Straight Outta East Oakland by Harry Louis Williams II

Straight Outta East Oakland by Harry Louis Williams II

First off, this didn’t feel like the typical urban drama because the main character, Firstborn Walker, is a studious young man who just makes some really bad decisions.  He’s from East Oakland and has been accepted to a prestigious (fictitious) private college in Berkeley.  The only catch is he has to come up with 20% of his first year’s tuition in order to qualify to get the rest of his costs (tuition, books and dorm) paid for for his entire time there.  What makes this especially tricky is that he’s about to be evicted from his rented room and can’t find any type of job, no matter how hard he looks.  Out of desperation, what he finally decides to do is go along with his childhood friend Drama and sell marijuana until he can save up the money he needs to start school in the fall.  What are the odds that his plan will work out, or that this naive bookworm will even survive?

This book captured and kept my interest more than many urban dramas.  It felt authentic without glorifying the drugs and violence, while at the same time telling a suspenseful story.  Sometimes the writer does become a little preachy about the “black man’s plight in the hood,” but I think these are messages that especially need to be heard by readers of this particular genre.  I would recommend this to fans and urban drama and Bay Area urban teens and young adults.

We also own the sequel to this book, Straight Outta East Oakland 2, Trapped on the Track.

Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz

Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz

This short novel will surely be a favorite of our Urban Drama fans.  It tells the story of two weeks in the life of Tashera, who is jumped by three girls on her way home from school in Washington, DC.  After the seventeen year old ends up in the hospital, her mother and brother Kahlil (a wheelchair-bound former gang member) swear vengeance, no matter what Tashera wants.  As the story unfolds, we realize the attack wasn’t as random as the family originally thought.  Somehow Tashera’s boyfriend Ahmed and his ex-girlfriend seem to be involved.  And Kahlil is getting his former gang associates to listen to him, as he feels the Deuce Tres crew is being disrespected by this attack.

This book is a roller coaster ride, one event spilling over into another, but there is never a dull moment.  I read it in one sitting, and imagine many teens will do the same.

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

Here’s another review of this short and engaging book, this time from Ms. Goldstein-Erickson.

Although Trina, Leticia and Dominique all go to the same high school, they only know of each other, but are not at all in the same groups. When Trina walks between Dominique and her friends, Dominique feels Trina has violated her personal space. She slams her fist into her hand, signaling her intention to beat up Trina after school. Leticia just happens to be at the top of the stairs at that moment, and realizes what could happen. Each of the three girls tells what’s happening to her as the day goes on, all the way to the end of the day, when Trina walks out of school where Dominique is waiting for her. I felt like I knew each of the girls through reading her thoughts, and understood each of them well. This book is a fast read and I found it really engrossing. Even though it’s told by girls, I think boys will like it too. The drama that goes on at their school could happen at any high school.

Teenie by Christopher Grant

Teenie by Christopher Grant

Martine, known as Teenie to her friends and family, has been a hardworking student for as long as anyone can remember.  As a freshman at the technical high school in Brooklyn, she’s hoping to win a scholarship to pay for her to study in Spain for part of the next school year.  Her best friend since forever, Cherise, isn’t such a stellar student, but she’s much more socially adept, so she and Teenie complement each other perfectly.  When Cherise convinces Teenie to wear a body-hugging outfit forbidden by her strict Caribbean parents, the book smart girl starts getting attention from the star of the basketball team.  At the same time,Cherise has been having an online romance with a sugar daddy who keeps sending her gifts and now wants to meet her at Penn Station.  Teenie is sure this is some guy is some type of pervert stalker, and finally tells her father about the meeting.  When he interrupts the rendezvous with the sugar daddy who is indeed old enough to be their dad, Cherise disowns Teenie for her meddling.  Now, Cherise isn’t around to give Teenie advice when her basketball star crush starts asking for favors she doesn’t understand.

I really enjoyed this book, the writer’s first.  Grant’s main characters are fleshed out and his dialogue realistic, making the story engaging and fun.  I also liked Teenie’s strong sense of family with her parents and older twin brothers.  Grant contrasts this nicely with Cherise’s mom, who spends most of her time with her boyfriends, neglecting her daughter.

