Dope Sick

A powerful novel of drugs, violence—and second chances. Dope Sick, from two-time Newbery Honor winner and five-time Coretta Scott King Award winner Walter Dean Myers, belongs on reading lists beside Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds and Dear Martin by Nic Stone.

A drug deal goes south and a cop has been shot. Lil J's on the run. And he's starting to get dope sick. He'd do anything to change the last twenty-four hours, and when he stumbles into an abandoned building, it actually might be possible. . . .

Elements of magical realism intensify this harrowing story about drug use, violence, perceptions of reality, and second chances.

This ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers earned multiple starred reviews and was described as "vivid," "nuanced," and "intriguing." Booklist said: “Myers’ narrative strategy is so inherently dramatic that it captures his readers’ attentions and imaginations, inviting not only empathy but also thoughtful discussion.”

Walter Dean Myers was a New York Times bestselling author, Printz Award winner, five-time winner of the Coretta Scott King Award, two-time Newbery Honor recipient, and the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. Maria Russo, writing in the New York Times, called Myers "one of the greats and a champion of diversity in children’s books well before the cause got mainstream attention."

• Magical Realism: Trapped in an abandoned building, Lil J meets a mysterious figure named Kelly who can show him his past—and his future—on a television screen. But can he change what he sees?
• Urban Fiction: A raw and authentic look at life on the streets of Harlem, where one bad decision can unravel everything.
• A Story of Second Chances: Caught in a cycle of being "dope sick" and "broke sick," Lil J is faced with a single, impossible question: If you could undo your biggest mistake, would you?
• Moral Conflict: As the police close in and his partner Rico points the finger, Lil J must confront what he’s done and who he wants to be, before it’s too late.

A drug deal goes south and a cop has been shot. Lil J's on the run. And he's starting to get dope sick. He'd do anything to change the last twenty-four hours, and when he stumbles into an abandoned building, it actually might be possible. . . .

Elements of magical realism intensify this harrowing story about drug use, violence, perceptions of reality, and second chances.

“Drugs, drive-by shootings, gang warfare, wasted lives—Myers has written about all these subjects with nuanced understanding and a hard-won, qualified sense of hope.” - New York Times

“Rich, nuanced. The use of magical realism brings depth and an intriguing strangeness to the sharp-eyed observations of Harlem street life.” - School Library Journal (starred review)

“A didn’t-see-that-coming ending wraps up the story on a note of well-earned hope and will leave readers with plenty to think about.” - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

“Characters have vivid page presence.” - Kirkus Reviews

“Readers might be moved to consider what they’d do in their own lives if they could start with a clean slate.” - Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“Myers’ narrative strategy is so inherently dramatic that it captures his readers’ attentions and imaginations, inviting not only empathy but also thoughtful discussion.” - ALA Booklist