After Tupac and D Foster

In what ways did D connect to Tupac in ways that Neeka and the narrator didn’t? How do the different ways that Tupac holds significance for the characters in the book speak to his status as a cultural icon?

Identity how factors such as race, class, and gender interconnect, and how this intersection has an impact on the ways that people experience the world. Though all of the main characters in the novel are from a Black community in Queens, New York, their experiences vary significantly. In what ways do social class, gender, and sexual orientation affect the way they each navigate the world?

What are some of the rules that Neeka and the narrator’s mother have that are meant to keep them safe? Do you believe these are good rules for 13-year-old girls? Why or why not?

Why do Neeka and the narrator feel that the night they got to “roam” with D was so special? Explain with support from the text.

D references the Tupac song “Brenda’s Got a Baby” several times. Why do you think this particular song resonates with her so much? Explain with support from the text.

What do you think is the author, Jacqueline Woodson’s, opinion about Tupac? How can you tell?

Why is the jump-roping game Double Dutch such an important part of Neeka, D, and the narrators’ friendship and significant in the story? Give examples from the text to support your answer.

“The Rose That Grew From Concrete” is one of Tupac Shakur’s most famous poems. How does that image function as a symbol for characters in the novel? Use specific references to the text to support your answer.