More Like Wrestling.

by Danyel Smith Crown, January 2003 $23.95, ISBN 1-400-04644-0

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

More Like Wrestling is the story of Paige and Pinch, two sisters growing up in the turbulent '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 on the ninth grade courtyard at Bret Harte Junior High School. No longer willing to deal with Seth's drunkard antics, Paige runs away. In an unthinkable act, Gwen, chooses her man over her children and rents 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 refer to as "the pseudo" because of its pseudo-Victorian style. They befriend Maynard, a local boy 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. Through Maynard, Paige and Pinch meet new friends who eventually become their second family. Because there is no adult supervision, the pseudo becomes the popular hangout spot; and their circle of friends includes Oscar, Cedric, Jess, Ch'Rell, Teeara and Todd. These friendships grow and continue into adulthood. Along the way, they are faced with the hard realities of the world as those closest to them end up dying, selling drugs and suffering other tragedies. As their clique drifts apart, Paige and Pinch both struggle to find their separate places in life. For so long they have been together, and as they grow older they must learn to survive on their own.

Told in the first person voices of Paige and Pinch, readers get insight into each girl's personality. Paige trusts only Pinch, and generally expects the worst of every situation. She explains that building herself up for the worst prepares her for anything. Paige spends so much time looking for terrible things to happen that she finds it hard to enjoy life. Pinch is quiet, observant, and feels pity for her sister. She sits back and takes note of others' mistakes, making sure not to make them herself.

More Like Wrestling is a stunning debut with real characters, in real situations--told in real language. Danyel Smith has secured her place as a promising new literary talent.

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