Keeping It Real

YA fiction 

     "Kara came in hating me.  

     I was an uppity Hill Girl to her.

     And she was just another charity case my parents loved to take on to prove they were still Pea Head and Nut from around the way."

     Paula Chase's Keeping It Real is a lively, fun read and so much more, sensitively taking on issues of race, identity, and family.

     Mari, Chase's narrator, leads a double life.  She's one of the few Black students at pricey and privileged Flowered Arms Academy Magnolia.  But, although very financially secure, she isn't from old money.  Her parents started out in very poor neighborhoods and had to really work hard to start and grow their company.  They are as angered by the white oriented policies and procedures of the school and the microaggressions she encounters there as she is.  

     Her parents own Flexx, a hip-hop fashion company that, among other things, curates the images of very famous celebrities.  They make sure to also donate a lot of money to charities.  Mari suspects that it's a strategy to keep people from thinking they've become all that.

     This summer they're premiering Style High, a program "dedicated to exposing Black youth from District City to opportunities designed to help them play a role in the evolution of hip-hop culture.  Style High is a competitive training program for rising ninth-graders with a passion for fashion and styling."

     Highly competitive isn't kidding.  Out of hundreds of applicants only three have been accepted.  That's worse than grad school.

     Then Mari learns that her crush, Justice, will be one of the trainees.  Although they're both minority students in the same posh school, he's a much poorer scholarship student, hence program eligible.

     Only there are ways to crash the party.  Having parents who own the company is one of them.  

     From the first day Kara, a trainee, is blatantly hostile to Mari.  Nothing Mari tries defuses the situation.  What makes things worse is that Justice seems to be taking Kara's side.

     Nothing can prepare Mari for the reason for Kara's anger.  It's a revelation that has her questioning every aspect of her life, especially the people nearest and dearest to her.

On a purrrsonal note, as one of the perks of working Clean has been the free stuff I accumulated--mostly clothes, a lot of yummy snack food, some Beanie Boos.  Of course books.  My favorite is my Razor scooter.  When school starts up again I'll ride it all over campus.  It takes minimal talent to look amazing riding it.  A great boost to my already bad ass reputation.  But I didn't just get stuff for myself.  I got a big bag of small stuffed animals for the Black Bear Animal Shelter and a lot of school supplies for Backpack Project.  I also got a great gift for Amber who has a birthday Monday.  She loves cosplaying.  I got her five shimmery never worn prom gowns ranging in price from $69 to $259 for free.  She is very excited.  (Jules)

I love Amber.  (Tobago)

A great big shout out goes out to Amber.

Tobago  and Jules Hathaway 

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