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Rooftop
Cousins Clay and Addison were like brothers, growing up together in the projects, until they were ripped apart by a family argument. When they are reunited in a drug-treatment program, they try to work out their issues like a family. But one night, one wrong decision, leaves Clay shaken and Addison dead. And in the rash of events that follow, the truth of what actually happened on the rooftop of the apartment building is caught up in a clash of politics and racial issues. Will Clay be able to rise above the lies and face the truth?
199 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2006
102 people are currently reading
718 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 163 reviews
June 3, 2010
I’ve recently finished Rooftop by Paul Volponi. This book is about two cousins
named Clay and Addison who are reunited in a drug-treatment program called
Daytop, after being split up as kids due to an argument between Clay’s mother
and Addison’s mother. Well, once they are reunited at this program despite
Clay’s drug problem and Addison’s drug selling problem, they’re relationship
becomes tight that they’re actually like brothers more than cousins. While in
this program, attending everyday, Clay knows better than not to smoke weed, but
Addison doesn’t and keeps selling weed on the corner, which leads him to owe his
“supplier” $300 after he gets jumped by five members of a gang who steal his
weed. Addison tries to get the money by illegally gambling but is discovered by
Officer Henry who takes all the money away. Not seeing the kid (Clorox) who owes
him the money, for a couple of days, he sees him one night, while walking with
Clay, which leads him to the rooftop of a building, losing Clorox. Trying to
walk down the stairs from the rooftop, holding his wallet like a gun, opens the
door and yells BAM BAM, thinking Clorox was there but instead he is shot by the
police and is killed on the rooftop, with only Clay watching. The killing of an
African-American by a white police officer named Watisick causes a huge buzz in
the hood in which people think that it was a racial killing. Despite Clay’s
untrue story about Addison being killed by the police after trying to “show his
ID”, for some reason after thinking that Watisick would serve up to 15 years in
prison, the DA found a way to tell the story to a grand jury of mostly black
people so they’d vote that it wasn’t even close enough to being a crime to have
a trial over, (from the book) which makes Clay breakdown after all this tragedy.
After reading this book it lead me to think that all these events only took
place because of money and weed. The reason why Clay was in the drug-treatment
program was because he got addicted to weed so much that his grades dropped a
lot and he started cutting school everyday to just to smoke weed with his
friends. But most of all this all occurred because of money. The reason Addison
sold weed on the corner was because he wanted money but before he got shot, he
told Clay to promise him to get his brother Darrel to quit selling dugs. And the
reason Darrel sold drugs was because he was selfish, he didn’t care ‘bout anyone
else, he just cared about the money, but he is later convinced by Clay and his
own father that he shouldn’t sell drugs, finding it out the heard way.
Overall, Addison’s death could’ve been prevented if he didn’t sell drugs.
named Clay and Addison who are reunited in a drug-treatment program called
Daytop, after being split up as kids due to an argument between Clay’s mother
and Addison’s mother. Well, once they are reunited at this program despite
Clay’s drug problem and Addison’s drug selling problem, they’re relationship
becomes tight that they’re actually like brothers more than cousins. While in
this program, attending everyday, Clay knows better than not to smoke weed, but
Addison doesn’t and keeps selling weed on the corner, which leads him to owe his
“supplier” $300 after he gets jumped by five members of a gang who steal his
weed. Addison tries to get the money by illegally gambling but is discovered by
Officer Henry who takes all the money away. Not seeing the kid (Clorox) who owes
him the money, for a couple of days, he sees him one night, while walking with
Clay, which leads him to the rooftop of a building, losing Clorox. Trying to
walk down the stairs from the rooftop, holding his wallet like a gun, opens the
door and yells BAM BAM, thinking Clorox was there but instead he is shot by the
police and is killed on the rooftop, with only Clay watching. The killing of an
African-American by a white police officer named Watisick causes a huge buzz in
the hood in which people think that it was a racial killing. Despite Clay’s
untrue story about Addison being killed by the police after trying to “show his
ID”, for some reason after thinking that Watisick would serve up to 15 years in
prison, the DA found a way to tell the story to a grand jury of mostly black
people so they’d vote that it wasn’t even close enough to being a crime to have
a trial over, (from the book) which makes Clay breakdown after all this tragedy.
After reading this book it lead me to think that all these events only took
place because of money and weed. The reason why Clay was in the drug-treatment
program was because he got addicted to weed so much that his grades dropped a
lot and he started cutting school everyday to just to smoke weed with his
friends. But most of all this all occurred because of money. The reason Addison
sold weed on the corner was because he wanted money but before he got shot, he
told Clay to promise him to get his brother Darrel to quit selling dugs. And the
reason Darrel sold drugs was because he was selfish, he didn’t care ‘bout anyone
else, he just cared about the money, but he is later convinced by Clay and his
own father that he shouldn’t sell drugs, finding it out the heard way.
Overall, Addison’s death could’ve been prevented if he didn’t sell drugs.
December 27, 2007
Volponi, author of Black and White, is back on the streets with another tale of teens caught up in drugs, crime, and a shot at redemption. Like in Black and White, the book spins on the central question of working up the nerve to tell the truth. Clay and his cousin Addison meet up in the same drug program. A disagreement about money with another teen (Clorox) leads Clay and Addison to the rooftop of a building where a tragedy occurs. Addison is accidentally shot by the police, and Clay must decide how much, and to whom, to tell the truth. With echoes of real life events and people (an Al Sharpton clone is central to the story), and issues regarding racism dealt with head on, Volponi's quickly paced story should attract reluctant and avid readers.
