If You Like the 'Bluford' Series
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-- School Library Journal, 12/3/2008 7:50:00 AM
Again and again, teen librarians talk about the power of the “Bluford” series in attracting reluctant readers and keeping them going. Focused on the lives of predominantly African-American inner-city teens, the dialogue is street real, as are the situations. Adding to the appeal, the stories are all less than 200 pages and are written at a 4th- to 5th-grade reading level, making them accessible to struggling readers. The following titles are recommended for those who are ready for more complex writing and mature subject matter.
FLAKE, Sharon. Bang! Hyperion/Jump at the Sun. 2005. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-1844-0; pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-7868-4955-0.
Gr 8-12–Already living in a harsh environment in the city, 13-year-old Mann’s life gets worse when his little brother dies in a random shooting. His father decides to put Mann and his friend Kee-lee through an African coming-of-age ritual which involves abandoning them in the woods, and then makes them live on the streets to learn how to survive. The boys desperately claw their way through this cruel initiation, not without tragedy.
MOWRY, Jess. Babylon Boyz. S & S/Aladdin. 1997. pap. $10.95. ISBN 978-0-689-82592-7.
Gr 8 Up–Gangs, violence, drugs, sex—it’s all here. Dante, Wyatt, and Pook each have their own problems, but they stick together and keep their sights set on a future beyond the ghetto. But when a suitcase full of cocaine turns up, the teens need to make a decision—sell it, go to college, and get medical care? Or destroy it, acknowledging the damage drugs do to the community. With some graphic scenes, this book is not for the squeamish.
VAN DIEPEN, Alison. Street Pharm. S & S/Pulse. 2006. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1154-8.
Gr 9 Up–Ty, 17, is smart, disciplined, and focused—too bad all his business acumen is used in managing the family drug trade while his father is incarcerated. When lovely Alyse comes into his life, Ty begins to look beyond his current career, but not soon enough. Profanity and street slang abound, adding to the realistic urban setting.
WILLIAMS, Lori Aurelia. Broken China. S & S. 2005. Tr $16.95. ISBN 978-0-689-86878-8; pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-1618-5.
Gr 10 Up–Fourteen-year-old China adores her daughter, Amina, though it is hard to be both a student and a mother to a two-year-old. When Amina dies suddenly, China goes deeply into debt for a lavish coffin, and has to quit school to work off her debt at a strip club. China ultimately weighs the consequences of her difficult decision. Williams creates a gritty urban setting with frank language and some grim characters.
WOODSON, Jacqueline. Locomotion. Putnam. 2003. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-0-399-23115-5; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-0-439-63615-5.
Gr 4-7–Encouraged by a caring teacher, 11-year-old Lonnie Collins Motion (Locomotion) writes a series of poems to try to cope with his life as he deals with the death of his parents, separation from his younger sister, and adapting to a foster home. His classmates are a diverse bunch, and readers will relate to the frequent shuffling of the social order that comes through in Lonnie’s writing. A good pick for reluctant readers.
Remarkable Reads are produced by the editors at NoveList, the leader in readers' advisory electronic resources. For more information, visit NoveList.
