Twelve-year-old Jamal is in trouble at home, at school, and on the street. His big brother, the leader of the Harlem Scorpions, is in jail for robbery. Now Jamal is expected to lead the gang and even has to carry a gun. When two of the Scorpions call him out to the park to challenge his leadership, Jamal takes the gun with him—a decision that will change his life forever. Scorpions is a powerful portrayal of the fear, frustration, and despair of inner city life and gang pressure. Walter Dean Myers' credible characters deal with realistic situations and make difficult choices. His highly-acclaimed talent has earned him many accolades, among them the Coretta Scott King Award and ALA's Margaret A. Edwards Award for his lifetime achievement in writing young adult books.