LitPick Review
The Beast is about a boy from Harlem (New York City) named Anthony, and nicknamed Spoon. Spoon leaves home to go to high school at an academy in Connecticut for his senior year. When he returns to Harlem he finds that a lot of things about his life have changed. His girlfriend is using drugs, and his best friend has dropped out of school. This book depicts Spoon trying to get his life back into perspective and help his girlfriend quit drugs.
Opinion:
I found this book intriguing because it shows an interesting perspective of what it is like to grow up in Harlem. The ending of this book was good because it solves the primary problem, but presents additional issues. My perception is that the author intended that we recognize that The Beast is drug addiction and it is something the community of Harlem cannot escape. As the book concludes, Spoons girlfriend is on the road to recovery, but then she and Spoon find out that her brother is involved with drugs.
