Avery and his brother Rashid are inseparable. He idolizes his older brother and aspires to be just like him. When Rashid is tragically killed during a basketball court altercation, Avery's world is turned upside down. The family moves out of the Patterson Heights neighborhood into a small cramped apartment on the other side of town.
Avery attends a new school, becomes depressed and stops speaking. His home life isn't easier. His mother begins a crusade to learn who killed her firstborn son and his father becomes distant from the family. When Avery attends group therapy sessions at "Let's Straighten it Out," he finally has a emotional breakthrough and slowly begins to speak and interact with his family and friends.
Along the way, Avery befriends, Pretty Ricky and Natasha who both help him cope during this period. I really don't want to give away the last two chapters of this book because it will really keep you on the edge of your seat. Patterson Heights was a page turner from author Felicia Pride. Not many teen books tackle the sensitive subject of sibling loss, therapy and vividly as Pride does. The scenes where Rashid speaks to Avery are heartfelt and touching. This book can be used as a alternate title for Yasmin Shiraz's 'Retaliation.'
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