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  This story takes place within New York, and most of the time the main characters are in New York City. They spend most of their time either at the shack they live at, at the barbershop with Trini and Miss Yolie, or doing other things around the city. The only other times that they are out of the city is when they get arrested and go to the Juvenile Delinquent Center and when they get adopted. The shack they live in is portrayed as run- down and old, but Jose and Ray seem to think it is fine. They live in the middle of a forest with a river (Ten-Mile River) nearby. Miss Yolie and Trini work in a barber shop in the city that seems like your average barbershop. The settings seem pretty typical of inner city New York- the stores are close together, there's a lot of people, and it's loud. Ray and Jose go to a lot of places that typical teenage boys go like McDonald's and the barbershop, which are in the city.

Here's a picture of the cover that shows what Ten- Mile River looks like:

Image From: http://i43.tower.com/images/mm117368184/ten-mile-river-paul-griffin-paperback-cover-art.jpg

Characters

 There are two main characters in this story that the story is centered around- Jose and Ray. They are very close, but are also very different in some ways. Physically, Ray is bigger than Jose, although Jose is more fit and has a 6- pack while Ray has some fat. Personality- wise, Jose is more care- free, and worries about little other than himself and Ray. Ray cares about other people, and thinks about his future. He often experiences scruples after doing something illegal, even if it is needed for Ray and Jose to get by and survive. There are also many minor characters, with the two most important being Miss Yolie and Trini. Miss Yolie owns the local barber shop and acts as a mother figure to the boys. She even wants to take them in to live with her. Trini is her niece, and his Jose's love interest throughout the book. They are both very kind, and want a better life for Jose and Ray. Other minor characters include Jerry, who pays the boys to steal cars and break windshields, and Breon, who wants the boys to live with him and do crimes with him.

Plot

I thought that this book had a very interesting plot. There were a lot of unexpected twists and turns that really kept me on the edge of my seat. I was surprised at all the crimes and breaking the law that Jose and Ray did, especially since they're about as old as I am. One thing I didn't like about the plot was how late in the book the climax came. It seemed like a very small part of the book was dedicated to the rising action, climax, and resolution. I would've liked more detail and a little more information about what was going on. Other than that, I thought that this book had a pretty good, well- thought out plot. Between the crimes, girls, and money,  there are some pretty interesting conflicts and resolutions. They face a lot of problems that typical teenage boys face, as well as some problems that juvenile delinquents face. What I really like about the plot of this story is how it directly characterizes Jose and Ray. At the beginning of the book, you might think they were the same, but as you advance through the plot, you really start to see their differences.


 Thinking of the cops chasing Jose on his new motorcycle reminds me of this cop chase of a 15 year old boy.

Video From: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fS-PYivRrE