October 30, 2007
I give this a 5 star because it didnt waite till the middle of the story to get good. write when you star reading it, it gets good. well I couldnt stop reading the book even during band class.
January 4, 2016
I'm on page 52 of 199 of Rooftop: so far in the book it is pretty interesting its about how kids that struggle or struggled with a drug problem and there all going to a drug program but two of the boys while they where young but there moms had stopped talking to each other and when that happened the both boys stopped the two boys stopped talking but at the program which is called daytop the two boys but into each other and now are hanging out and the way it sound it might not end up well for either one of them.
January 23, 2020
i thought the book was alright. it could have had a better ending but otherwise it was a great book.
October 30, 2019
Rooftop by Paul Volponi is the perfect read for teenagers in High School because many will be able to relate to the main characters, Clay and Addison, who have made some wrong decisions in their early lives and are trying to fix that and change themselves for the better.
Clay and Addison are two cousins who have both made some bad decisions in life with the use of drugs, and reunite at a drug treatment program called Daytop. Personally, I was not able to relate to Clay and Addison, but I know this is a problem some teenagers in High School deal with. Those who do have this problem, however, should read this book because it examines the effects of bad decision making and the impact it can have on your life.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it didn’t take a long time for it to start getting interesting. Volponi grabs you from the beginning using his creative writing style and keeps the reader interested. I think his writing style especially appeals to teens because he writes how you would expect a teen to talk, which makes the story much easier to follow and understand. Also, at the end of each chapter, Volponi leaves the reader wondering what will happen next, which is an extremely effective technique because it makes it hard for the reader to put the book down.
Although Volponi’s writing style can be effective in a way, it can also get a little repetitive at times. I thought that some of the scenes could have been explained a little better, which would have drawn the reader in even more.
Something that especially stood out to me was the way Volponi surprised the reader. For example, Addison was unexpectedly shot and killed at the rooftop of a building by a white police officer with Clay watching the whole time. This completely took me by surprise because Volponi didn’t foreshadow or provide any hints leading up to the death of Addison. I was so surprised and shocked that I had to go back and read the scene again, I didn’t believe what I had just read. In this scene Volponi also incorporates the theme of racism because Addison’s death was the result of a white police officer “accidentally” shooting him, and was in no world justified. This is also where the theme of decision making comes back to Clay because he has to decide who to tell and if he should tell the truth or exaggerate what happened to make it seem worse on the police officer.
The one aspect that I disagreed with in this book was the ending. I was rather unsatisfied with the ending, and think Volponi could have done a better job sending the reader off on a good note rather than ending the story abruptly. An effective way Volponi could have used for the ending was leaving the reader thinking about what is going to happen next and if Clay will transform into a better person.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it not only to teens but to other people that have dealt with similar situations and are faced with hard decisions. Reading this book will help teach those with these problems that they should always do what they think is right and refrain themselves from doing anything that could get them in deep trouble. It also reveals the fact that even though it may not always be so obvious, racism is still present and it is our job to stick up against racism and prevent it from happening at all.
Clay and Addison are two cousins who have both made some bad decisions in life with the use of drugs, and reunite at a drug treatment program called Daytop. Personally, I was not able to relate to Clay and Addison, but I know this is a problem some teenagers in High School deal with. Those who do have this problem, however, should read this book because it examines the effects of bad decision making and the impact it can have on your life.
One thing I really enjoyed about this book was the fact that it didn’t take a long time for it to start getting interesting. Volponi grabs you from the beginning using his creative writing style and keeps the reader interested. I think his writing style especially appeals to teens because he writes how you would expect a teen to talk, which makes the story much easier to follow and understand. Also, at the end of each chapter, Volponi leaves the reader wondering what will happen next, which is an extremely effective technique because it makes it hard for the reader to put the book down.
Although Volponi’s writing style can be effective in a way, it can also get a little repetitive at times. I thought that some of the scenes could have been explained a little better, which would have drawn the reader in even more.
Something that especially stood out to me was the way Volponi surprised the reader. For example, Addison was unexpectedly shot and killed at the rooftop of a building by a white police officer with Clay watching the whole time. This completely took me by surprise because Volponi didn’t foreshadow or provide any hints leading up to the death of Addison. I was so surprised and shocked that I had to go back and read the scene again, I didn’t believe what I had just read. In this scene Volponi also incorporates the theme of racism because Addison’s death was the result of a white police officer “accidentally” shooting him, and was in no world justified. This is also where the theme of decision making comes back to Clay because he has to decide who to tell and if he should tell the truth or exaggerate what happened to make it seem worse on the police officer.
The one aspect that I disagreed with in this book was the ending. I was rather unsatisfied with the ending, and think Volponi could have done a better job sending the reader off on a good note rather than ending the story abruptly. An effective way Volponi could have used for the ending was leaving the reader thinking about what is going to happen next and if Clay will transform into a better person.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would highly recommend it not only to teens but to other people that have dealt with similar situations and are faced with hard decisions. Reading this book will help teach those with these problems that they should always do what they think is right and refrain themselves from doing anything that could get them in deep trouble. It also reveals the fact that even though it may not always be so obvious, racism is still present and it is our job to stick up against racism and prevent it from happening at all.
