Rite of Passage

by Richard Wright, David Díaz (Illustrator)

"Johnny, you're leaving us tonight . . . "Fifteen-year-old Johnny Gibbs does, well in school, respects his teachers, and loves his family. Then suddenly, with a few short words, his idyllic life is shattered. He learns that the family he has loved all his life is not his own, but a foster family. And now he is being sent to live with someone else.

Shocked by the news, Johnny does the only thing he can think of: he runs. Leaving his childhood behind forever, Johnny takes to the streets where he learns about living life--the hard way.

Richard Wright, internationally acclaimed author of Black Boy and Native Son, gives us a coming-of-age story as compelling today as when it was first written, over fifty years ago.

‘Johnny Gibbs arrives home jubilantly one day with his straight ‘A’ report card to find his belongings packed and his mother and sister distraught. Devastated when they tell him that he is not their blood relative and that he is being sent to a new foster home, he runs away. His secure world quickly shatters into a nightmare of subways, dark alleys, theft and street warfare. . . . Striking characters, vivid dialogue, dramatic descriptions, and enduring themes introduce a enw generation of readers to Wright’s powerful voice.’—SLJ.
Notable 1995 Children's Trade Books in Social Studies (NCSS/CBC)

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Classics, School, Race, Coming Of Age, American

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Richard Nathaniel Wright was an African-American author of powerful, sometimes controversial novels, short stories and non-fiction. Much of his literature concerned racial themes. His work helped redefine discussions of race relations in America in the mid-20th century.

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Reviews

[Bobbieshiann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short but impactful! The unraveling of innocence takes place in just a few pages. We meet Johnny, a young Black boy living in a reality that is not his. As Johnny heads home from school, his thoughts of a home cook meal, a movie with his close friend later, and a report card with all As in his pocket was everything great to start the weekend until it shattered. Crumbled so fast as Johnny found out the truth. He is an orphan. Confused and in disbelief, Johnny goes through a range of emotions ultimately deciding not to go with his new family because he always believed his current family members were his by blood. Finding out that his birth mother is in the psychiatric ward and there is no inclination of who his father is, Johnny turns to the streets where he can no longer be forced to trust and care for others. Only fifteen years old and so childlike, the privilege Johnny had started to fester. The system has chosen to disrupt his safe space without reason but because they can. “the City folks came and told me that you had to leave us. They didn’t say why. You didn’t do anything wrong; nobody’s mad at you. It seems that after a child’s been in a foster home for a certain number of years, they move ‘im to another home. I begged ‘em, prayed to ‘em, but they said that was the rule”.

Home-cooked meals, both parents, clean clothes, and a routine washed away. With the help of a friend, Johnny finds a hideout but must be accepted into the crew or die. In this crew, we met Baldly, Treetop, and Skinkie. Three Black boys whose way of survival brings forth juvenile delinquency, their suffering, racism, and the notion to kill or be killed. Johnny almost wears good and evil on his shoulders as he goes to great lengths to be accepted but lingering behind him in the need for shelter and nourishment. The need to have a home. Johnny becomes Jackal, a fighter, and the new leader of the moochers as he beats Baldly to a pulp.

Although white people linger throughout the story, they are not of value and continue harm to Black in numerous ways. It is shown when Johnny is taken away. When it is expressed how Baldly lost his head at the hands of white doctors and instead of caring, they were more concerned about a lawsuit. White teachers do their job but can’t be trusted as they only are present in the classroom. Crooked police who are paid off and profit from street crime.

Johnny gets to now see the world for what it is and even though he has the chance to venture back home, terrified and all, Johnny chooses the street life.

