Blue
is a junior at Silver Spring High School and he believes he is destined
to become a hip-hop mogul. His father, however, expects him to become a
lawyer and his best friend, Collin, is in the same boat. Both are
friends with Whiteboy, an artist who grew up on the tough streets of
Anacostia. The heart of the plot involves theft of music and the
adolescents’ conflict between following in a parent’s footsteps versus
forging a new path and identity. The myriad alternating
voices and short chapters provide multiple perspectives and further the building suspense in the second half make this novel a possible bridge for students ready to move beyond Ni-Ni Simone and
Kimani Tru series. English teachers will be disappointed with the
editing, but developing readers may appreciate the copious
illustrations, white space, and the hip-hop vibe. While the novel is
not as fast-paced as some reluctant readers may require, the ending is
suspenseful enough to create a demand for the sequel, Can’t Hold Me Down. --Jessica Fenster-Sparber
LeFlore, Lyah B. The Come Up: The World is Mine. New York: Simon and Schuster, 2009. Print.
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