Since the release of his first novel, Clarence Nero has become a superstar of the literary world. His words pulse with the energy of life on the street, and his stories brim with conflict and emotion. Now we're proud to reintroduce his first urban classic, which explores a young man's experience living in and eventually freeing himself from one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in America. At one time, Desire in New Orleans was the pride of public housing, and generations of teenage Cheekie's family had lived there happily and safely. But by the 1970s, the project has seriously deteriorated...

Cheekie: A Child Out of the Desire is a tale of hope as it chronicles one boy's journey through the Desire Project, a violent community in the 9th Ward section of New Orleans where he was born and raised. Endorsed by the late Dr. Maya Angelou, Cheekie brings it all to life: the abuse and the love; the neglect and the nurturing and how one boy overcame violence and poverty to achieve great success.