On the Come Up by Angie Thomas

Bri's dream is to be a famous rapper--and the book opens with her competing in "the ring" and coming out the winner. Her Aunt Pooh, who doubles as her manager, says she is "on the come up" and Bri, still in high school, is willing to do what it takes to have the career that her father never had. Like many characters in a recent string of YA books, Bri lives in a rough neighborhood (the same one as Starr from The Hate U Give), but attends school in a more affluent neighborhood where she is a minority. At her school for the arts she is frequently reprimanded for being hot tempered, rolling her eyes, or defying authority. She's not really a trouble-maker, but the perception is that the school administration comes down hard on students of color. Bri deals with a lot of stresses, including her mom's unemployment, her aunt's drug dealing, and the dangers of offending various gang members. She records an original song that goes viral on YouTube, and some say her lyrics means things she never intended. Can she put out inflammatory words in the name of art or should she temper her message to portray who she really is? That is just one of many great questions this book brings up. As with The Hate U Give, this book will have students reading, discussing, and relating to a complex, believable, and very likable character whose story is never predictable or trite. The book contains language and situations that make it most appropriate for 8th grade-up, but younger kids will be clamoring to read it as well.