The Fight

by L. Divine

  Epilogue

  I think it’s safe to say I won’t have to worry about Trecee no time soon. She’s been permanently expelled from South Bay High. This school won’t hesitate to ship your behind out quick, fast, and in a hurry if you cause too much trouble. In Trecee’s case, this was the straw that broke the camel’s back if you hear what I’m sayin’.

  She’s only been here for less than a year, and has already been suspended, put on probation, and almost arrested and now expelled. So, I guess she won’t be having KJ’s illegitimate baby after all. Yeah, I’m glad the broad is gone. She’s definitely crazy.

  As for Misty, she’s only crazy when she gets bored and an opportunity to start some mess comes along. I have a feeling she’ll always be around somewhere—either at the mall, or the beauty shop, or around the corner. We do live down the street from each other. And now she likes KJ. What kind of mess is this going to start?

  Mickey already heard Misty rode home with KJ after school, even after he said Misty didn’t have a chance. I don’t really care. I already told everybody I don’t like KJ’s old sweaty, musty, basketball-playing punk behind anymore. Now, Misty’s trying to get with him. I can’t believe this madness. They can’t be serious. This must be a bunch of Misty’s made-up drama, or is it? Anyways, I’ve been thinking more and more about this cutey Jeremy. At first I was tripping hard because he’s White and Jewish. But now, especially after dealing with this mess, I think I might just entertain the thought of calling him tonight, since he hasn’t called me yet. I need a break from the norm.

  Forget KJ. After all he’s put me through, why should I even give him the time of day? I need a man to treat me good for once. Not be no dog. Someone I ain’t got to worry about seeing at the mall with some other broad, know what I’m sayin’?

  My girls—and all the other females at this school with any taste—think Jeremy’s the cutest boy up here, Black, White, or other. I remember the first time I saw him I thought, “Damn, that White boy is fine!”

  But what will everyone think? Me, Miss Sassy, all about Compton, Black power Jayd Jackson dating a White boy? I can just hear the gossip now, “She sold out. She think she too good for Black folks now. She always was like that.” They already talk enough about me not belonging to South Central, so I guess I really shouldn’t care what they think.

  It’s just another Friday back at home. Mama’s in her spirit room, making potions for her clients; Daddy’s at church for Bible study. Jay is in his room watching TV, and all of my uncles are gone, as usual.

  I grab my Hefty bags out the closet and get out the weekend stuff I bring to my mom’s. I usually pack a couple of outfits just in case I go out with my girls, my hair stuff, my work clothes, and my CDs and books. I also have homework to finish for Mama still, so I guess I better get my spirit notebook too.

  “Jayd, get your stuff and let’s go. I got a date tonight,” my mom yells from the back porch. My mom’s never on time picking me up and is always rushing me when she finally does get here.

  “Lynn, stop rushing that girl. She had a hard day,” Mama shouts from her spirit room.

  “Hi, Mama,” my mom yells back. “There’s a lot of traffic on the 405 and I have to be somewhere by eight o’clock.”

  “Well, you still got two hours. Why don’t you come back here and help me for a minute?” Mama says, knowing my mom ain’t going nowhere near her spirit room.

  “That’s okay, Mama. I’ll pass. Jayd, get your butt out here and let’s go,” my mom says, walking to her car parked in the driveway. I’m right behind her, after blowing a kiss to Mama through the door of her spirit room.

  “I love you girls and be safe!” Mama yells.

  “I love you too, Mama. Good night,” I say, throwing my garbage bag–turned–luggage into the backseat of my mom’s Mazda.

  I hope I get to talk to Jeremy tonight. All I know is that if he asks me out, I’m saying yes, no matter what KJ, Misty, or anybody else thinks. I’m sure there will be a lot of talk behind that one. Oh well, we don’t call this Drama High for nothing.

  A Reading Group Guide

  Drama High, Volume 1:

  THE FIGHT

  L. Divine

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following questions are intended to enhance

  your group’s reading of

  DRAMA HIGH: THE FIGHT

  by L. Divine.

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  1. In what ways is Jayd a typical teenager? In what ways is she different? Do her life experiences in any way mirror anything that’s happened in your life or someone you know?

  2. Why did Trecee want to fight Jayd? Was she right to challenge Jayd? How would you have handled the situation in Jayd’s place?

  3. Do you know a girl at your school or in your neighborhood that reminds you of Trecee? What makes someone like Trecee behave the way she does?

  4. What role did KJ play in the drama between Trecee and Jayd? Does he bear any responsibility for Trecee’s behavior?

  5. Do you know a boy at school or in your neighborhood that reminds you of KJ? What makes someone like KJ behave the way he does?

  6. Were Jayd’s friends Mickey and Nellie helpful to her as she tried to think her way out of the fight? What advice would you have given to Jayd?