December 14, 2017
Rooftop by Paul Volponi was quite engaging to read, a little persuasive, and I kind of agree with it. Clay and Addison are cousins who were like brothers, growing up together, until they got separated by a family argument. This story starts off with the main character telling the story, but it doesn’t specify who is telling the story, so it is 1st person. Addison has been facing challenges like addiction to drugs and drinking, and selling crack to get money probably for more drugs. There are a few quotes in pg.5 that add up to the conflict: “We’re first cousins.”(5), “We’re all family here, Addison. This is your Daytop family now.”(5), and “We’re trying to overcome the same addictions, and that includes your counselors”(5). This book is meant to examine the gap between truth and fiction-on all sides of the equation, in which I have never read a book that is between fiction and truth. Clay, Addison and the other all have the same addiction problems which is drugs, even the counselor has that problem.
I quite enjoyed this little dramatic book, at first glance, It was very cheesy at the beginning and a lot of things I do not want to know, but there was more than that, I’m also reading a book that is about addiction to drugs, and other kind of illegal things. Sometimes, I feel bad that they’re addicted to drugs, and they’re a little corrupt in their mind, but some are trying to fight through it, and getting over the addiction. I’ve have never been through addiction myself, but I am a teenager. I might relate, but at the same time I’m kind of addicted to a different addiction, which is video games. Some parts I was really uncomfortable with Addison selling crack for money, which he might buy drugs with. Buying more drugs will make his life even worse, and make him get even more addicted until he has exceeded the limits of drugs. It also seems like Andre is trying to convince Clay not to do drugs anymore. “You need to be back here. You’ll want to feel better, and those drugs will be calling your name. Don’t answer them, Clay. Don’t answer!” (95). I always say no to drugs, they can cause harm to your body, and also affect your mental status like, getting depressed, or anger issues. Even though some of my older relatives do smoke, but they do not do drugs,which I’m a little fine with.
I would recommend this book to any teenagers and young adults that have been through this problem or their relatives. This story could tell you that doing drugs is bad, and illegal. Drugs could get you arrested, depressed, or very angry for no reason. This book might raise some eyebrows like: “If I threw it out the window, would it split the sidewalk into two?” (158). I have a feeling that relates to something that I might not know about due to my youth not understanding very deep and outside the box questions, but many teens and young adults must have dealt with this struggle or addiction once in their lifetime, and if they try to hide the truth, it will only make it more worse for them, everybody must have at least a story about their life.
I quite enjoyed this little dramatic book, at first glance, It was very cheesy at the beginning and a lot of things I do not want to know, but there was more than that, I’m also reading a book that is about addiction to drugs, and other kind of illegal things. Sometimes, I feel bad that they’re addicted to drugs, and they’re a little corrupt in their mind, but some are trying to fight through it, and getting over the addiction. I’ve have never been through addiction myself, but I am a teenager. I might relate, but at the same time I’m kind of addicted to a different addiction, which is video games. Some parts I was really uncomfortable with Addison selling crack for money, which he might buy drugs with. Buying more drugs will make his life even worse, and make him get even more addicted until he has exceeded the limits of drugs. It also seems like Andre is trying to convince Clay not to do drugs anymore. “You need to be back here. You’ll want to feel better, and those drugs will be calling your name. Don’t answer them, Clay. Don’t answer!” (95). I always say no to drugs, they can cause harm to your body, and also affect your mental status like, getting depressed, or anger issues. Even though some of my older relatives do smoke, but they do not do drugs,which I’m a little fine with.
I would recommend this book to any teenagers and young adults that have been through this problem or their relatives. This story could tell you that doing drugs is bad, and illegal. Drugs could get you arrested, depressed, or very angry for no reason. This book might raise some eyebrows like: “If I threw it out the window, would it split the sidewalk into two?” (158). I have a feeling that relates to something that I might not know about due to my youth not understanding very deep and outside the box questions, but many teens and young adults must have dealt with this struggle or addiction once in their lifetime, and if they try to hide the truth, it will only make it more worse for them, everybody must have at least a story about their life.
March 13, 2018
*WARNING* *SPOILERS*
Paul Volponi's "Rooftop" is about Clay, a young man struggling to cope with the death of his best friend and cousin, Addison. Through the novel, Volponi utilizes many real-world themes, including drugs, racial divides, police brutality, and poverty. The perspective that the author puts on these themes were really interesting and unique, and I can appreciate the issues that he brings to light in the novel. I found it interesting how Volponi almost predicted the Black Lives Matter movement back in 2007 when the book was published. Later in the book, there's a point where people start rallying around a movement that's similar to the real-life Black Lives Matter movement. Through the book, the reader sees Clay, the main character, overcome temptations to his vices and really grow as a character. Despite this, there are a lot of problems with the novel. I like the ideas present in the novel, and the concept of the story isn't that bad at all, it's all because of the way Volponi executed a lot of the ideas present. For starters, Addison's death takes place at the end of chapter 5, within the first third of the novel. While this sets up the rest of the novel to be about how Clay copes with his death, the event is written as if it's the climax of the novel. The rest of the novel doesn't lead up to anything, because then later when the policemen are on trial, Clay gets in an accident and the reader is told that they go free, rather than reading the trial as it's happening. On top of that, Volponi had been building up Clay taking this GED test and going to college, but after he takes the test, the reader never finds out if he passed or not. One last example is about the novel's characters. Each character feels like a walking stereotype, bringing nothing new or original to the table, save for Clay. Each of the kids at Daytop is written to be an irredeemable degenerate or drug dealer. Speaking of Daytop, the head counselor is your stereotypical former druggie, scare-you-straight kind of guy. Addison has a few moments where he shows that he cares about his brother, but other than that, he dies too early for the reader to see another side of him other than the one that only cares about making money by selling drugs. He's one-dimensional, and doesn't really give a care about being at Daytop or redeeming himself. He even gets himself killed for acting like an idiot and pretending to have a gun in a dark, sketchy area. In the end, it really feels like Paul Voponi came up with a good idea for a novel, but rushed it out to meet a deadline. The unanswered questions left in the plot, rushed climax, and one-dimensional characters really made this book alright at best, when I really think it could have been something good.