[☽•☾-Grimalkin-☽•☾ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full review to come but Rite of Passage was fantastic!! xx
4/5

[Nick Rath · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by the library website after I gave a rating to the book X by Ilyasah Shabazz. Both share a similar plot of a young black teenager trying to find himself in a life of struggles and setbacks. I still enjoyed this book, but I don't feel it compares to the experience of reading X because X revolved around a real life iconic figure in the form of Malcolm X rather thank this book which contained a fictional character. This character (Johnny) was still made to seem very realistic and to connect with the struggles that the readers share. Johnny decides at a young age to put himself in a tough predicament after receiving tough news. Fortunately for him, he's able to adapt and overcome most of the issues that he faces by making new friends (even a few enemies) and gaining valuable knowledge from them. If somebody is interested in the life of Malcolm X, they would enjoy Richard Wright's realistic fictional take on the same topic. Thank you for reading.

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

In length, this is somewhere between a long short story and a novella. It features a fifteen-year-old, Johnny Gibbs, who suddenly finds out that his 'family' isn't his biological family, that he is a foster child and now must move to a new foster home. Feeling betrayed by everyone, he runs away.

An afterword in this edition gives some information about the story, and about Richard Wright. The story was not published until 30 years after Wright's death, and it is not one of his best. It is certainly not up to the wonderful quality of stories found in his "Uncle Tom's Cabin" collection. Still, it was an interesting read and well written.

[Clayton Roach · Rating 3 out of 5]

A dark cloud floats heavy with weight from loneliness, innocence, and the endless cycle of shallow belonging.

“He was alone and had to go on alone to make a life for himself by trying to reassemble the shattered fragments of his lonely heart.”

Compared to Uncle Tom’s Children, I feel less suffocated and sad after finishing Rite of Passage. I guess that’s good and bad.

The afterword is boss.

[Betsie Bush · Rating 5 out of 5]

2018 Reading Challenge - Posthumously Published.

I am especially moved by this story and how it reflects on our modern (early 21st century) society. A story written about black youths in the 1950s/60s really highlights the injustices and imbalance of power in our society.

[João · Rating 4 out of 5]

Li em Português mas não aparece aqui esta edição já de 1994. Segundo livro que leio do Richard Wright, depois de O Homem Que Viveu Debaixo de Terra e a temática da fuga, de mudar de vida, de desaparecer do que se conhece para algo novo e desconhecido, mantém-se. Gostei bastante. Ainda quero ler O Filho Nativo.

[Mersim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author: Richard Wright
Genre: Autobiography
This book is about a kid named Johnny. Johnny is a African American living in Harlem, New York. Johnny's best friend is Billy. He is a straight A student. He does really awesome in school and he is really nice. After he finishes school, he goes home and he sees that his mom and sister are upset. They tell him that they are not his real mother and sister and he is also going to get picked up by his new parents Mr. and Ms.Green. He makes one bold move and it is to run away. After he runs away, he goes to Billy. Billy brought Johnny to his Gang's hideout and Billy gave Johnny a note that tells the gang not to hurt Johnny. The members in the gang is Baldy, Skinkie, Treetop, and Billy. The gang is called The Moochers. The gang's hideout is the school and they usually go there at midnight. The gang finally arrives and they see pin down Johnny before he even gets to talk. The gang ask Johnny questions and Johnny said he left his foster home and that's why he got accepted to the gang. The whole gang left there foster homes. Later on, Johnny and Baldy(The leader of The Moochers) fought and Johnny knocked him out cold. After he knocked him out cold, he became the new leader of The Moochers. They are teaching Johnny how to rob someone but Johnny does not want to rob people.

I think Johnny is stupid because he joined a gang all because he lives in a foster home. Don't be mad at your foster parents, be mad at your mom for being drunk and having a one night stand with a guy which is your father and he did not use a condom. His mother never saw him ever again. I think he is going to stay in the gang because he feels rejected which is absolutely not Johhnys foster parents fault. I finished the book and the ending was total crap because nothing happened at the end. It ended with him just going to sleep. The whole book was getting better and better but then the ending just brought the whole book down and that is why I rated this book 4 stars instead of 5. I would recommend this book because it is a awesome book but the ending is just dumb. People will enjoy all the action in this book and they will also enjoy the problem too.

[Dannielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows a fifteen-year-old teenage boy, Johnny, as he runs away from home after being told that the only parents he ever knew were only his foster parents, and that he was about to be moved to a new placement. Although Johnny begins the book as a good student with a loving family, he quickly realizes that if he is going to make it out on his own, he will need to make some changes. He joins a sort of gang and loses much of his innocence as he begins to make choices that will forever change him.

With a 9th grade English curriculum that focuses on "rites of passage," this book was a great reminder to me of why that theme is so significant in the life of teenagers. As I followed Johnny and the experiences that forced him to leave his innocence behind him and face the cruel world, I was forced to consider the fact that the loss of innocence is not temporary, but rather a permanant loss, and that we can change and we can try to remember, but we can never go back.

[Antonio Rodriguez]

Rite of Passage was a great book to read if you like to read suspenseful book. The book is mostly about a boy named Johnny that doesn't really know what's going on. The part I like about the book is when the fighting chapter between Baldy and Johnny. This fight takes place in the school and Johnny ends up winning. Something I do like about the book that around the middle to the end the setting is mostly in the school and I didn't really like that part of the whole book. The best character is Billy because he doesn't tell nobody where johnny is in the whole book. I think the theme of this is love and be happy of what you have. That means including parents house food clean water and also WIFI. The over all rating I give this book is a 4 out of 5 starts.

[LeeTravelGoddess · Rating 5 out of 5]

as always. light yet heavy; raw yet pleasant. Wright is probably my fav writer of all time— he, King David and the Apostle Paul immediately come to mind as faves 🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽. It’s a tops. 💚💚💚.

[Monique · Rating 2 out of 5]

Depending on the day I often and most often cite Native Son by Richard Wright as my favorite book--it is most definitely in my top five of all time..I have been a Wright fan ever since and have read Black Boy, The Outsiders and Eight Men once upon a time (will always reread his works and even have a couple) but as its Black History Month I found this slim novel on my shelves and realized I have never read it and hey its main character is a fifteen year old boy and maybe it can be a recommendation for middle school...So here we go..

The book starts with a great day in the life of Johnny--he gets all As in school, is invited to the movies with his best friend and his older brother and even has a hot steaming bowl of food afterschool just like he daydreamed about--all is well until he goes home and all his things are packed and his mother tells him he is leaving to live with a new family…
Having no idea he was even adopted Johnny is devastated and has to come to terms with this shock the best way he can---

“Only a half hour ago his world had been so solid, real; now he lived in a hot, sick dream. The mother he loved so deeply was now disavowing him, cutting him off, telling him that his life had been a lie.” (Pg. 17)

Johnny’s decision to run away comes fast and so do the choices he must make after that which include him going to an abandoned school and meeting up with a gang of runaways..
Scared but with no other choices Johnny has to prove himself to this gang and even ends up fighting the leader then becoming the leader of this little gang of boys with no homes or morals who rob and kill to eat and survive everyday. Johnny knows he is not built for that life but has no choice and even gets initiated with a robbery.

This was a super short novella that went into why black boys are perceived sometimes correctly as aggressive, violent and scary when it is all a reaction to being scared and alone..Though the worst has to come out of them it starts from a place of innocence and confusion until life of crime is all they know…

The book ends so you have to imagine what Johnny does next however it is the making of a street terror and his gang who do anything to get by, to anybody..Scary and intense as the boys are so young with nothing but crime to look forward to….
Deep, maybe too much for middle school but high school and above this is a short case study on a potential criminal and how he became that way…..Still love Richard Wright!!!

