BLACKFACE by Q. B. Wells is a story about life on the mean streets of Chicago for an unpopular teen. Black is a fat, somewhat clumsy, dark skinned child who feels unloved - especially by his mother, who is something of a disciplinarian. He feels that she loves Roy Mayor, the white child to whom she is a nanny, better than she loves him because she listens to Roy's whining and complaining when she won't tolerate it from him. He is also upset at the darkness of his skin and feels that if he were lighter, he would be better loved. In one scene, we see Black scrubbing his face with steel wool and rinsing it in Clorox to lighten his skin. Finally, in a moment of rebellion against his mother, Black runs away to the streets and meets up with his friends who also have their own issues. Face is a foster child who longs for a family; Penny's mother is a drug addict he feels he must protect and Zero, who also has a stern father, stutters and longs to fit in with the crowd. All four of these young men need money and they need it right now. What will they do to get it?

Q. B. Wells's novel is a heart-wrenching picture of what life for a black teen can be on the harsh, unforgiving streets of an urban ghetto where money is everything and drugs are on every corner. It is a coming of age story where Black must decide if he is going to take the high road or the low road. Is he going to listen to his mother or his friends? Other than some editing issues that jolt the smoothness of the book, it is a captivating read. Once I started reading the book, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend it for anyone who loves a good story.

Reviewed by alice Holman
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers