Plot Summary: Leticia has it hard these days, she has to get to school early for zero period remedial math just because of a few bad grades. On her way out of math one morning she watches as Trina, a free spirited artist who loves herself, cuts of Dominique, a basketball player with bad grades in a bad mood, in the hallway. Trina doesn't think anything of it and is on her way being Trina without a second thought. For Dominique, however, it's the last straw on a day that has gone from bad to worse (her teacher won't raise her grade a few measly points and now she's benched from the basketball team - her only reason for coming to school), and she's going to make sure that Trina's taught a lesson. She's going to jump her after school. Leticia overhears Dominique making these plans and she knows that Trina has no idea what Dominique's planning. But, Leticia doesn't want to get involved, because girl fights can get ugly, and she's got enough problems of her own. As the day goes on Leticia keeps worrying about whether to get involved. What will Leticia decide to do, and what will happen to Trina and Dominique?
Critical Evaluation: Told from the perspective of the three main characters, Leticia, Trina and Dominique, Williams-Garcia writes a engrossing tale that keeps readers guessing. The realistic language of the novel, and the wonderful differences in personality of the three leads provide good balance and make readers think that this could be any high school anywhere. With the hot button issues of bullying and teen on teen violence taking center stage these days, this novel could easily be used to spark discussion surrounding those ideas and the story will have teens talking - about what happens, what Leticia decides to do, and what they would do in her place. Williams-Garcia gives each character enough humanity that the plot, and the reader's allegiance aren't black and white and the nuances of the literature are allowed to come to the forefront. Another well deserved award winner from Williams-Garcia.
Reader's Annotation: Leticia's just worried about early morning extra math and Trina's just worried about her art and her looks. Dominque's worried that Trina disrepected her, and she's not going to let her get away with it.
About the Author: Rita Williams-Garcia was born in 1957 in Queens, NY. She studied at Hofstra University and was a dancer, which inspired her first novel, Blue Tights, which was published in the late 1980s. Since then she has written several other novels for teens and continues to write now.
She is on faculty at Vermont College MFA for Children and Young People, she has two daughters and she lives in Jamaica, NY.
Information retreived from http://www.ritawg.com/
Genre: Realistic Fiction
Curriculum Ties: N/A
Booktalking Ideas: Bullying, teen violence and standing by when others are planning to fight.
Reading Level: 12+
Interest Age: 14+
Challenge Issues: Violence
Challenge Response: I would refer to studies on bullying and the importance of learning when to take a stand and when to stand by. I would reference community groups and existing collection development.
Why is This Included: Minority viewpoint that is under represented in this genre.
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