Aaron Bebo’s Change For a Dollar Not Just Another Story About Bangin’

A Review by Nikki D. Bosompem

Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that this is Aaron Bebo’s first novel. I say this because Change For a Dollar is written with such intensity, such truth, and grit not seen in some of the urban lit novels already on the market today. I have read copious amounts of books and it is evident that Mr. Bebo has taken the time to develop his characters, has studied human relationships through his own observations with life and knows the workings of a street hustler’s mind. For Bebo, the street hustler’s mind is not imagined; it is a part of him. He knows the streets. This type of working knowledge is what makes Change For a Dollar convincing and real.

Mr. Bebo’s writing is highly descriptive and can be applied to real life. His decision to write using street slang and the dialect of the regions his characters originate from also add credence to the story. In addition, Mr.Bebo weaves a tale not only about the workings of the streets but also about human nature. He places us into the mind of Malcolm, also known as Quarters as Malcolm learns some hard lessons about making it in the street game.

Mr. Bebo takes us on a journey through Malcolm’s metamorphosis in which we see him go from being fearful and unsure to determined and ruthless. Through this change Mr. Bebo weaves a complex story that is full of witty and intelligent characters that prevail in the streets to those who are destined for elimination and are not so fortunate. Intertwined within the story of Malcolm’s metamorphosis and the violence of the streets is the account of a love affair between he (Quarters) and Melanina “Boo” Ortiz. This love would have never come to fruition if Quarters had not shed Malcolm because Malcolm was more suited for his wife of many years, Nikki Andrews. However, once Malcolm decides to embrace the streets wholeheartedly and Quarters takes over, Nikki is dropped like a bad habit. Boo and Quarters are mirror reflections of each other and Quarters needs Boo to expound upon his empire and to give him the kind of love Nikki could never provide.

With each chapter, Aaron Bebo’s Change For A Dollar pulsates with the excitement and glitz that only a story about ballin’ can bring. But you should not be fooled by the bling and the ice, the allure of Quarters’ Criminal EntEnt record company, and the descriptions of the whips, the glocks and the strippers. Bebo’s novel is about much more than that. It is about the deeply philosophical and introspective elements of a smart street hustler’s mind. His writing should dispel any stereotype that may come with the persona of a hustler. This novel conveys the dedication that goes along with this line of work, the fact that at times even a hustler may not know what his next turn is, and that killing your best friend is difficult, yet utterly necessary.

Aaron Bebo is able to capture the android with the human all in one novel. Make sure you don’t take his words at face value, though. This novel is anything but superficial and its’ message is worth digging six feet under for.

 

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