After Tupac and D Foster: Jacqueline Woodson.

The teenage years are a confusing and thorny time for anyone; however, for Neeka and her best friend, these years present more than they bargained for. Neeka and her best friend, who is the unnamed narrator of the story, have always thought their lives were too structured and boring. They both come Tag Heuer Replica from strict, single mother homes. They are monitored carefully by their moms and are restricted in their actions. The girls are not allowed to leave their safe block in Queens, which to them is beyond unfair.

When D strolls into their lives one day, Neeka is not sure she wants a new girl in the mix, but a shared love of Tupac and a passion for double-dutch unites them. “Three the hard way” becomes their trademark as they prepare to face the years ahead together. Their love of Tupac brings them as close as they can be and provides them with hours of conversation and entertainment. This music brings meaning and clarity to many aspects of life for the girls. Together they start their search for their “Big Purpose” in life.

D tells her friends that she feels that Tupac is singing about her. She says that Tupac’s lyrics reach her in a way that they don’t understand. The other two scoff at her claims as dreaming. They each feel that Tupac understands them, but D tries to convince them that she truly understands his heartache. The girls love him even though he is on trial for rape. They believe in his innocence with all their being. It is during his trial that the girls really get into the issue of black oppression. When Tupac is shot, the girls are devastated.

Neeka is jealous of D at first because D has no boundaries. She is a foster child who is allowed to roam. Neeka and her best friend are not allowed to leave the block and yet D takes the bus to come visit them. Neeka is bursting with jealousy because she feels she is tied down in her life. She comes from a large family riddled with troubles. Her older brother is in jail for a crime he did not commit. She truly understands the oppression that comes with being black. However Neeka is soon to Tag Heuer Carrera Replica discover that D does not have it all. Her unfettered lifestyle comes from not having any parents and her knowledge of the world comes from years of hardships.

After Tupac and D Foster is a great book for teenagers. Music lovers and urbanites alike will enjoy this story about real-life drama. When life hands you lemons, sometimes lemonade will not quench your thirst. This story demonstrates a clear understanding of the emotional disarray that teenagers face. Tupac’s role in this book gives the reader an insight into how music can truly affect lives.

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