After Tupac and D Foster

By Jacqueline Woodson

The narrator and her best friend, Neeka, are 11, living protected lives in Queens. D is a foster kid, with a tough and mysterious past, and for two years the three girls bond in a friendship glued by the music and rap lyrics of Tupac Shakur.

At the end of the two years, D's mother surfaces and takes her away, and that's the same summer that Tupac is shot and killed. (Hence the title...)

As far as what's GLBTQ in this book, there's an older brother who is gay and flamboyant. He's in jail, and the story includes a family visit to him.

And congratulations to Jacqueline - "After Tupac and D Foster" was just named a 2009 Newbery Honor Book! (They choose 4 honor books and 1 winner - so they thought it was one of the 5 best books for children/teens published in 2008!)

Add your review of "After Tupac and D Foster" in comments.

Thanks to my loyal blog reader Wendy for the recommendation!

Lee