  7. Jayd says every girl has another girl who hates on her. For Jayd, that girl is Misty. Is there a Misty in your life? Are you a Misty? How do you handle the Mistys of the world?

  8. Who are your friends more like: Mickey, Nellie, or Misty?

  9. What are the differences between Mickey, Nellie, and Misty? What traits do each have that benefit Jayd? What traits do each have that are a disadvantage?

  10. Nellie is slightly more well-off than Jayd and Mickey. How does this affect the trio’s friendship? Can money come between friends? When can this happen?

  11. Which character are you most like?

  12. Like a lot of teens, Jayd is being raised by her grandmother Mama. But Jayd’s grandmother isn’t like the typical grandmother. She carries on the mystical traditions of African-American culture. This is a big part of Jayd’s life and upbringing. How does this help and hinder Jayd? How similar are Jayd’s family traditions to yours?

  13. Jayd attends an all-White school. Would you attend a school that was predominately attended by one race over another? Would you attend a school that was predominately attended by a race different than your own? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

  14. What kind of school do you attend? Is it anything like Drama High? Would you like to go to a school like Drama High?

  15. What sort of drama can go on any given day at your school? Do you tend to avoid the drama or are you responsible for starting the drama? Are there any circumstances under which drama can be a good thing?

  Start Your Own Book Club

  Courtesy of the DRAMA HIGH series

  ABOUT THIS GUIDE

  The following is intended to help you get

  the Book Club you’ve always wanted

  up and running!

  Enjoy!

  Start Your Own Book Club

  A Book Club is not only a great way to make friends, but it is also a fun and safe environment for you to express your views and opinions on everything from fashion to teen pregnancy. A Teen Book Club can also become a forum or venue to air grievances and plan remedies for problems.

  The People

  To start, all you need is yourself and at least one other person. There’s no criteria for who this person or persons should be other than having a desire to read and a commitment to discuss things during a certain time frame.

  The Rules

  Just as in Jayd’s life, sometimes even Book Club discussions can be filled with much drama. People tend to disagree with each other, cut each other off when speaking, and take criticism personally. So, there should be some ground rules:

  1. Do not attack people for their ideas or opinions.

  2. When you disagree with a book club member on
a point, disagree respectfully. This means that you do not denigrate other people for their ideas or even their ideas, themselves, i.e., no name calling or saying, “That’s stupid!” Instead, say, “I can respect your position, however, I feel differently.”

  3. Back up your opinions with concrete evidence, either from the book in question or life in general.

  4. Allow everyone a turn to comment.

  5. Do not cut a member off when the person is speaking. Respectfully wait your turn.

  6. Critique only the idea (and do so responsibly; saying, “That’s stupid!” is not allowed). Do not criticize the person.

  7. Every member must agree to and abide by the ground rules.

  Feel free to add any other ground rules you think might be necessary.

  The Meeting Place

  Once you’ve decided on members, and agreed to the ground rules, you should decide on a place to meet. This could be the local library, the school library, your favorite restaurant, a bookstore, or a member’s home. Remember, though, if you decide to hold your sessions at a member’s home, the location should rotate to another member’s home for the next session. It’s also polite for guests to bring treats when attending a Book Club meeting at a member’s home. If you choose to hold your meetings in a public place, always remember to ask the permission of the librarian or store manager. If you decide to hold your meetings in a local bookstore, ask the manager to post a flyer in the window announcing the Book Club to attract more members if you so desire.

  Timing is Everything

  Teenagers of today are all much busier than teenagers of the past. You’re probably thinking, “Between chorus rehearsals, the Drama Club, and oh yeah, my job, when will I ever have time to read another book that doesn’t feature Romeo and Juliet!” Well, there’s always time, if it’s time well-planned and time planned ahead. You and your Book Club can decide to meet as often or as little as is appropriate for your bustling schedules. Once a month is a favorite option. Sleepover Book Club meetings—if you’re open to excluding one gender—is also a favorite option. And in this day of high-tech, savvy teens, Internet Discussion Groups are also an appealing option. Just choose what’s right for you!

  Well, you’ve got the people, the ground rules, the place, and the time. All you need now is a book!

  The Book

  Choosing a book is the most fun. THE FIGHT is of course an excellent choice, and since it’s a series, you won’t soon run out of books to read and discuss. Your Book Club can also have comparative discussions as you compare the first book, THE FIGHT, to the second, SECOND CHANCE, and so on.

  But depending upon your reading appetite, you may want to veer outside of the Drama High series. That’s okay. There are plenty of options, many of which you will be able to find under the Dafina Books for Young Readers Program in the coming months.

  But don’t be afraid to mix it up. Nonfiction is just as good as fiction and a fun way to learn about from where we came without just using a history textbook. Science fiction and fantasy can be fun, too!

