"There's a new spirit abroad in African-American fiction, and with this fresh, appealing first novel, Lionel Newton joins the ranks of such breakthrough writers as Trey Ellis and Jess Mowry. Part Boyz N the Hood, part Catcher in the Rye, Getting Right with God is a powerful novel about a young black man in urban America, circa now." "Lucas Martin's adolescence has caught up with him. He's trying to focus on real life, but on balance he'd rather hang out with his friends, drink, and pull fast ones on corner prostitutes. Or maybe wail away on his sax, or have one of his chats with God and Satan, two depraved drag-queen images he creates for himself to help him indulge in flights of ferociously funny fantasy. Anything to avoid dealing with his father's newfound sense of parental responsibility or his new stepmom's overtures at mothering. Add a whacked-out, dope-dealing best friend and a radical "church-girl" who alternates "Marcus Garvey bends" with determined efforts to make Lucas fall for her, and you've got the makings of a bumpy ride into manhood." "As he wrestles with the ambiguities of sex, love, religion, and the puzzle of his own identity, Lucas Martin combines the familiar trials and tribulations of youth with a take on life that's utterly his own. Written with a young, irreverent style that never misses a beat and a storytelling command that soars with the wile and wit of its young hero, this winning, uncommonly accomplished debut introduces a bold new talent to the literary scene."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved