What was the most powerful part of the text? The most exciting?

The most dynamic aspect of this novel, to me, was the level of grittiness that ran through the pages. Already, I found myself biting my lip in astonishment at the encounters that these people go through on a day to day basis. Hardships are difficult on different planes, whether it's the mother that can't provide for her children, the man that flees his responsibilities as father, or the children dealing drugs — this novel has really opened my eyes. I never knew that such things happened in America. Well, I knew of the drug dealing and the fathers running away from paying checks, but I didn't comprehend that people were essentially living in poverty. 

It was impossible for me to imagine that mere kindergartners understood copulation, when I didn't learn about it until years afterwards. These same kindergartners grow up to be gangbusters and drug deals to grow up to be full on murderers and addicts. It's an extremely vicious cycle and I wonder if people are ever able to escape this life.

As far as the most exciting part of the novel, it has to be the murder of the small boy, as terrible as that sounds, the literary work's focal point is said murder. I want to keep reading to find out about the case! I want to know the two boy's personalities and what becomes of them.