In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday's Not
Coming Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their
murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn 1998. Biggie
Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn't mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool
letting their best friend Steph's music lie forgotten under his bed after he's murdered-not
when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party. With the help of Steph's younger
sister Jasmine they come up with a plan to promote Steph's music under a new rap name: the
Architect. Soon everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a
hotheaded music label rep the trio must prove Steph's talent from beyond the grave. As the
pressure of keeping their secret grows Quadir Jarrell and Jasmine are forced to confront the
truth about what happened to Steph. Only each has something to hide. And with everything
riding on Steph's fame they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they've worked
so hard to hold on to-including each other. Jackson scores a bullseye with her passionate
homage to Black city life in the late '90s. (Publishers Weekly An Anti-Racist Children's and
YA Reading List)
