Understand this

"Powerful," "affecting," "intimate," "provocative," Understand This by Jervey Tervalon is already being acclaimed as one of the most promising debuts in contemporary American fiction. It is a tapestry whose main thread is the love between Francois and Margot. Seniors at Bolt High, on the surface they have bright futures: Francois is a talented young athlete, while Margot's brains and looks promise to take her far from South Central L.A. But something is holding Francois back. The pull of the street inexorably derails him into a life of tragic compromise. Margot, despite her love for him,…