Paul Volponi's "Rooftop" is about Clay, a young man struggling to cope with the death of his best friend and cousin, Addison. Through the novel, Volponi utilizes many real-world themes, including drugs, racial divides, police brutality, and poverty. The perspective that the author puts on these themes were really interesting and unique, and I can appreciate the issues that he brings to light in the novel. I found it interesting how Volponi almost predicted the Black Lives Matter movement back in 2007 when the book was published. Later in the book, there's a point where people start rallying around a movement that's similar to the real-life Black Lives Matter movement. Through the book, the reader sees Clay, the main character, overcome temptations to his vices and really grow as a character. Despite this, there are a lot of problems with the novel. I like the ideas present in the novel, and the concept of the story isn't that bad at all, it's all because of the way Volponi executed a lot of the ideas present. For starters, Addison's death takes place at the end of chapter 5, within the first third of the novel. While this sets up the rest of the novel to be about how Clay copes with his death, the event is written as if it's the climax of the novel. The rest of the novel doesn't lead up to anything, because then later when the policemen are on trial, Clay gets in an accident and the reader is told that they go free, rather than reading the trial as it's happening. On top of that, Volponi had been building up Clay taking this GED test and going to college, but after he takes the test, the reader never finds out if he passed or not. One last example is about the novel's characters. Each character feels like a walking stereotype, bringing nothing new or original to the table, save for Clay. Each of the kids at Daytop is written to be an irredeemable degenerate or drug dealer. Speaking of Daytop, the head counselor is your stereotypical former druggie, scare-you-straight kind of guy. Addison has a few moments where he shows that he cares about his brother, but other than that, he dies too early for the reader to see another side of him other than the one that only cares about making money by selling drugs. He's one-dimensional, and doesn't really give a care about being at Daytop or redeeming himself. He even gets himself killed for acting like an idiot and pretending to have a gun in a dark, sketchy area. In the end, it really feels like Paul Voponi came up with a good idea for a novel, but rushed it out to meet a deadline. The unanswered questions left in the plot, rushed climax, and one-dimensional characters really made this book alright at best, when I really think it could have been something good.
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October 11, 2019Corbin rabenaldt
Rooftop book review
Rooftop, In long island moved from a public school to a drug program clay was put in for his bad decisions. Weeks later his cousin that he had not seen in months due to a family argument that had broken their families relationship. Rooftop is a fiction book with no series. This book is very easy to read with little language. This book is 199 pages long and very page it gets better and better. The setting is in long island new york in a lowend community “hood”. Its is a book that shows struggles for a teen in the community and what they do and go through everyday and it is very relatable to our world now. This author made this book very clear and you can make the movie in your mind had you read along. Clay was broken and torn down but he never gave up facing everything that was going on around him at this time. There is a bunch of characters like clay,addison,clorox,speirs, tony,mrs della, darrel, andre, ivy, officer henry and officer watstick. The characters at day are always inspiring and motivational officer henry was more of the mutual type of person and officer watstick was bad and unjust.all the characters are human and they face a lot of conflicts with each other at daytop and some on the streets with the cops. Some characters are likable and some are unjust. This book shows friendship and coming together when times get hard.
I think other readers should read this book because it shows different points of view and how people can change a story and why they would do it.this book made me feel upset about the lies they would tell to keep them from getting into trouble and out of punishment. The author did a good job when putting the details in this book and i think they achieved what they were trying to do with the story. The book could have had more to the end maybe with another book or a few more pages because i would like to know more about what happened. This book was a different kind of book that i would usually read but i really did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone. I give this book 4 stares. Full view of a different life.
Rooftop book review
Rooftop, In long island moved from a public school to a drug program clay was put in for his bad decisions. Weeks later his cousin that he had not seen in months due to a family argument that had broken their families relationship. Rooftop is a fiction book with no series. This book is very easy to read with little language. This book is 199 pages long and very page it gets better and better. The setting is in long island new york in a lowend community “hood”. Its is a book that shows struggles for a teen in the community and what they do and go through everyday and it is very relatable to our world now. This author made this book very clear and you can make the movie in your mind had you read along. Clay was broken and torn down but he never gave up facing everything that was going on around him at this time. There is a bunch of characters like clay,addison,clorox,speirs, tony,mrs della, darrel, andre, ivy, officer henry and officer watstick. The characters at day are always inspiring and motivational officer henry was more of the mutual type of person and officer watstick was bad and unjust.all the characters are human and they face a lot of conflicts with each other at daytop and some on the streets with the cops. Some characters are likable and some are unjust. This book shows friendship and coming together when times get hard.
I think other readers should read this book because it shows different points of view and how people can change a story and why they would do it.this book made me feel upset about the lies they would tell to keep them from getting into trouble and out of punishment. The author did a good job when putting the details in this book and i think they achieved what they were trying to do with the story. The book could have had more to the end maybe with another book or a few more pages because i would like to know more about what happened. This book was a different kind of book that i would usually read but i really did enjoy it and would recommend it to anyone. I give this book 4 stares. Full view of a different life.
February 26, 2018
Rooftop by :Paul Volponi
Clay is a young, teenage boy who is growing up in New York City around lots of violence and drugs. He also has family members who are involved in lots drugs and gangs so Clay is placed in Daytop (a rehabilitation program to give teenagers a second chance in life) where he is trying to turn his life around and get his high school degree.