[Judith Leipold · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read and enjoyed RW's coming of age "Black boy" i decided to spend an afternoon with "Rite of passage." I was intrigued by it being published thirty years posthumously. I wasn't a fan of Harper Lee's NOTW, also published posthumously. Now, I have to consider the reasons these books aren't published in a more chronological manner. I can think of several reasons, but will spare you my bias.
The book (novella) is written in an elementary style, probably rates a 4th or 5th grade reading level. So if you are looking for great literature you might want to skip it. Plot involves a teen who discovers his parents are actually his foster parents and the city has decided to move him on to another family. So he runs. The kid is smart, athletic, and a good kid. Suddenly he isn't so smart, and good is becoming questionable. The book was probably written c1950s (RW died in 1960) and to me the story, the language, the characters were cliche and too general to make it interesting.
But saying all that, I think there is value in the book. It's value rests with the audience that RW was addressing: urban or suburban teens who: have low reading levels, like skinny books; run on emotion; have few skills in resolving conflict; and think gang mentality is a reasonable way to align yourself. Even if the teen reader of 1994 doesn't fit into all the above, the book is popular and teens are reading and enjoying it. If this book motivates a YA reader to pick up another then it deserves an additional two stars (already given in the above rating).

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m not sure if Wright intended this novella to be for young adults, but it would be an ideal book for junior high students. The protagonist’s journey -- from good student to alienated orphan to reluctant gang member to criminal -- is rapid (condensed into a single night) to the point that this feels almost like an allegory. It is also steeped in Naturalism. Johnny is trapped by circumstances of fate and caught up in events that propel him from one doomed scenario to the next. Throughout it all, Wright gives the reader an empathetic glance into a world where fear, confusion, and abandonment lead to a life on the streets where only the strong survive; ironically, it is a spurious strength -- a performance to conceal a deeper, inner sense of insecurity, loss, and weakness. This novella isn’t on par with Native Son, Black Boy, or the stories in Uncle Tom's Children, but it would make for a great introduction to Wright (and literary Naturalism) for students or young adults.

[Kingtchalla83 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rite of Passage is one of Richard Wright's lesser-known works. Originally titled "The Jackal" and contrived in 1945, the novella would not be published until 30 years after Wright's death. Rite of Passage is a throughline to his other work. It explores racism, identity, agency, loss of innocence, isolation, systemic racism, violence, and the psychology of Black young men.
🔥
At the novella's onset, the writing is unembellished, luring the reader into a false sense of comfort. A shift occurs within mere pages; no, the writing does not become ornate - instead, an ominous subtext surrounds Johnny Gibb's interaction with every character he encounters until the end of the novel. His psychological equilibrium descends into vertigo as he grasps for the familiar. His shroud of innocence is ripped to shreds. He experiences fear, shame, and confusion. Then Johnny dons the street's armor as a means to survive. However, the armor is bulky and chafes in places. Johnny longs for security, warmth, and love.  
🔥
Rite of Passage is only 117 pages. I don't want to spoil the plot by analyzing the text in-depth. However, I enjoyed reading it at 13 and even more as an adult. 
🔥
Notable characters: Baldy and Billy
🔥
Quote: "He was nothing, a nobody, he felt that he had no claim upon anybody in the world."

[Zayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only reason I didn't give it a 5 was because it has to be something that either brings me to tears or that makes me see the world in a new light. I still thought the story was amazing, and since I'm only 19 and beginning to realize how tough life is and yes I have more independence from my parent's rules, but at the same time, I still have to do all of the adult stuff like paying bills and doing things I'd rather not do, like work 5-8 hour shifts after I've been at college all morning, plus paying for gas once a week, to say the least, I don't know how people live. Throughout the story, we see a similar thing change with the main character's point of view of Rite of Passage. It's one of those endings that makes you say "wow" and that's all the words you can say because you're speechless like I was.