I recommend this book to all teen readers, especially fans of urban drama.  I promise that you will get caught up in Teenie’s problems, which are so typical for today’s teens.

Hold Love Strong by Matthew Aaron Goodman

Hold Love Strong by Matthew Aaron Goodman

Born to a 13-year-old mother in an impoverished Brooklyn project, Abraham Singleton starts off life with at least two strikes against him.  The advantage that Abraham has is is strong grandmother who refuses to lose hope and his devoted extended family – uncle, aunt, cousins–that all live together in their cramped apartment.  Because it’s told in the first person narration, the readers “become” Abraham from his birth until the end of the book when he is about eighteen.  We feel like we live his life with him, from the joy of his first love through the sorrows of his mother’s crack addiction.  The readers see Abraham’s life through his eyes, becoming immersed in his triumphs as well as his disappointments.

I was absorbed in this book from the first chapter and finished it in one weekend.  Goodman’s writing is compelling, and I couldn’t wait to see what would happen to Abraham and his family next.  I highly recommend to to all readers.  Fans of urban drama will be especially engaged as this book has all the usual elements they crave, but in a much more realistic story.

Here is a video you can watch from home of an interview with the writer where he discusses his inspiration for writing the book.

First Round Lottery Pick

First Round Lottery Pick by Franklin White

Langston Holiday is one of the best basketball players Cincinnati has ever seen.  He has been playing on the courts of Poindexter Village, aka The Vil, since he was four years old and is now the number one recruit in the nation.   But instead of heading off to college for a least a year before he can turn pro, he’s opted to sign up for the overseas draft and play three years in Europe, before going pro in the U.S.  He should be in line for a multi-million year contract, and suddenly things are changing for him in the hood.  His best friend Jalen will support him in whatever he wants to do, and his mom reluctantly agrees that it’s his decision, even though he will be giving up the chance at a free ride to UCLA, which she’s always dreamed of for him.  His girlfriend Tori adores him and supports him in whatever he wants to do.  His estranged father tries to tell him how important the college education would be for him, but he blows him off when his partner makes a sarcastic remark about Langston’s mom and takes off in anger.

Now The Vil is in an uproar at his news, some with envy and some folks trying to figure out how to cash in on Langston’s good fortune.  His girl-on-the-side Katrina won’t stop chasing him around the hood.  Toy, a former local ball player himself, has been badgering Langston for six months to sign with him and his newly formed sports agency.  Sadly, things never go as smoothly as one would like, especially in a hood like the Vil where everyone is up in everyone else’s business, and some folks are trying to capitalize on other’s good fortune to make their own money.  There are drug deals, a kidnapping, blackmail and more.

This page-turner deserves a play in all YA collections with a strong interest in urban drama.  The characters are solid, the action non-stop, and the writing decent.  I especially appreciated the the writer White went out of his way to avoid constant swearing, while still keeping the language realistic and authentic.  I found the ending a disappointment, but that’s just my opinion.

Try this title is you like Urban Drama, and the authors Sister Souljah, Tracy Brown, Ni-Ni Simone and Walter Dean Myers. Click HERE to see all our Urban Drama reviews.

Rikers High by Paul Volponi

Rikers High by Paul Volponi

Seventeen-year-old Martin Stokes has spent five  long months waiting behind bars for his trial for a petty crime.  He used to think his New York City neighborhood was tough, until he got to the infamous Rikers Island jail.  Here, he’s found it safest not to even talk to anyone at all, even though the isolation is wearing him down.  As a bleak reminder of where he is, Martin has a long, jagged scar on the right side of his face from when he was cut with a razor for not getting out of the way quickly enough during an inmate fight. At least his injury gets him sent to a different section of the jail where he’s actually sent to classes to earn credit towards his high school diploma.  But will the kindness of some of the teachers be enough to save Martin from the dangers at Rikers and his own need for revenge on the kid who cut him?

This realistic title was written by Paul Volponi, who many readers remember from  Black and White and Rucker Park Setup. As one of the teachers on Rikers Island for five years, Volponi incorporates much of the incidents he witnessed into this fictional account.  Reading the book, I felt like I was there along with Martin, experiencing the prison slang, tension and inmates along with him.

