The Bluford Series
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The Bluford Series is a series of thirteen books that deals with the hardship of teenage life in California. The books are written by Anne Schraff, Paul Langan, who is also the series editor, and John Langan. Published by Townsend Press, they are in widespread use in high schools across the United States as classroom texts.
Contents |
[edit] Lost And Found
The first book in the series is titled Lost and Found. The main character, Darcy Wills, is having a hard time forgetting her father who walked out on her and her family five years ago. Her family consists of Jamee Wills, her younger sister who tends to hang out with the wrong crowd at her middle school, and her overworked mother, a nurse at a local hospital. Her grandmother also lives with them, but due to a stroke she suffered several years ago, she is rarely lucid.
Darcy and her best friend, Brisana Meeks, have elitist attitudes about them, considering themselves to be better than the general student population, particularly better than a group of students that Brisana calls "The Zeroes". One of the girls in this group, a chubby girl named Tarah Carson, is assigned to Darcy as a partner for a biology project. Darcy is repulsed at first, but as she gets to know Tarah, and her boyfriend Cooper Hodden, she begins to realize that her first impression of them was completely wrong. Brisana is outraged by this, although she doesn't act on this anger until the next book.
Meanwhile, Jamee has been dating a boy named Bobby Wallace who attends Bluford High School. Darcy overhears Bobby talking about Jamee in the library, bragging to one of his friends about how he has control over Jamee, saying that "I pipe the tune and she dances". Darcy brings this to Jamee's attention, but she is reluctant to believe Darcy's story and accuses her of wanting to ruin her relationship with Bobby.
Darcy and her family, minus her grandmother, take a trip to her Aunt Charlotte's house, who is a woman who does not believe that she needs anyone else in life, and as a result, lives alone in a posh townhouse. She puts on airs when talking to Darcy's mother and to Jamee, but treats Darcy as if she were her own daughter, complimenting her and telling Jamee that Darcy should be her role model. Jamee loses it during the dinner and the three are kicked out of Aunt Charlotte's home.
As Darcy continues working on the biology project with Tarah, she notices a heavyset man in a Toyota who appears to be following her around. He sees him at a bus stop, at her school, and even in front of her house. One day, she can no longer stand it and calls the police, who apprehend the man. He tells Darcy that he is her father, the same father who ran off with a twenty-four-year-old woman five years ago, traumatizing Jamee and leaving an emotional wound that had yet to heal. He later explains to Darcy the reasons for his departure and his return in the second book in the series.
On the Bluford Middle School front, Jamee does not leave Bobby until he hits her. Jamee tries to tell Darcy that it was a cheerleading accident, but she knows otherwise. As a result, Bobby holds a grudge against Darcy, and attempts to kidnap her at knifepoint at school a few days later. Just as it seems that all hope is lost, Cooper and three of his friends realize what's going on and come to defend Darcy, assaulting Bobby and his friends. This confirms Darcy's new impressions of Tarah and Cooper - that they're good people who would do anything to help a friend in need.
The book concludes with Jamee running away. Presumably anguished by her father's return, she packs her things and leaves the house. Darcy, Hakeem, Cooper, and Tarah scour the city searching for her, but to no avail. Later, Darcy is sitting with her grandmother, who is under the mistaken impression that it is five years ago and that they had all gone on a hike the day before. As she tells Darcy the story, Darcy gets an idea. The mountains were one of the last places she had ever felt truly happy, and one of the last places she had ever been able to go to with her father. Darcy calls her friends and her dad and they go off to look for her, with her father saving the day by finding Jamee slumped over near a tree where they used to hang out at.
[edit] Matter of Trust
Darcy has become friends with "the zeros" and her friend Brisana has become mad. Cooper, Tarah and Darcy's boyfriend Hakeem are now close friends and Brisana can't stand it. At the end they start hanging out again but Brisana still hates Cooper and Tarah. then everyone ends up like gaily people.
