through Danyel Smith Crown.

through Danyel Smith Crown, January 2003 $2395 ISBN 1-400-04644-0

Former Vibe magazine editor-in-chief Danyel Smith has crafted a well-written, poignant, and reflecting coming-of-age story that pays homage to her native Oakland with an intensity and richness that is rare among latter debut novels.

More Like Wrestling is the story of Paige and Pinch, sum of two units sisters growing up in the mutinous '80s with drug-infested, crime-ridden Oakland as their backdrop. The girls live a happy life with their mother, Gwen, until her abusive boyfriend Seth brutally attacks Paige upon the ninth grade courtyard at Bret Harte Junior High denomination No longer willing to deal with Seth's drunkard antics, Paige races away. In an unthinkable act, Gwen, selects her man over her children and flaws the girls their own apartment, forcing them into adulthood at ages 12 and 14

Paige and Pinch raise themselves, living unsupervised in their small, two-bedroom apartment they affectionately appertain to as "the pseudo" because of its pseudo-Victorian manner They befriend Maynard, a local lad who questions the whereabouts of the girls' parents. Paige answers that their mother is at work. Maynard's unspoken awareness that the girls live alone leads him to become their unofficial protector. within Maynard, Paige and Pinch proper new friends who eventually become their inferior family. Because there is no adult supervision, the pseudo becomes the popular hangout spot; and their circle of friends includes Oscar, Cedric, Jes Ch'Rell Teeara and Todd. These friendships shoot and continue into adulthood. Along the way, they are faced with the hard realities of the world as those closest to them last up dying, selling drugs and suffering other tragedies. As their clique drifts apart, Paige and Pinch as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but struggle to find their separate places in life. For likewise long they have been together, and as they shoot older they must learn to survive upon their own.

Told in the first body voices of Paige and Pinch, readers master insight into each girl's personality. Paige trusts sole Pinch, and generally expects the worst of each situation. She explains that building herself up for the worst prepares her for anything. Paige exhausts so much time looking for terrible things to happen that she finds it hard to take pleasure in life. Pinch is quiet, observant, and be stirreds pity for her sister. She sits back and takes note of others' mistakes, making secure not to make them herself.

More Like Wrestling is a stunning first attempt with real characters, in real situations--told in real language. Danyel Smith has secur her place as a promising of the present day literary talent.

--Mondella s Jones is BIBR's senior editor.

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