I would recommend this to readers of Urban Drama, Paul Volponi fans and anyone who wants to see what it’s like for a teenager inside a prison.

Next Semester

Next Semester by Cecil R. Cross

The second semester at Berkeley high school left me yearning for literature, yet, I remained separated from any form of it. I finally got my hands upon the second edition of the book First Semester . This wonderful read, is titled Next Semester by Cecil Cross. The book details the second semester life of James Dawson whose first encounter with college life was nothing short of impossible and, for lack of a better word, crazy. I enjoyed this book because seeing as how I will be entering college in a year, it helps me debrief the fairy tale image of collge. For instance, College is seen as freedom and partying, a time to be yourself. James Dawson learned that freedom comes with a price when he decided to go to the Kappa “return to school” party when he: had no ride home, no money to enter the event, and 2 mandatory test in 2 of his most important classes. This is where the fairy tale comes in to play. Most books would allow James to get back to his dorm on time with enough time to stretch to finish his two papers. Not exactly, he ends up missing a free transit ride and missing both his classes causing his grade to immediately slip.

I rate this book a 10 simply because there will always be something wrong with any project, book, magazine, but this book was flawless in every sense of the word. I recommend this book for someone who enjoys urban youth fiction and books that focus on overcoming the odds.

Reviewed by Persiah, class of 2011

Retaliation

Retaliation by Yasmin Shiraz

This short novel will surely be a favorite of our Urban Drama fans.  It tells the story of two weeks in the life of Tashera, who is jumped by three girls on her way home from school in Washington, DC.  After the seventeen year old ends up in the hospital, her mother and brother Kahlil (a wheelchair-bound former gang member) swear vengeance, no matter what Tashera wants.  As the story unfolds, we realize the attack wasn’t as random as the family originally thought.  Somehow Tashera’s boyfriend Ahmed and his ex-girlfriend seem to be involved.  And Kahlil is getting his former gang associates to listen to him, as he feels the Deuce Tres crew is being disrespected by this attack.

This book is a roller coaster ride, one event spilling over into another, but there is never a dull moment.  I read it in one sitting, and imagine many teens will do the same.

Concrete Candy

Concrete Candy by Apollo

This collection of six short stories depict life for young men on the streets of Oakland, or Oaktown as Apollo calls it.  Life is gritty, sometimes unfair,  and full of hard choices and racist adults.  The characters are realistic and their drama is captivating.  They speak the language of the streets, captured well by the author.  “School for kids, Ma,” Jamar tells his mother.  “I got ‘portant s**t to do.  MAN stuff.”  Sadly, Jamar’s MAN Stuff may end up getting him killed.

For me, the most amazing part of the book was that it was written by a thirteen-year-old Oakland boy.  His clear writing and mature insight into the urban lifestyle is far beyond his short life, and it would be interesting to see how his writing changes as he grows up. (The book was published in 1996, and I can’t find anything by him since then.)  He was mentored by the well-known Oakland writer Jess Mowry. (Mowry’s Babylon Boyz, Six out Seven & Way Past Cool are all part of our collection.)

This title was recommended to me by one of my favorite teacher and I agree with him:  it is classic urban drama.  We have three new copies and I’m sure they’ll be checked out continuously.

Monster

Monster by Walter Dean Myers

This book is about a sixteen year old boy who is on trial for murder. He might have robbed a liquor store with friends and shot and killed the owner of the store, but the reader isn’t told what really happened. It is a trial that, if the jury finds him guilty, could result in the death penalty  at worst,and at best, over twenty years in prison. Steve Harmon needs to keep his hopes alive while he is sitting in jail, while he is sitting with his friends/co-participants.  He says he does well in school and says he has a future. In this book there is no plea-bargain; it’s all or anything.   Steve, an amateur filmmaker, tells his experiences in the form of a movie screenplay. In addition to the movie script, Myers include Steve’s journal entries that tell more about his character and his time during the trial.  Read the book to see what happens to Steve.

I recommend this book to people who like edge-of-your-seat drama. It had me waiting for more.

I give this book a 4/5 stars.

Written by Omar,  class of 2010.

