SYNOPSIS

Wallace (aka Lolly) is mourning the death of his older brother, shot by a rival gang in a Harlem club.

He finds comfort in the company of his friend, Vega, and in building magical worlds out of Legos.

Lolly is at first angry when a withdrawn and shunned girl in his afterschool program, “Big” Rose, joins him in Lego building.

After realizing Rose’s talent for memorizing complex buildings, Lolly invites her to explore Manhattan’s architecture together.

The two builders’ Lego creations are soon noticed and celebrated in the local newspaper and on TV.

Vega joins a gang and tries to convince Lolly to do the same.

The arrest of Lolly’s mom’s girlfriend is a wake-up call for Lolly away from crime.

PERFECT AGE 10 – 14

We love

• Rose’s and Lolly’s unlikely friendship, and how much he misses her after she moves away.
• The portrayal of fear, uncertainty, danger due to violence among street gangs even at a young age.
• The key, yet understated, role of the afterschool program supervisor, Mr. Ali.

WATCH OUT FOR (Language, Big / Sensitive Topics, Outdated Concepts):

• Lolly and Vega get beaten up and mugged by two gang members not much older than themselves.
• Vega is given a gun upon joining a gang, and the two boys consider killing their muggers as revenge.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• What are some reasons Rose and Lolly like building with Legos? What might they find in the activity that is missing in their daily lives?
• Lolly ends up getting “punished” by Tuttle’s owner for Yvonne’s theft. What do you think of the owner’s decision?
• What are some reasons Vega may have decided to join a gang? What may have convinced him to give it up and throw away the gun?
• Why do you think Rose’s grandma gives Lolly a book of poems? How does his attitude toward poetry change?