to the police. If I were the one writing this book I would make a more detailed ending because It just left me hanging, I didn't know what happened. Also I didn't say if But in the end the book was pretty good although the ending wasn't. I would recommend this book to anyone 13 years or older.

Disappointing...

This book was not what I expected at all. The author has a very good writing style and the overall message was good. The plot and overall story just came out dry and boring.

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

In ROOFTOP, Clay, arrested for drug possession, is enrolled in a special program called Daytop. It's for teens on parole. Kids report to the Daytop Center during the day where counselors (recovering drug offenders themselves) run a strict program complete with a philosophy statement, chores and responsibilities, study time for the GED, and a sense of family most of the kids are missing.

At Daytop, Clay runs into a cousin he hasn't seen in awhile. The two are happy to be back together, but there is tension because Addison still lives in the projects and is actively involved in some nasty stuff. Clay's goal is to get free of drugs and make something of himself. His father is his role-model. Clay's dad has been able to beat the odds and build a laundry business from scratch and move his family out of the housing projects to the other side of the street. His dream is to see Clay not only earn his GED, but also go on to college.

Even though Clay's home life is better than Addison's, he is still surrounded by less desirable elements on the streets and in school. He struggles to stay clean and pass his urine/drug tests. Another run-in for smoking pot and he'll be in jail for real.

Running with Addison one night, Clay ends up on a rooftop chasing Clorox, who owes Addison money. Clorox gets away, but when the two cousins try to follow him, they are met by the police. Thinking the cops are really Clorox and his gang, Addison grabs his wallet and fakes that it is a gun. The cops open fire, and Addison is hit by a fatal shot in the chest.

Having a seemingly innocent kid shot by the cops doesn't sit well in the projects. Family and friends are out to get the guilty cop sent to jail. The entire community becomes involved in trying to settle the score.

Volponi draws the reader into the tough lives of his characters. Vivid action and rough language paint a clear picture of life on the inner city streets.

good book

This book was good. It was about kids that have to go into drug rehab institutions to help them stop taking drugs. There are lots of funny and sad part in the book. This book is for young adults not younger kids.

What happens when the truth isn't going to play the right way?

Paul Volponi does it again. In Black and White he demonstrated an ability to write from the perspective of both a black and white teen. In Rooftop, the story is from the perspective of a black teen who is going through a day treatment drug rehabilitation program. In amazing voice, Mr. Volponi is able to make his readers feel the frustration and the tension of students using the language and experiences that lend credibility to his writing. As with Black and White, Rooftop presents the dilemma of a young man who is present when his cousin is shot down by police. Various factions use the shooting as a way to promote their agenda, and Clay is left to resolve the issue of how truthful he will be in his representation of what actually happened. Volponi excellently builds tension and conflict in a plot that could come directly from any inner city headlines. This would be an excellent piece of literature to discuss in a class that focuses on diversity and race relations.

Rooftop is Awesome

Rooftop by Paul Volponi, consists of many struggles that many teenagers may face throughout their lives while living in the projects of any community. This book is a great piece of literature which is an amazing and very exhilarating story of racial political problems. Clay goes to a rehab center for his drug use. His cousin, Addison, Gets shot by a cop, while unarmed, this incident sparks up the politics of racism. I give this book two thumbs up. I would recommend this book to all audiences above 10 years of age.

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