Jumped

Jumped by Rita Williams-Garcia

“Sometimes what you don’t say means more than what you do…”

Bouncy Trina, with her mind on her art, brushes past Dominique. Dominique, already angry, is insulted by Trina blowing past her, and vows to jump Trina after school. Leticia overhears Dominique’s plan and can see that Trina doesn’t have a clue what’s in store for her. Should Leticia tell what she knows? What would you do?

Jumped is an intense story of one day in the life of 3 girls – and the drama that results when their paths cross. Each chapter of this powerful book is written in the voice of Trina, Dominique or Leticia. I rate this book a 9 out of 10, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an exciting story that’s also a fast read.

Written by Carla, BHS library volunteer

When you’re at home, check out the book trailer on YouTube:

First Semester

First Semester by Cecil R. Cross

In the second quarter of the school year I found myself intertwined in every word written by the wonderful author Cecil R. Cross II in his smashing book,  First Semester.   The book revolves around an incoming college freshman named James “JD” Dawson, who struggles to adapt to his new college and his new surroundings in Atlanta, Georgia. The book was nonstop laughter and evoked an outpouring of emotions.

The concept of the book can be summarized in one scene:  JD sits in his room pondering where his hyper religious friend Timothy could be and why Timothy hadn’t taken his bible to class. Timothy walks in the room and discusses how God has failed him and how he believes he should drop out of college and pursue something that wont “put him in a box.”   At that moment JD realizes that college isn’t for everyone, and that if you have this chance you should value it.  He saw that education will get you every and anywhere but squandering your precious opportunity will only lead you down a path of confusion and despair.

First Semester deserves a 10 out of 10 because the book went smoothly and there was not one moment where my eyes left the bold black words; Cecil Cross has out done himself.  I recommended this book to: Black males, future college students, and people who enjoy urban fiction and romantic fiction.

Written by Persiah, class of 2011

From Ms. Provence:  This title is part of the Kimani Tru series.  So far we own sixteen books in the series and have more on order.

The Coldest Winter Ever

The Coldest Winter Ever by Sister Souljah

This book was about a rich family whose  father was Ricky Santiaga,  one of the biggest drug dealers in Harlem. Winter Santiaga, the main character of the book, is a teenager who looked up to her father. Her father gets sent to prison for conspiracy of murder and possession of drugs.  Everything is taken away from them: their house, cars, and money. Winter has to restart her life all over again while her sisters are in Child Protective Services.

I liked this book because it shows how a family who has everything  can lose it all.   I give this book a 10,  grade A  and 5/5 stars.

Written by Omar, class of 2010

Criminal Minded

Criminal Minded by Tracy Brown
This is a good book for any teen to read. It goes into detail about a teen growing up in the ghetto and how his obsession for money made him go as  low to selling drugs. Lamin Michaels then falls in love with a beautiful girl named Lucky,  that makes him rethink the drug game. There was conflict  because people didn’t like the fact that he was selling drugs in their neighborhood, so he had problems, especially with his partner Zion. When he finally got legit,  his friends and cousin try to keep him and the streets and on his hustle.   So with all the drama will they still want to be able to be on the top and have him keep his girl.
I give this book three stars because its a good book. It doesn’t go over the top with detail and it it perfect for a high school student. I liked the book most when it was explaining the drama and telling us what was going on with each character. I would recommend this book to everyone who likes drama and want to read a good book. This book is truly a book that you won’t be-able to put down if you start it.

Written by Tenise  Class of 2009

Midnight

Midnight by Sister Souljah

This is my second time doing a book review. This time I am doing my review on the book Midnight; A Gangster Love Story by Sister Souljah. I’ve read her first book The Coldest Winter Ever, and that book was very good . This book was very interesting to me. It is about Midnight moving from Sudan to start over in the United States. He and his mom are moved into a ghetto neighborhood in Brooklyn in New York City . The way he live and they way they live is not the same so he’s trying to stick to his religion and his way of living in the conditions he’s under. During this time he falls in love with a Japanese girl name Akemi and he try’s to get her family approval for marriage.

Now I think that people set the expectations of this book to be like The Coldest Winter Ever; but even in that book it tells you that Midnight is not your average young adult.