I liked this book because it had a great storyline and was a good moral story to show how some environments can choose how your life will be. The story was so good to me because it made me feel like I could really understand how someone’s life is growing up in New York. One of the strong emotions I had while reading this book was sadness because I couldn’t understand how someone could live through that stuff. I also felt bad for the main character because of how much pain he was going through in life, living with the fact of not being a high school graduate and dealing drugs. It’s just bad for anyone. I think that I could relate to the character even though I haven't been in a position like the main character was. I got a good feeling of what all he was going through during his life and what led up to this lifestyle he went through in his life.
This book didn't really remind of one certain book because it had its own twists. This book was serious and had a very detailed story because it gave you every feeling that each character was going through. I think if you like books with a great story line and drama you will really enjoy this book.
March 13, 2018
WARNING SPOILERS ARE INCLUDED
Rooftop by Paul Volponi is the story of young man who struggles with the murder of cousin. Though the book is a bit slow paced, it is an interesting read. The story itself is a bit dry, but it brings to light the problems that the African-American community face daily when it comes to police brutality, poverty and drugs. What makes the novel better is that the author, Paul Volponi, takes a rather neutral stance on racial issues in the story in order to show the reader what the people of these communities actually go through. I really liked this aspect of the novel because it made me consider these issues in a way that I had never thought of before. It also drew my attention to more recent movements such as the Black Lives Matters movement and it made me look at their arguments in a new way. In terms of the story itself, I already stated that it was a bit dry and slow. There is no real action that happens and all of the characters, aside form Clay (the main character), seem to be a bit stereotypical. Volponi shows them as drug dealers and thugs. I just felt it was a little inappropriate and insensitive for him to do that. The novel depicts the area in which they live as the hood that you would find on a cheesy TV show. I was not a big fan of the either of the depictions because I feel that had they been more realistic and believable, I would have been able to better connect to the story and its characters. The final problem was that the climax of the book, Addison's death, took place half way through the book. It ruined the feel of the back half of the book for me because it seemed like nothing was happening after the shooting. All in all, I would most likely not read this book again because while it was interesting, the story itself took to much away from the racial elements and focused to much on the legal process of Addison's trial and various other, unimportant things.
Overall, this book gets three stars because while the story is a bit bland, it does an amazing job of presenting the tough topic of racial issues in a slightly entertaining manner.
Rooftop by Paul Volponi is the story of young man who struggles with the murder of cousin. Though the book is a bit slow paced, it is an interesting read. The story itself is a bit dry, but it brings to light the problems that the African-American community face daily when it comes to police brutality, poverty and drugs. What makes the novel better is that the author, Paul Volponi, takes a rather neutral stance on racial issues in the story in order to show the reader what the people of these communities actually go through. I really liked this aspect of the novel because it made me consider these issues in a way that I had never thought of before. It also drew my attention to more recent movements such as the Black Lives Matters movement and it made me look at their arguments in a new way. In terms of the story itself, I already stated that it was a bit dry and slow. There is no real action that happens and all of the characters, aside form Clay (the main character), seem to be a bit stereotypical. Volponi shows them as drug dealers and thugs. I just felt it was a little inappropriate and insensitive for him to do that. The novel depicts the area in which they live as the hood that you would find on a cheesy TV show. I was not a big fan of the either of the depictions because I feel that had they been more realistic and believable, I would have been able to better connect to the story and its characters. The final problem was that the climax of the book, Addison's death, took place half way through the book. It ruined the feel of the back half of the book for me because it seemed like nothing was happening after the shooting. All in all, I would most likely not read this book again because while it was interesting, the story itself took to much away from the racial elements and focused to much on the legal process of Addison's trial and various other, unimportant things.
Overall, this book gets three stars because while the story is a bit bland, it does an amazing job of presenting the tough topic of racial issues in a slightly entertaining manner.
February 27, 2018
This book is about a boy named Clay who grows up in New York City with a lot of crimes, violence and drugs. He also has family members who are involved with the drugs and violence in the city so Clay is placed in Daytop (a rehabilitation program it’s a program where they give teens second chances). Clay is not a bad person he wants to change his life around and get high school diploma. It’s hard to get that high school diploma when he has a lot of negative energy around him like family members. His older brother Addison sold drugs. He was trying to stop but he owed his dealer some money. Clay was looking for Addison down by the Clorox and what he found would change everything.
I love this book because all this stuff can happen in a real situation. Some kids like to get their money the illegal way or do drugs and get involved with gangs. Some of this can focus in on real events happening in our world a lot of negativity, violence just a lot of trouble out in this world we live in today.
This books reminds me of today’s world we live in because some kids and grown ups do sell drugs for a living and get into the gang life. I think there is a reason people do it but they have to be smarter by getting a real job and get paid the legal way.
I love this book because all this stuff can happen in a real situation. Some kids like to get their money the illegal way or do drugs and get involved with gangs. Some of this can focus in on real events happening in our world a lot of negativity, violence just a lot of trouble out in this world we live in today.
This books reminds me of today’s world we live in because some kids and grown ups do sell drugs for a living and get into the gang life. I think there is a reason people do it but they have to be smarter by getting a real job and get paid the legal way.