[edit] Secrets in the Shadows
Roylin B. is a student at Bluford High. Korie A. is a new gurl. Roylin Bailey meets a beautiful gurl named Korie Archer. They liked each other very much, but as Roylin tried to impress her, he went to his old friend for money. As he walked in the door he found him sleeping on his couch, so he crept behind him and stole $200. He promised himself to pay Mr.Miller back as he went to buy an $300 necklace to impress Korie. The janitor watched him do the whole robbery. The man he took money from was his closes friend Ambrosse Miller. The selfish, gambling janitor,Tuttle, tells Roylin that Mr. Miller had a [heart attack] and died when he found his money was missing. Tuttle helped Roylin cover the death by digging a grave in the basement to bury Mr. Miller. Then Tuttle blackmails Roylin into cleaning his apartment. Korie starts to leave Roylin for Bluford High running back after Roylin gives Korie the necklace. Roylin tells Cooper, an friend from school, about the whole situation so they did their own little [autopsy] and cut open the wrapped sheets that covered "Mr. Millers body". They learn that the sheets was filled with [sandbags] and Tuttle said it was a joke. Tuttle put Mr. Miller in a [retirement home]. Roylin went to visit him. He went to school and made friends the day after(he only had one friend).
[edit] Someone to Love Me
Coming Soon
[edit] The Bully
Darrel is a new kid a bluford. He moved in from Philadelphia, and he doesnt know anyone. He soon makes an enemy of Tyray, a bully at Bluford. After weeks of torture at the hands of Tyray and his friends, Darrel decides to join the wrestling to build up some strength. One day at lunch, Tyray provokes Darrel for the last time. A fight starts and Darrel manages to not only win the fight, he also breaks Tyray's arm. The novel ends with Tyray being suspended and Darrel counquering his fear of the bully.
== The Gun ==
Tyray is bitter. He has been been humiliated by Darrel Marcer, he also has a broken arm (given to him by Darrel), and he has lost his position of fear in Bluford High school. He decides that his only solution to his problems are to buy a gun. He buys the gun, with the help of a girl that he manipulates. He attacks Darrel, and threatens to kill him. Darrel pleads for his life, Tyray realizes the folly of his actions and tries to shoot himself. Darrel tackles him and tells him to stop. Tyray and Darrel straighten out their problems and part ways. Tyray finds his teacher, Mr. Mitchell at his house, Mr. Mitchell straightens out Tyray's problems with his family.
[edit] Until We Meet Again
Until We Meet Again is a story about a tenth grade girl named Darcy Wills who was looking forward to spending time with her boyfriend Hakeem for the summer. She finds out that he is moving to Detroit and will not be with her this summer. On top of that she has to take care of her sick grandmother who seems to have Alzheimer's disease. Her father just returned to his family after five years of abandoning them. She is happy that he is back, but she doesn’t fully trust him because at any moment he might run away again. Liselle, Darcy’s neighbor, ask Darcy to watch her baby for her while she goes to school. Darcy meets Liselle’s brother, Brian. Darcy and Brian start hanging out after Brian starts stalking Darcy at school and home. Darcy hides Brian from her parents because they would disapprove of their sixteen year old daughter dating a nineteen year old. Brian gets to know Darcy better and invites her to a romantic dinner at his house. He throws Darcy on the sofa and kisses her. He tries to rip off her shirt, but she pulls away. Brian holds her down and starts yelling at her. He attempts to rape Darcy. Below the apartment, Darcy’s dad hears the two and her father rescues her from Brian. Darcy’s parents are upset that she lied to them. At the end Darcy’s grandma dies and Hakeem comes back to help Darcy at the funeral. Summer of Secrets. Darcy is going througha very hard summer finding out different things about her family and friends. She goes thruogh a lot of stress and sadness.
[edit] Blood is Thicker
Coming Soon
[edit] Brothers in Arms
Coming Soon
[edit] Summer of Secrets
Coming Soon
[edit] The Fallen
Coming Soon
[edit] Shattered
Coming Soon
[edit] Search for Safety
Coming Soon
