The effects of 9/11 were devastating to most Americans. For some Vietnam vets, they were transported back in time to a place where they relived the horrors they witnessed in the Vietnam jungle. Families mourned loved ones who were lost and remained undiscovered. For 45 year-old, recovering crack addict, Craig Stevens, it brought up memories of his first love, Juliet Sumpter (Gazelle). It also made his day-to-day life an agonizing struggle between choosing the pipe or sobriety. In Margaret Johnson Hodge’s newest novel, Red Light/ Green Light, she vividly describes Craig’s perils in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.

When 9/11 happened, Craig had 42 days of sobriety under his belt and was well on his way to recovery. When he is told about the Twin Towers falling, his first thoughts were of Gazelle. It did not matter that he had not seen her in 20 years, he needed to find out if she was okay and so he sets out to find her. He winds up in Hempstead at the home of her grandmother, who is also awaiting news of Gazelle’s fate. After a few days of no news, Gazelle’s grandmother sets off to find her. Craig remains in Hempstead hoping for both of them to return. In Hempstead, Craig is determined to remain clean for Gazelle. He does not want her to see him as he last left her, stealing all their belongings, wild-eyed, crazed and on a drug-induced binge. He tries to remain strong, but temptation by those who mean him no good, a little money and the smell of a crack addict on the bus is too much and his fragile recovery shatters. Disappointing all who were cheering for him to succeed, Craig is back on the streets, searching for that Nirvana. But, there were those who just would not give up on him, and when he comes down from the high, they are there to catch him, but for how long? When is enough enough?

I found myself pulling for Craig. I cheered even his smallest steps to stay clean and felt immense disappointment when he faltered. As I read, I wondered what one thing would make a crack addict want to stop. I thought that by having to degrade yourself by fighting rats for food from a dumpster, or selling your thin, dirty mattress for mere pennies or having to hawk the canned goods your parents purchased would be enough, but once on the binge, it means nothing. I have never been able to understand the attraction of this particular drug. A drug that will make you lose everything to chase after a high that you can never obtain, while you lose everything and everyone dear to you. Johnson-Hodge clearly and distinctly describes Craig’s quest. I kept thinking one had to have gone through this to give such an authentic account of the life of a crack addict. If you are looking for a well-written street or urban novel this is it, because it can not get anymore real than this story. High five to Ms Johnson Hodge for a excellent, riveting novel.

Jeanette
APOOO BookClub

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of Red Light Green Light and to respectively vote for Jeanette’s review.

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