[Cheryl Licata · Rating 1 out of 5]

52 book club challenge 2023 #13 Published posthumously
This novella begins with 15 year old Johnny, the main character, coming home to discover his belongings sitting outside his family's tenement housing. He learns the people he called his family were not biologically related to him; he was a foster child and the welfare authorities decided he should live with another family. He had been with this family he thought was his own since he was 6 months old. He was a good student and his life at "home" was good. I spent the rest of the book wanting to learn why he was removed from this placement. He runs away rather than go live with someone new. His character completely changes as he spends the rest of the book trying to understand life with no family. This book seemed like a rough draft to me that was never revised and finished. I was disappointed.

[Markie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rite of Passage by Richard Wright

Another banger from my fav ❤️

Wright has such a voice when it comes to black stories and narrative that makes you feel at home in the midst of his creative spin on internal conflict. I find myself undoubtedly hopeful for every character I’ve read of Wright’s.

This particular story follows Johnny, a 15 year old teenager whose life is turned upside down when he comes home to find his belongings packed up in front of his house. Through fragmented conversation, Johnny finds out that he is adopted and the city has come to renew his placement with a new family.

This news immediately launches Johnny into a panic and causes him to runaway from the home he’s known up until then.

Introducing an interesting cast of delinquent youths, Johnny now has to make sense of the world and his place in it.

A short, but powerful read.
4/5 ⭐️ 🔪

[Coppercore · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. It follows a boy named Johnny. He runs away from his recently found out foster family that he thought was his own and joins a gang recommended by his friend. He fights a kid and joins the gang and is just automatically accepted as the leader because he won a fight against the leader, but had no fighting experience before? This isn’t a super big deal, yeah luck happens but still. He goes on a little robbing trip with the gang, goes to sleep and then the book just ends. I thought maybe it’d rap up or something but nah. I bought this book because I had to read it in school and it just,ended. It was decently entertaining reading the fight between Johnny and Baldy and how it would play out, but it just felt like it was building up to ultimately be nothing.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes I wonder if Wright got a bit too much praise because he was one of the first African American writers to delve into the lives of black characters from an urban experience, bringing up issues other writers shied away from. It just seems his stories, from dialogue to plot, are somewhat simplistic. Even his most famous works. That's not to say I haven't enjoyed reading them, no. I just wonder if the praise is too high. In this one I simply don't buy it, even though the author can tell his story any way he wishes.

[Hadiyah · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get through this book even though it is small. Richard Wright always does a great job of narrating daily life so eloquently. However, the story did not pull me in. I was happy to begin hearing the story of adoption within the Black community, that story is rarely discussed in literature. However, the story turned and became a common trope of young Black males engaging in crime.

[Dre J · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was interesting. I’ve always felt a certain way about Richard Wright because of the negative things he said about Zoe’s Hurston...like they both couldn’t be great together...but I read this and enjoyed the story...it was kind of short and faced paced, but he really writes well and it resonates still to the things teenagers faced when I was growing up and even teenagers now in the digital age...so definitely a decent read

[Jones House Publishing · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent book. I'm not completely sold on it being a true Richard Wright book however. It only takes about 2 hours or so to read, which is good as I like shorter novels that take 2-4 hours to complete. Nice adolescent tale that essentially takes place in a day. Lacks a little more depth but still a good read.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novella was published posthumously many years after Wright's death. It has an unfinished feel to it but also has many moments of compelling humanity. The edition I read had a well written afterword by Arnold Rampersad that is well reading as he places the story and themes, in great context, to Wright's life and other works.

[Colette Kriegel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't really like the ending but thought it talked about some important and serious topics. I had to read it for school and probably wouldn't read it again just because of the ending. It had good symbolism and deep characters

[Brandon Collins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Richard is one of my favorite authors! I love his books! This book is so good and short!

[Pharoah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Leaves me on edge

[Chevy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was caught off guard by the last page. The afterword is at least 15 pages so I thought the story would go on. I wanted more. Great read!

[Garnt Lover · Rating 5 out of 5]

its is a really good book sad that the author passed away wright the book.

[Teagan]

I really liked this book, it was a nice quick, read that held a lot of depth within the characters, conflict, and setting.