Urban Lit

Sitomer, Alan Lawrence. 2006. Hip-hop high school. New York: Hyperion Books for Children.

Summary: Theresa is a young African American girl who wants to succeed, but also wants to fit in to her urban high school. Sometime, those two things don’t seem to go together very well. In her high school, being smart can get you into trouble. It’s better socially to try and follow the crowd, but doing that can get a girl in trouble too. When a boy she likes takes her to a wild party where drugs and alcohol are part of the entertainment, she loses the trust of her parents. Then her best friend becomes pregnant. Fortunately for Theresa, she has enough people to keep her on track: her parents, her older brother (by setting a good example) and a good friend Devon. Devon helps Teresa to make good choices, encourages her to study and prepare for college and pursue her talents. A tragedy almost puts an end to some of their hopes and dreams. Teresa rises to the occasion and helps both of them achieve their goals.

Analysis/Impressions: When I first started this book, I really didn’t think I would be able to finish it. The hip-hop language really put me off. I soldiered on, and was pleasantly surprised. I also realized that cultural markers, such as the language, make the book more authentic within the African American community.

The book starts off in a very shallow way, with Theresa (aka Tee-Ay) walking into her school on the first day and thinking about how cool all the hip-hoppers looked. She questions why she has to be in an honors class when she was “always thinking about sex.” (2006, 1). Later on, we see that she is really struggling with wanting to be successful, in part to please her family, but also for herself.

Like many teen girls, peer pressure is hard for her. On several occasions she succumbs to it and makes a few mistakes. Fortunately, she doesn’t get in over her head.

As the book progresses, we see that Teresa is starting to mature. She starts to see that there are consequences to certain behavior. Through the mistakes of her friends, she learns that following the crowd can get a person in trouble. When her best friend becomes pregnant she sees how this limits her life. Theresa figures out on her own that making certain choices will also take away her options.

The book will immediately capture the attention of young people who enjoy the hip hop lifestyle. The hip-hop language and dialogue is typical of urban high schools today. This technique makes the book more authentic to teens. This is important, because the author is going to be making a point and he needs a captive audience. By creating a character like Theresa, who is one of them, someone they can relate to, he will have a platform for getting across his point. By then, he is able to do it and he isn’t coming across in a preachy, dogmatic way.

Some of the characters are a little overdone. Even so, I liked the fact, that while we do see some negative points about certain African American communities, the main characters in this book are not stereotyped. Theresa’s family is a positive example of an African American family. Theresa and her friend Devon are portrayed as two young people who are really trying to be successful and I think they can be a positive role model for other African American young people. If they had been painted as perfect, without problems, they wouldn’t have been believable. Instead they are written realistically, with real struggles, but with the inner strength to overcome those struggles.

While it took awhile for me to really get into this book, I can see its value for young people. It emphasizes to young people, who might be short on hope, that working hard has benefits. If you set goals, you can achieve them. You don’t have to make the same mistakes as your peers. You can be different.

The language in this book is coarse, there are some scenes depicting drug use, and sex is a frequent topic. Yet the book wasn’t overly offensive, if you are aware of the intended audience. For some of these young people, this is normal everyday language. The author has to reach them where they are if he intends to make any kind of impact.

The book ends on a hopeful note. In the beginning, I really believed that Theresa would turn out like some of her friends, pregnant, and or on drugs. I was so relieved to see that she is shown as a strong, capable character who is able to think for herself, at least when it really counts. Overall, she is a delightful character.

I liked the way the author worked the importance of education into the book. One of the really important things in Theresa’s life is passing the SAT. In almost every chapter, she is learning new words and their meanings. Each one, as she says throughout the book, is a “good word to know for the SAT.” By making it important to Teresa, maybe it will become important to the young people reading it.

The book also has a lot to say about peer pressure, how strong it is, and how important it is to not let it rule your life. It also speaks to the importance of a strong supportive family and good friends who help bring out the best in people.

This realistic urban novel is humorous, encouraging and thought provoking. It is recommended for ages 12 and up.

Review Excerpts:
“Although Sitomer explores the realities and challenges of urban African American adolescence, he strikes a fair balance between serious issues and more lighthearted fare, writing in a smart, conversational voice loaded with wit, rhythm, and energy” (Booklist, 5/01/2006, via Book Index Database)

"This sobering novel is both inspiring and poignant. While Sitomer refrains from becoming didactic, his passionate message concerning the value of education will be clear to his readers." (VOYA, N.d. via Barnes and Noble, http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Hip-Hop-High-School/Alan-Lawrence-Sitomer/e/9781423106449/?itm=1 )