March 13, 2018
*SPOILERS INCLUDED*
Looking for a rather quick read with an insight on an important perspective? Well Rooftop may just be the book for you! In this novel our main character Clay loses his cousin from a murder on..... a rooftop. Throughout the novel before and after his cousin's death Clay struggles with other people or illegal activity. Hence, this novel brings some of the "statistic" adolescence in society in a light many over look. That's not to say this novel takes a typical perspective as Volponi hyperbolizes and stereotypes many of the people and situations in the low income communities. It is likely this is due to the novel's short page count that also doesn't help the book seem to move along quickly. Overall this certainly isn't the shortest or worst book I've ever read but there is little beneath the surface besides a short page count and predictable plot... which also ends in a cliff-hanger. I probably wouldn't read this novel again nor would I go and praise and defend or complain about it to others.
Looking for a rather quick read with an insight on an important perspective? Well Rooftop may just be the book for you! In this novel our main character Clay loses his cousin from a murder on..... a rooftop. Throughout the novel before and after his cousin's death Clay struggles with other people or illegal activity. Hence, this novel brings some of the "statistic" adolescence in society in a light many over look. That's not to say this novel takes a typical perspective as Volponi hyperbolizes and stereotypes many of the people and situations in the low income communities. It is likely this is due to the novel's short page count that also doesn't help the book seem to move along quickly. Overall this certainly isn't the shortest or worst book I've ever read but there is little beneath the surface besides a short page count and predictable plot... which also ends in a cliff-hanger. I probably wouldn't read this novel again nor would I go and praise and defend or complain about it to others.
November 11, 2020
This book was written in 2006/2007, but it reads like a novel you can read today because the topic and events that occur are still happening in our society today: police brutality, injustice, police officers shooting and killing unarmed black boys, drugs affecting families and communities in predominantly black areas (the New York Projects). Great read for reluctant high school students, especially male students between the age of 14 - 18. Language is explicit, but this is a high school book, so if you are not a fan of young teenagers using explicit language, do not pick up this book. Again, this is a fast read, highly recommend. If a reader enjoyed this book, then the reader should certainly pick up novels DEAR MARTIN and DEAR JUSTYCE by Nic Stone.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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May 1, 2020Addison was like the big brother Clay never had. Separated for years by a family argument, the two cousins are finally back together at Daytop, a drug-treatment program. Clay’s parents caught him smoking pot; Addison was arrested for dealing crack. Now they’re at the same place at the same time, trying to work out their problems together.
But Addison never gets a chance. One night he and Clay are on the rooftop of a building in the projects, and Addison is fatally shot – by the police – as Clay stands just a few steps away. Addison wasn’t armed. He didn’t deserve to die. But was he completely innocent? And what will prove more difficult for Clay – living a lie or facing the truth?
But Addison never gets a chance. One night he and Clay are on the rooftop of a building in the projects, and Addison is fatally shot – by the police – as Clay stands just a few steps away. Addison wasn’t armed. He didn’t deserve to die. But was he completely innocent? And what will prove more difficult for Clay – living a lie or facing the truth?
March 13, 2018
Rooftop is about a young man Clay and how he goes to a youth rehab school called Daytop with his cousin Addison. The book starts out with nothing important happening until Addison has money problems with another student at Daytop. Addison chases the student to a roof top where he is shot and killed by a group of police. This huge event happens in the first 3rd of the book, and not much happens after his death and all the characters stay static for the rest of the book. The climax of the book happens before the book is halfway over and the rest of the book is boring. The only plot points left are completely ignored. Clay takes the big standardized test but we never found out how he did, the court case doesn't even fully end by the end of the book, and we don't know about the race for Mayor that they talk about, it just randomly ends without any satisfaction in knowing that the characters have changed or become better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 18, 2019
I enjoyed this book. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it was pretty good. It talked about interesting and important topics like racial injustice and you see how over the story Clay changes, becoming more mature. I found the ending a little disappointing as it kind of left things up in the air but overall pretty good book.
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March 2, 2020It was kind of boring, but there was some pretty intense parts that were interesting, like the part where Addison got shot, and everything that happened at daytop, but if you don't like slow paced books, this book is probably not for you. It was also a really low reading level for me so it was too easy.
October 24, 2018
very emotional boo on a boy how started from the bottom and had worked really hard to stay clean but ends up losing his cousin and seeing it all happen. he tempted to forget about everything and go back down but he figures things out but there something he's hiding that's not helping.
October 22, 2021
I believe that this story brings a lot of attention to the characters using feelings the reader can relate to... the only reason i rated it a 4 star was because the ending didn't seem to finish the book entirely, i hope to se a second version of the book like a chapter 2 type of feel.
June 16, 2024
When I first picked up this book, I thought that it was a thriller. I based it off of the book cover and title. But as I began reading this book, I realized that it was NOT in fact, a thriller. I was disappointed but.....
This book left an open scar in me.... I loved it and hope others do too.
This book left an open scar in me.... I loved it and hope others do too.
September 7, 2017
It was a bit boring in the beginning but then got really interesting really fast.This is a great book and I recommend people to read it
November 17, 2017
it was a great book.
April 11, 2018
3.5 stars. Didn’t like the ending meh.
April 17, 2018
I didn't like the book too much. The beginning was really confusing so it kind of bored me.
October 9, 2019
pretty good
July 30, 2020
Quick less than 200 page read. Very apropos for these times. Follows 2 African American cousins, their struggles..... Young Adult book
May 22, 2019
It’s a really great book!! Very sad ending though. Really great story about a boy dealing with the drugs around him and his family and the effects it has upon them. A story with real life problems in the Bronx New York. Over really great Book!
March 16, 2014
Imagine living in a neighborhood with drugs, drug dealing, and much more crime. Now think about how live people in those lifestyles. Crazy huh? Rooftop is a realistic fiction story. My opinion of this story is that it is very heartbreaking and inspiring.
