Contemporary Realistic Fiction - A Review of AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER by Jacqueline Woodson

1. Bibliography
Woodson, Jacqueline. 2008. AFTER TUPAC & D FOSTER. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons. ISBN 97803999246548

2. Plot Summary
In the mid 1990s in New York, before Tupac's death, two eleven-year-old friends meet a mysterious, third friend, D Foster, and embark on a journey to find their Big Purpose. D's circumstances are slowly revealed, and the friends carry each other through family hardships, double-Dutch the summers away, and explore new territories. The three bond over the messages in Tupac's music and learn to look at life in new ways as they grow older together until D's real mother comes back into her life.


3. Critical Analysis
Jacqueline Woodson tells a story of finding friendship and learning to accept things that you cannot control, using some life events of Tupac and his music lyrics as a link for the three girls to explain things in their own lives. The plot line is very simple and easy to follow as is the author's style of writing. Woodson's writing is best described as normal and easy-flowing; it is very conversational and captures the age and attitudes of the pre-teen girls. D's life is slowly revealed, bit by bit, which will keep readers wanting to read and find out more. Her story is not completely filled in since she does not know all of it herself. The main narrator's name is never revealed, which may leave readers wondering why that is, but it does give the novel an authentic feel - someone simply telling her story. The events that are included regarding Tupac line up with events in the girls' lives within the way the narrator tells their stories. The narrator explains her own growth and journey of "finding herself" through the telling of the other girls' lives. Readers will be drawn in by the simplicity and easiness of the girls' friendship and the way they are just there for each other. The main theme is about growing through friendship, with other realistic sub-themes such as over-coming prejudices (a gay brother wrongly serving time in prison) and being strong through loss (D's absent mother). The book is composed of a variety of every-day conflicts but always comes back to the main theme of friendship. This book will gain readers' attention, (as it did mine), if they are interested in Tupac, as his face is on the front cover. However, potential readers should know that the book is about much more than Tupac, so there could be disappointment if they are looking for more about the rap artist within the read.

4. Review Excerpts and Notable Awards/Honors:
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL STARRED REVIEW: "...will immediately appeal to teens...the emotions and high-quality writing make it a book well worth recommending."

BOOKLIST: "Beautifully capturing the girls' passage from childhood to adolescence, this is a memorable, affecting novel about the sustaining power of love and friendship and each girl's developing faith in her "Big Purpose.

Winner of/Honored by:

• Newberry Honor Award (2009)

5. Connections

A. Reviewing some of the songs mentioned in the book written by Tupac (watch out for inappropriate lyrics) could be discussed and related to themes and events within the novel. Teachers could also use Tupac's book of poetry (listed below) for discussions. 
B. Students could choose their own realistic fiction book that has similar themes and write a review of the book on a class wiki to share with their peers. 

*Other books about Tupac Shakur:
Shakur, Tupac. THE ROSE THAT GREW FROM CONCRETE. ISBN 9780671028459 (Poetry)

Other great contemporary fiction books:
Halse Anderson, Laurie. TWISTED. ISBN 9780670061013
Hubbard, Kristin. WANDERLOVE. ISBN 9780525478188
Sonnenblick, Jordan. AFTER EVER AFTER. ISBN 9780439837064

Image from Amazon.com