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After Tupac and D Foster

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008

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Book Brief

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Jacqueline Woodson

After Tupac and D Foster

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2008
Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Queens, New York • 1990s

Topic
Publication Year

2008

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

750L

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Super Short Summary

After Tupac and D Foster by Jacqueline Woodson follows three African American girls in Queens, NY, during the 1990s as they experience the events surrounding Tupac Shakur's life, including his shootings, imprisonment, and ultimate death. As the girls navigate their adolescence, they explore themes of friendship, family, and identity against a backdrop of social challenges and injustices. The book contains discussions of race, racism, anti-gay bias, gun violence, fatalities, wrongful conviction, imprisonment, and the foster system.

Nostalgic

Emotional

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Inspirational

Reviews & Readership

4.2

4,474 ratings

66%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Jacqueline Woodson's After Tupac and D Foster is widely acclaimed for its lyrical prose and profound exploration of friendship, identity, and the impact of Tupac Shakur on three girls' lives in 1990s Queens. Praised for its authentic voice and emotional depth, some critics note a slower narrative pace. However, its compelling characters and themes resonate powerfully.

Who should read this

Who Should Read After Tupac and D Foster?

Fans of Jacqueline Woodson's After Tupac and D Foster are typically drawn to emotionally rich, coming-of-age stories set in diverse urban environments. Readers who appreciate the themes in Angie Thomas's The Hate U Give or Walter Dean Myers's Monster will find similar resonance in Woodson's exploration of friendship, identity, and loss.

4.2

4,474 ratings

66%

Loved it

24%

Mixed feelings

10%

Not a fan

Character List

The Narrator

An observant and thoughtful girl living with her mother in Queens, whose reflective perspective captures the story of her friendship with Neeka and D Foster without revealing her name.

A mysterious and independent girl with green eyes who comes from a foster care background, and forms a deep connection with the narrator and Neeka while navigating their shared experiences.

An animated and humorous girl from a large, bustling family, known for her desire for independence despite her love for her close-knit community led by her protective mother, Ms. Irene.

D's foster mother, known by the nickname Foster Lady Orderly, who provides structure and freedom but maintains an emotional distance, symbolizing the transience of D's foster experiences.

Neeka's vigilant and protective mother, who collaborates with the narrator's mother to create a secure and supportive environment for their families in the neighborhood.

Neeka's older brother who faces wrongful imprisonment, highlighting themes of bias and the struggles of living openly as a gay person in a complex community environment.

Neeka's older brother, a high school senior and basketball talent, who seeks scholarship opportunities while confronting the societal challenges of being a young Black man.

Book Details
Pages

192

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Queens, New York • 1990s

Topic
Publication Year

2008

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

10-14 years

Lexile Level

750L

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