In the beginning of Rooftop, the main character Clay is introduced, and he is going to school at a drug program because he used to smoke marijuana a lot. As Clay is going up the stairs to his school, he hears a familiar voice, which he soon recognizes as his cousin Addison. Clay and Addison hasn't seen each other in a long time, so they exchange "cousinly love". In the middle, Addison is going to Clay's school, and he is doing extremely well interacting with teachers and students, but Clay soon finds out that Clay had a learning disability. Addison's little brother wants to start selling drugs just like Addison. Addison is set on not having his brother be just like himself. Clay and Addison are then on top of a rooftop trying to follow someone who owes Addison money, but he ran off so when Addison hears footsteps he takes out his wallet to scare the man he was chasing but it wasn't him, it was the police. They shot him in "self defense" because Addison was acting as if his wallet was a gun. All while this is going on, Clay is watching and he is now totally destroyed because over the time Addison went to the same school as clay, they became like brothers.
The setting takes place in New York City. It takes place in Daytop, which is Clay's and Addison's school, and also around their poverty stricken neighborhood. It is also present tense. The type of conflict in the story would be person vs. person because Addison's family are trying to convict the policemen who killed Addison. They go to court and *spoiler alert* the court finds the hearing inconclusive.
Clay is a main character who is 17 years old, African American, and he used to smoke marijuana. He's a little tall and he is sensitive but he tries to hide it, and he is also quiet until he gets around Addison. Addison is 18 years old, African American, and he sells drugs. He's a little taller than Clay, he is a positive person, he has good manners, and always tries to cheer someone up. He has a learning disability that makes him feel less than others. Officers Henry, Nevin, and Watisick were accused of shooting Addison. Nevin and Watisick are both trainees who are Caucasian. Henry is African American and he is respected throughout the neighborhood because he doesn't treat anyone badly. He is a sincere person, he's an older officer, and he is into lecturing people and second chances. My opinion of the book is that it is heartbreaking because of what Addison's death turned out as, and how his family took it. " I wish I was stoned off my butt, so I wouldn't have to feel anything." This shows that Clay felt so hurt and miserable that he wanted to smoke which he hasn't done in a long time. " The ride home was hard, and even my dad broke down bawling for a minute. Addison's dad was sobbing, too." This shows that they miss Addison already. The story is very inspiring also because Addison didn't want Darrel following in his footsteps, and the reader will learn what happens to people who drug deal or in the streets a lot. " My little brother wants to sell crack, and I know the problems he's gonna get from it, too. I know everything that could blow up in his face." this connects to my life which is text to self because I've seen most of this in my life.
My overall opinion on this book is that it is entertaining, heartfelt, and also honest. On a scale from 1-10, I would rate this book as an 8 because it was really good, and realistic, but at some parts it bored me with the court subjects. This book should be read by anyone who likes to read about culture, crime, and people who aren't so emotional." I was scared to death, but I was fighting back."
In the beginning of Rooftop, the main character Clay is introduced, and he is going to school at a drug program because he used to smoke marijuana a lot. As Clay is going up the stairs to his school, he hears a familiar voice, which he soon recognizes as his cousin Addison. Clay and Addison hasn't seen each other in a long time, so they exchange "cousinly love". In the middle, Addison is going to Clay's school, and he is doing extremely well interacting with teachers and students, but Clay soon finds out that Clay had a learning disability. Addison's little brother wants to start selling drugs just like Addison. Addison is set on not having his brother be just like himself. Clay and Addison are then on top of a rooftop trying to follow someone who owes Addison money, but he ran off so when Addison hears footsteps he takes out his wallet to scare the man he was chasing but it wasn't him, it was the police. They shot him in "self defense" because Addison was acting as if his wallet was a gun. All while this is going on, Clay is watching and he is now totally destroyed because over the time Addison went to the same school as clay, they became like brothers.
The setting takes place in New York City. It takes place in Daytop, which is Clay's and Addison's school, and also around their poverty stricken neighborhood. It is also present tense. The type of conflict in the story would be person vs. person because Addison's family are trying to convict the policemen who killed Addison. They go to court and *spoiler alert* the court finds the hearing inconclusive.
Clay is a main character who is 17 years old, African American, and he used to smoke marijuana. He's a little tall and he is sensitive but he tries to hide it, and he is also quiet until he gets around Addison. Addison is 18 years old, African American, and he sells drugs. He's a little taller than Clay, he is a positive person, he has good manners, and always tries to cheer someone up. He has a learning disability that makes him feel less than others. Officers Henry, Nevin, and Watisick were accused of shooting Addison. Nevin and Watisick are both trainees who are Caucasian. Henry is African American and he is respected throughout the neighborhood because he doesn't treat anyone badly. He is a sincere person, he's an older officer, and he is into lecturing people and second chances. My opinion of the book is that it is heartbreaking because of what Addison's death turned out as, and how his family took it. " I wish I was stoned off my butt, so I wouldn't have to feel anything." This shows that Clay felt so hurt and miserable that he wanted to smoke which he hasn't done in a long time. " The ride home was hard, and even my dad broke down bawling for a minute. Addison's dad was sobbing, too." This shows that they miss Addison already. The story is very inspiring also because Addison didn't want Darrel following in his footsteps, and the reader will learn what happens to people who drug deal or in the streets a lot. " My little brother wants to sell crack, and I know the problems he's gonna get from it, too. I know everything that could blow up in his face." this connects to my life which is text to self because I've seen most of this in my life.
