HIP-HOP HIGH SCHOOL

Teresa Anderson, who is called "T.A.," has many obstacles to overcome in order to fulfill her dream of attending USC. At the inner-city school she attends, T.A. has to deal with irresponsible peers. In the neighborhood she almost loses a dear friend to a drive-by shooting. Her relationship with her mother is strained, and she feels she has to fill the shoes of her older brother, who attends Stanford. Narrator Sisi Aisha Johnson brings T.A.'s challenges to life in a heartfelt and accessible style. She manages the teen lingo and T.A.'s thoughts admirably. Though some of the dialogue seems forced, the listener is treated to an uplifting story of a teenager who triumphs despite the odds. M.R.P. © AudioFile 2008, Portland, Maine [Published: MAY 2008]