  And always, always research the author. You might find the author has a website where you can post your Book Club’s questions or comments. The author may even have an e-mail address available so you can correspond directly. Authors will also sit in on your Book Club meetings, either in person, or on the phone, and this can be a fun way to discuss the book as well!

  The Discussion

  Every good Book Club discussion starts with questions. THE FIGHT, as will every book in the Drama High series, comes along with a Reading Group Guide for your convenience, though of course, it’s fine to make up your own. Here are some sample questions to get started:

  1. What’s this book all about anyway?

  2. Who are the characters? Do we like them? Do they remind us of real people?

  3. Was the story interesting? Were real issues of concern to you examined?

  4. Were there details that didn’t quite work for you or ring true?

  5. Did the author create a believable environment—one that you could visualize?

  6. Was the ending satisfying?

  7. Would you read another book from this author?

  Record Keeper

  It’s generally a good idea to have someone keep track of the books you read. Often libraries and schools will hold reading drives where you’re rewarded for having read a certain number of books in a certain time period. Perhaps, a pizza party awaits!

  Get Your Teachers and Parents Involved

  Teachers and parents love it when kids get together and read. So involve your teachers and parents. Your Book Club may read a particular book where it would help to have an adult’s perspective as part of the discussion. Teachers may also be able to include what you’re doing as a Book Club in the classroom curriculum. That way books you love to read such as the Drama High ones can find a place in your classroom alongside the books you don’t love to read so much.

  Resources

  To find some new favorite writers, check out the

  following resources. Happy reading!

  Young Adult Library Services Association

  http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/yalsa.htm

  Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh

  Hip-Hop!

  Teen Rap Titles

  http://www.carnegielibrary.org/teens/read/book-lists/teenrap.html

  TeensPoint.org

  What Teens Are Reading?

  http://www.teenspoint.org/reading_matters/book

  _list.asp?sort=5&list=274

  Teenreads.com

  http://www.teenreads.com/

  Sacramento Public Library

  Fantasy Reading for Kids

  http://www.saclibrary.org/teens/fantasy.html

  Book Divas

  http://www.bookdivas.com/

  Meg Cabot Book Club

  http://www.megcabotbookclub.com/

  Getting to Know L. Divine

  Drama High is a truly unique animal in teen fiction. Aside from Cheetah Girls, very few series prominently feature African-American characters or their life experiences. Is this what inspired you to write Drama High?

  Exactly. I saw the lack of interest from the Black student population in the fiction they were given to read in school, as well as what’s available at the bookstores and libraries. As both a former student and educator, I wanted to create a series featuring Black teens like the ones I knew—like the teen I had been. I also wanted to give a voice to the seemingly never-ending drama of the high school years—our way. Thus, the creation of Jayd and her Drama High crew.

  Who is L. Divine? Why use a pen name?

  L. Divine is a combination of my nickname, Lysa, and my self-given last name Divine, like X. I really don’t see it as a pen name since most people call me either Lysa or Divine. It’s just one of my spiritual names, if you will.

  Also, how does spirituality operate in your life?

  My spirituality is my life. It’s very personal and private and it’s the center of my family structure. Everything I do and receive is ordained by the Creator and I am a manifestation of that energy, which I recognize through my reflection as Osun. It’s also echoed in my name, L. Divine. Instead of choosing an unknown letter to signify my ancestry’s lineage, I chose Divine because if I know one thing for sure, it’s that I (and everything else in creation) am of God or divine. I know for a fact that without my spirituality, I wouldn’t be here to share my stories.

  Jayd is an intriguing character. She’s street savvy, outspoken, and, for a sixteen-year-old from the hood, she’s very wise. Yet at the same time, you still manage to portray the girl in her. But what really sets Jayd apart from her peers, other characters in competing series, and the readers you hope to attract? In what ways is she similar?

  Unlike the girls in other series such as The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants or The Gossip Girls, Jayd’s Black, from Compton, and dedicated to her education. She’s also true to her African-American roots, proud to be an individual thinker, and loves herself
just the way she is. Jayd’s similar because she still has the same problems that other adolescent girls have, like finding the perfect jeans or choosing the right boyfriend.

  Jayd and her grandmother have mystical powers and knowledge. What does this element bring to the series, and why is it important to you to portray this side of their life in your book?

  It’s important for young readers to experience the many different facets of African-American culture. All of us aren’t churchgoing folk and most of our grandmothers and great-grandmothers do have connections to the ancient spiritual ways of our ancestors. I just wanted to portray this side of our culture too. This theme is also an element in the writings of Gayl Jones and Octavia Butler and is a tradition that should be continued in literature even for our young readers. Otherwise, it is a tradition that is lost.