My overall opinion on this book is that it is entertaining, heartfelt, and also honest. On a scale from 1-10, I would rate this book as an 8 because it was really good, and realistic, but at some parts it bored me with the court subjects. This book should be read by anyone who likes to read about culture, crime, and people who aren't so emotional." I was scared to death, but I was fighting back."
December 14, 2015
I rated my book, “Rooftop” by Paul Volponi a 7/10 because it has an extremely interesting plot that I believe will keep the reader coming back for more. This can be seen when Volponi writes, “You got to choose, Clay: your family or drugs,”(Volponi 12). From this quote the reader can see that this character is facing the hardships of drug addiction which is a problem faced by many teens today which can spark up interest on this topic and this book. Lastly, the reason why I rated my book a 7/10 was because it created an interesting story and kept me coming back for more, but lacked strong dialogue and emotion from its characters.
Volponi shows effective expression by portraying all of the crazy events that occur in Clay’s life especially the death of his cousin Addison on a “Rooftop” in their project neighborhood. Volponi uses specific dialogue to play out the situation which can be seen when the story reads, “Addison crouched down by the door… Addison jumped up with the wallet pointing out in front of him and yelled Bam! Ba--... I heard the breath leave Addison’s lungs”(Volponi 74). From this quote the reader can interpret from Volponi’s word choice that he is trying to stress the dramaticness of the situation and how impacting this event was to the whole story. Lastly, Volponi’s writing style here appeals to the liking of high school students because it provides a different point of view and a more in depth interpretation of the situation which younger kids may have a hard time connecting and understanding with than high school kids.
The theme I came up with for “Rooftop” was that catastrophic events can drive people to be the best that they can be. This can be seen when Volponi writes,” With all his strength, Darrel tried to break loose… This for sale?... Give him the money, Clay...That’s the exact same money your brother died over!... I don’t want it...Do you understand me son?... Yeah pop,”(Volponi 176-177). From this extensively long quote the reader can digest all that is going on. For example, Clay and Darrel are both realizing how to be men and drop drugs primarily Darrel since he is selling. Also, the theme is applicable to high school students because like I said earlier many students are affected by drugs and addiction and the theme used here shows how many students overcome these problems and become great citizens in society.
The plot idea and base ideas aren’t that different from what I’ve seen in today’s movies and real life scenarios because the death of Addison who was unarmed can be seen in all of the problems with police brutality especially all the fiasco with Ferguson, and many drug based movies can deal with the projects or poor communities because that’s the only way of making money there basically. These connections can be seen when the passage says,” The police are to blame here. They pointed their guns… Spiers didn’t loosen his grip till I said yeah”(Volponi 86-87). By this quote the reader can establish that accidents can go bad at any second just by a misinterpretation on both sides meaning Addison and the police since Addison thought it was Clorox the kid who he and Clay were looking for and the police thought he had a gun. And by Spiers quote he is trying to blame it all on the police for !) to gain popularity in the projects so that he can become mayor, and 2) to stir up controversy to make this ordeal way bigger than it needed to be.
These many different aspects help conclude this amazing story and show the hardships people have to face and how they overcome them and I would totally recommend this amazing book to any of my friends and peers because I truly believe it is a great book about problems faced in the modern community by teens and families everyday.
Volponi shows effective expression by portraying all of the crazy events that occur in Clay’s life especially the death of his cousin Addison on a “Rooftop” in their project neighborhood. Volponi uses specific dialogue to play out the situation which can be seen when the story reads, “Addison crouched down by the door… Addison jumped up with the wallet pointing out in front of him and yelled Bam! Ba--... I heard the breath leave Addison’s lungs”(Volponi 74). From this quote the reader can interpret from Volponi’s word choice that he is trying to stress the dramaticness of the situation and how impacting this event was to the whole story. Lastly, Volponi’s writing style here appeals to the liking of high school students because it provides a different point of view and a more in depth interpretation of the situation which younger kids may have a hard time connecting and understanding with than high school kids.
The theme I came up with for “Rooftop” was that catastrophic events can drive people to be the best that they can be. This can be seen when Volponi writes,” With all his strength, Darrel tried to break loose… This for sale?... Give him the money, Clay...That’s the exact same money your brother died over!... I don’t want it...Do you understand me son?... Yeah pop,”(Volponi 176-177). From this extensively long quote the reader can digest all that is going on. For example, Clay and Darrel are both realizing how to be men and drop drugs primarily Darrel since he is selling. Also, the theme is applicable to high school students because like I said earlier many students are affected by drugs and addiction and the theme used here shows how many students overcome these problems and become great citizens in society.
The plot idea and base ideas aren’t that different from what I’ve seen in today’s movies and real life scenarios because the death of Addison who was unarmed can be seen in all of the problems with police brutality especially all the fiasco with Ferguson, and many drug based movies can deal with the projects or poor communities because that’s the only way of making money there basically. These connections can be seen when the passage says,” The police are to blame here. They pointed their guns… Spiers didn’t loosen his grip till I said yeah”(Volponi 86-87). By this quote the reader can establish that accidents can go bad at any second just by a misinterpretation on both sides meaning Addison and the police since Addison thought it was Clorox the kid who he and Clay were looking for and the police thought he had a gun. And by Spiers quote he is trying to blame it all on the police for !) to gain popularity in the projects so that he can become mayor, and 2) to stir up controversy to make this ordeal way bigger than it needed to be.
These many different aspects help conclude this amazing story and show the hardships people have to face and how they overcome them and I would totally recommend this amazing book to any of my friends and peers because I truly believe it is a great book about problems faced in the modern community by teens and families everyday.
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