Middle Grade/Young Adult
After Tupac and D Foster
The first time Tupac is shot, D Foster walks into the lives of Neeka and her best friend. From that point on, no one’s world is ever the same. D Foster lives with her foster mom who lets her ‘roam’ while Neeka and the narrator aren’t even allowed to leave their block. But the three soon realize they have a lot in common – including their love of Tupac – his lyrics, his life, the way he keeps on keeping on and this helps them move through the years between 11 and 13 in search of their Big Purpose even as the narrator’s brother is wrongly accused of a crime and gets sent to jail and D’s absent mom keeps disappointing her.
Where it takes place:
In Queens, New York.
Where I wrote it:
Mostly here in Brooklyn.
Why I wrote it:
I think Tupac was an amazing activist and I wanted to create a story around his story. The more I wrote, the more there was to say – about Tupac and about the girls.
Awards
- Newbery Honor Medal
- 2009 Josette Frank Award
- ALA Notable
- ALA BBYA
- Amelia Elizabeth Walden Young Adult Book Award finalist
- CCBC Choice
- Capitol Choice selection
- Bank Street Best Book
- Newbery Honor Medal
- 2009 Josette Frank Award
State Lists
- Chicago Public Library’s “Best of the Best Books of 2008”
- New York Public Library’s “Books for the Teen Age”
- New Jersey (nominee)
- Pennsylvania School Library Association’s Young Adult Top Forty (or so) reading list
- Oregon (nominee)
- Volunteer State Book Award Master List (TN)
- VirginiaReaders’ Choice Award Master List