I like this book because it shows a lot of self discipline and responsibility. I would rate this book a 10 out of 10. I would recommend this book to anybody who likes to read urban stories and who needs to understand real responsibility, because if u don’t understand it fully then this book is what you need.

Review by Kanitra Class of

Baby Doll

Baby Doll by Divine

Baby Doll was a book that told a story about that side of the project.  It had true drama;  it was about a young lady who was living in a world where people hated her.   Her own mother’s boyfriend was raping her.   Her sister tried to tell her mother that she was getting raped, but she just would say she was lying. The  young lady was getting jumped at schoo,l but when she ran into a man named Big Daddy Blue, everything felt like it was going to be alright .

He got her a job, an apartment, even some clubs. But Big Daddy was dying of cancer.     When he was gone, she was left with six stores and four clubs. Big Daddy’s  main goal was to leave her in charge of the youth program he started, and when she sold all the business for four million dollars.   That’ when she got death threats. One day she was shot in her home. After that day she changed Big Daddy’s dream to new heights. She knew that she didn’t die for a reason, so she did all she could do to fix it.
This was a good book and if you are into drama this is the book for you.

Written by Tenise   Class of 2009

Midnight

Midnight by Sister Souljah

The Coldest Winter Ever took me two days to complete, while Midnight took me two weeks. Needless to say, the book was simply unsatisfying. I believe it was nothing like I would’ve imagined because I simply set my expectations too high. The book was a coming of age story about Midnight and how he struggles to stay true to himself. After leaving Africa, he is forced to protect his mother and his sister. Due to the fact that his mother can’t speak English he has to be her shadow to make sure nobody harms her. He takes the husband role and instead of living the life of a fourteen year old, he lives as a thirty four-year-old. When he comes to America, he is placed in the smack center of the ghetto: the Brooklyn projects. As he manages to find his mother a decent job he manages to also find love. A Japanese girl, Akemi steals his attention. Meanwhile, other girls recognize his body maturing and the masculinity that overflows his skin. Midnight has to question who he is and what he really stands for. This definitely isn’t a sequel; no one from The Coldest Winter Ever exists. It’s like this time Sista Soulja isn’t focusing on pleasing the reader but getting the moral across.

I would recommend this to anyone who has problems with their identity, and for anyone who questions how to incorporate their religious beliefs into a whole other world that completely opposes everything they stand for.

I rate the book a four out of ten. I was never told it was supposed to be a sequel but, looking back, I now realize it failed on every level. Don’t get me wrong the book is well written but Midnight is not Midnight: A Gangster Love Story. It is Midnight: A Staying True to Your Beliefs Story.

Written by La Shay Class of 2009

Street Pharm

Street Pharm by Allison van Diepen

One of our students recommended this book to me, and I have to admit that he was sure right about this author.  This is her first title, and you can tell she has a real feel for the urban jungle that many inner city teens face.  Ty Johnson is just 17, and is carrying on his father’s drug dealing business while he is in jail.  Ty is smart, but doesn’t do much in school besides make connections with his dealers and runners.  He does have rules he runs his life by:  never lose control; know your enemies; practice patience; and don’t have a girlfriend until age 21. The problems begin when he is kicked out of high school, sent to an alternative school, and begins to fall for a single mom named Alyse.  But she hates drugs and dealers, and has no idea what Ty does.  It’s OK, because he’s trying not to like her, but it’s hard.  On top of this, drama heats up with his business and his father.

This book kept my interest all the way through; I recommend it highly to readers who like urban lit, or who want to read about someone making the tough decisions.

Flyy Girl

Flyy Girl by Omar Tyree

The book I am doing my review for is Omar Tyree’s book called Flyy Girl.  The book is about a girl name Tracy Ellison who grows up pretty fast.  She’s young, has hazel eyes, is tall, and is basically a young fly girl.  She does everything she can to get next to the hottest boys of her time.  She gets them and dumps them like last year’s shoes. In a matter of time  she sees something that makes her want to slow her fast living life down a little. She changes her attitude and her way of living. But some things never change. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this book a 10 all the way.
This book shows how young girls are trying to live today, and what the outcome can possibly be. I would recommend this book to all of the young girls and all high school libraries, because there’s a girl like Tracy in every city.

Written by Kanitra Class of 2011