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Cindy, a lonely, urban high school girl, lives with her single mom who spends all of her free time with her boyfriend, who preys on Cindy’s insecurities about her looks. When Bobby, who beat up Cindy’s friend when they were dating, shows Cindy some kindness and attention, predictable trouble follows. Cindy, who is lonely and feels unloved, takes up with Bobby, despite numerous warning signs. He convinces her that he is off drugs and has “changed.” The book portrays in a simplistic but engaging way, that the need for love, both by Cindy and her mom, blinds them to their boyfriends’ flaws. It also portrays the devastating impact of the drug culture in urban America. The book contains good lessons and warnings for young women regarding violence against women. This hi-lo book, the fourth in the Bluford High Series, may provide hope for urban teens, who are looking for a way up and out of the cycle of poverty, drugs, and violence. ( )

Cindy doesn't like school and skips every chance she gets. She believes that she is ugly and stupid. Her mother is too busy with a job and a demanded boyfriend, Raffie, to notice her. Cindy's friend, Jamee, convinces Cindy to come to school for a day. Suddenly, Cindy's life has purpose: she gets a job as the school newspaper cartoonist, she re-connects with old and new friends, and, best of all, she meets Bobby Wallace. Bobby is handsome and charming... or is he?

STLM tackles issues of maternal neglect, drug dealing (a scary scene in a drug den), teenage depression, and date abuse. These myriad of issues dilute the focus of the book; the problems are raised in vivid detail and then dismissed with pat or contrived solutions. Schraff is usually better than this; this reader was disappointed. Nonetheless, the book will be popular as part of the Bluford High series. ( )

I think that this was a great book. Although it was fiction, it really gave you a better understanding of what it may be like for kids in high school. You learn a lot of valuable lessons from this book. I think it would be a great book for incoming freshman to read. ( )

A girl has problems in her life. Her mother is in love with a drug dealer.Cindy founds a boyfriend but he lied to her . After all her mother and Cindy lived loving eachother. ( )