Thirteen-year-old Benjie, growing up in Harlem in the late 1960's, believes that if he had somebody to believe in him, he could "do just fine." But, would that alone be enough? Peer pressure leads Benjie into the world of drugs, and his own skewed optimism keeps him from seeing himself as the heroin addict he is quickly becoming. Told in the distinct voices of ten believable characters, Benjie's story blends all these perspectives in a bold portrait of the pain and hope that twists the lives of addicts and their loved ones. What does it take to get on-and stay on-the road to recovery? This realistic novel explores the impact of racism and poverty on even the most valorous personal efforts to confront drug addiction.