Summary

Miracle's Boys opens with a prologue titled “Newcharlie.” Lafayette introduces himself as the narrator only in regard to his connection to his brother, Charlie. Charlie has recently returned home from a detention center for boys, and Lafayette notices a dramatic change in his brother. He says his brother is gone, and he is now “someone – something – different,” and Lafayette calls this new person “Newcharlie” (Location 20). Lafayette watches Charlie, who is in front of the mirror. Charlie flips Lafayette off, but Lafayette does not respond. He simply wants to know what happened to change his brother.

In Chapter 1, Lafayette is in the bedroom he shares with Charlie. Charlie is talking to his friend, Aaron, detailing the groups he considers to be “the baddest” (1). Lafayette knows that Charlie and Aaron were not friends before Charlie spent his time in the Rahway Home for Boys. Aaron...