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Hoodlum: A Novel Paperback – August 1, 2005

by K'wan (Author)
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 516 ratings
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He set out to be the good son, but the streets had a different plan.

Born to one of the city's most notorious crime families, Shai Clark has always managed to be a good kid. A college hoops star, Shai shunned the world that his father had created and focused on his dreams of going pro. Tommy, Shai's trigger-happy older brother, is next in line for the throne and rules under his father through brute force. But Poppa has bigger plans for Shai.
The situation soon turns ugly when Poppa is murdered and Tommy is removed from the equation. Suddenly Shai finds himself at the head of his father's empire and the streets are thrown into chaos. It is then that he must decide whether to pursue his own dreams or put his father's affairs in order. Unable to sit idly by while the Clarks' underworld empire is pillaged, Shai takes up his father's mantle and brings his game to the streets. He quickly learns that there are two sides to every coin, and the streets hold no mercy for the weak.
Hoodlum chronicles three generations of Trinidadian immigrants and their rise to power in the New York City heroin trade.
A K'wan classic.

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Previous page
  1. Book 1 of 2
    Hoodlum
  2. Print length
    336 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    St. Martin's Griffin
  5. Publication date
    August 1, 2005
  6. Dimensions
    5.46 x 0.92 x 8.58 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0312333080
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0312333089
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

K'Wan's gritty latest (after 2004's Street Dreams) follows the fortunes of two brothers whose ghetto mafia family crumbles under the weight of murder and disloyalty. Tommy Clark runs the streets of Harlem with an iron fist (though his dad, Poppa, who's been "laying his gangsta down for thirty-something years," is still king), and he's poised to inherit the family "business." But then Tommy's younger brother, Shai, turns up, kicked out of college for betting on the basketball games he starred in. Though Poppa discourages Shai from street life, his stubborn, competitive kid has other plans, and pretty soon Shai's hustling the streets with fearless friend Swan and getting busy with local girl Honey while Tommy and Poppa run a risky heroin side operation, encouraging animosity within opposing underworld factions. When Poppa is murdered, it paves the way for the brothers to exact their retaliation in a spray of bullets, while crooked cops close in on Tommy for an execution-style murder. With every page soaked with street-smart vernacular, K'Wan's fourth novel delivers another aggressive, bloody portrait of unrepentant urban outlaws. (Aug.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

“One of hip-hop fiction's hottest authors.” ―KING Magazine

“The legacies of Iceberg Slim and Donald Goines are forever preserved…. [Street Dreams] is as real as it gets.” ―Upscale on Street Dreams

“K'wan steadily builds to a frantic, movie-worthy climax.” ―Entertainment Weekly on Street Dreams

“K'wan has really outdone himself on this one…. A must-read for fans of urban fiction.” ―Shannon Holmes, national bestselling author of Bad Girlz and Never Go Home Again, on Street Dreams

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition (August 1, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0312333080
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0312333089
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.1 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.46 x 0.92 x 8.58 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 516 ratings

About the author

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K'wan

K'wan

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Noted for his artful, suspenseful stories telling, K’wan has become one of the best loved, most iconic black writers of the last two decades. He has penned pen over 2 dozen bestselling novels, including the widely popular “Animal” series for Cash Money Content/ Simon & Schuster as well as several paranormal stories written under a pseudonym. He has just over 1,000,000 books in print across formats.

K’wan has been featured in: Vibe, Pages, King, The Library Journal, Entertainment Weekly, The New York Press, and Time Magazine, to name a few. K'wan was also the recipient of the 2012 and 13 Street Lit Book Award Medals (SLBAM) in adult fiction for Eviction Notice and Animal. He has been a reoccurring guest on TV-One's Celebrity Crime Files.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
4.7 out of 5
516 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Pammie Jo
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
Reviewed in the United States on June 30, 2021
Verified Purchase
This is a great read. At times it got a little gory for me, but I could not put it down! I'm not sure if there is a part 2 but I would love to read it!
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Elizabeth Lee
5.0 out of 5 stars He's only 19
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
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It's a really good story I could see happening . Tommys hot head is an issue for me. There's a shine when being king compassion stredegy and logic has to be there. Poppa Clark is the picture that the Clark's have. Beautiful family and each of the 3 children are different yet the same. Very action packed read. We all need friends like swan and gator .
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Carmen M Torres
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2022
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Amazing book to read
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Apples
5.0 out of 5 stars The Goat
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2021
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L'wan is one of the best writers i have came across in forever the way he brings his characters to life is so amazing he is my favorite male author hands down
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Santana
5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend all of his books :)
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2016
Verified Purchase
K'wan is such an amazing author, I am buying all of his book, and i've nearly read them all, and each book gets better and better. You never know whats going to happen next, although some of the life experiences are so real it's like your living in it while reading. Very visual and suspenseful.
One person found this helpful
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A. L. Jones
4.0 out of 5 stars Gritty Urban Novella
Reviewed in the United States on August 28, 2006
Verified Purchase
I had the pleasure of meeting this author @ the Harlem Book Fair, in NYC during the summer where I purchased his "Street Dreams" book which he autographed for me. I was watching the way he handled himself out there dealing with all the people & decided to purchase a book from him.

Well..., after starting the book, I was definitely impressed & got to a point where I just couldn't put it down. After finishing it, I was amazed @ how well he weaved the tale together, the strength of his characters, & the way the last quarter of the book picked up steam & tied everything together neatly.

I decided to see if he was a flash in the pain or a new voice I should pay attention to. I ordered 2 more novels from him & now I am hooked... I started telling folks if they want gritty street type drama, give Kwan a read & see if you can feel his flow...

He's a cool guy, very personable, easy to talk to, & his personality doesn't give off the impression of the tales he's writing about. So he's gained a fan from NJ who will keep his eye on this Harlem, NYC talent.
5 people found this helpful
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Kyle Tennyson
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Novel
Reviewed in the United States on November 17, 2019
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I give it 5 stars because the story had depth, it didn't glorify the violence. It was an up and down rollercoaster of suspense. Every chapter kept the reader on the edge of your seat! Excellent story - telling that humanizes the protagonist and shows a moral compass!
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Theresa
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
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I love to read book with action and drama
One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Body Loves Zee
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
Reviewed in Canada on October 2, 2020
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Love this book
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