A Matter of Trust

Bluford High #2

by Anne E. Schraff, Paul Langan (Editor)

The sequel to Lost and Found, this book centers on Darcy's growing conflict with her old friend, Brisana Meeks. Amid jealousy and competition, Darcy fights for her relationship with Hakeem Randall and struggles with her fears over her own family's future.

Genres: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, African American, Teen, Romance, Drama

125 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

Anne Elaine Schraff grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. She received both her bachelor's and master's degrees from California State University at Northridge and taught high school for ten years.

Anne paid her way through college by writing short stories for magazines. Since college she has written hundreds of stories and over eighty books including historical fiction, biographies, science books, and her favorite, fictional books for young people. She is published as both Anne Schraff and Anne E. Schraff.

Her background, which she describes as "multicultural, lower middle-class neighborhood, including African Americans, Mexican Americans, Arab Americans, and Filipino Americans," is her greatest inspiration when writing.

Reviews

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars ⭐️ I’ve been enjoying going through these as quick little palate cleaners between my longer novels. I enjoyed this one a lot. One of the top so far. I’ve been bouncing around the order of reading these, but getting to know Darcy deeper has been a treat. She’s definitely my favorite so far of all the Bluford girls.

What I did not like was the “resolution” between her and Brisana. Brisana is one of those friends we talk about that “secretly hates” you the entire time and it should not have been up to Darcy to mend nor return to that friendship after everything Brisana did. I personally think that’s bad advice.

I took off .5 for that and also for the constant use of the r-word. But understanding how dated the book is, this is more of a sensitivity update needed.

I also felt the mother’s perspective and the climax between her mom and dad was well written and realistic. I honestly loved the ending in that aspect. Something about this one felt like southern folk comfort.

Again, I’m pleasantly surprised at all the cultural colloquialisms and references made by Schraff personally. I know in later numbers other authors of color come in, but Im impressed in whatever research or proximity Schraff had to the community (I think she’s now passed?). I do think this is POC centered (middle-grade) diversity written well for the 90s.

[NESSA KkRAZiiE CHiiKk* · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book A Matter of Trust is about a girl named Darcy. She has a boyfriend named Hakeem who is very diffrent from other boys. Alost the whole book is about Dracy and her old friend Brissana Meeks. They used to be friends but now they hate each other. Darcy also has to deal with problems at home with her grandmother who is getting sicker and sicker everyday. Also problems with her dad that is trying to get closer to her and her sister after five years when he left them. Darcy is one of the smartes person in her school but she is having problems for worrying with Hakeem.
Most boys at her school make fun of Hakeem all the time because he aloways stutters when he is nervouse many people make fun of him for that. Darcy always tries to stand up for him but it makes things worse for him. Hakeem tries to stand up for himself but people still make funof him.

[Dee Cherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This 2nd book in the Bluford High series was a good lesson on trust -as Darcy learned from dealing with Hakeem & her father. Friendships were tested & teen issues addressed such as jealousy & bullying. Good read

[Kali · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book about the life of 3 teenage high school students, and common issues that can occur in a friendship. In the book Matter of Trust, by Anne Schraff , Darcy is having trouble in her life about who to trust. Throughout this book, Darcy does not know if she could trust her boyfriend Hakeem or her old best friend. Darcy has suspicions that Brisana and Hakeem are attracted to each other. She is also dealing with the return of her father. This book is really interesting because it deals things that almost any body would face in their life. I also enjoyed the fact that the teen characters were African American, and doing well in school. Before you read this book, you have to read Lost and Found, also by Anne Schraff because Lost and Found is the first book in the Bluford series. The first book in the series provides more background information about the characters in this book. I would recommend this book to teens in middle or high school.

[kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

this series was the best thing i’ve ever picked up.

[Delphine Mpawenimana · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the novel “A Matter Of Trust” the story takes place at Buford High School and also in a house. The characters are Darcy, Brisana, Hakeem, Tarah and Cooper. My prediction will be based on Darcy and Brisana because the book is based on them. Darcy is a girl that goes to high school called Buford High School. In the story it says that “Darcy hangs out with a couple of friends, and she’s pretty happy.” Darcy also has a boyfriend name Hakeem. Everything is fine except for two things. One, she used to have a best friend named Brisana in middle school, but now they aren’t friends anymore, and they go to the same high school now. They aren’t friends anymore because Darcy hangs out with a different group of friends.in the story it also says that “Now Darcy didn’t hang out with bad kids at all but Brisana called those two kids losers, and threaten Darcy that if she were to hang out with them, they wouldn’t be friends anymore. What I like about Darcy is she tried to be friends with Brisana but she refused to be friend with her. So since Darcy has a boyfriend name Hakeem, Brisina decided to take him away from her to get back at her. This is an interesting book to read, and I would love my friends to read this book because they love stories like this. I loved this book because I learned something out of it. If person is mad at you for some reason, always try your best and talk to that person.

[Mai Ong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really good. I love the ending. I learned that in life there will be obstacles and you just have to learn how to overcome it. When there's people that's been in your life for a long time and they just left you because of something they didn't accept, it's okay. Everything in the end will be fine. It's only the after feeling that matters. In the end everything will be fine. You'll soon realize if that person really matter or not. This is why I think that the title is a great title. "A Matter of Trust". I also learned that you shouldn't doubt yourself. If something is bothering you then let them know, especially if they're your boyfriend. Asking him just makes your conclusion an easier answer. I love how everything connects in the end. It never hurts to give it a second chance.

[Nyasia Johnson]

A matter of trust is a very good book to read cause its very understandable and you will like if u like books about drama and romance.I love this book because i can understand what its about and how the writer was thinking when she wrote this also the series is very good if u read them in order.like in the book she gets mad at her sister cause she hanging with the wrong crowd and doing wrongs things.then she have problems at home with her mother and grandmother.....if you want to find out read this book.
this book is 5 stars.

[Demarion mari Lewis]

Done with book

[Denis Barrios · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever had a hard time gaining someones trust back when they used to be really close to you? I think this book can relate to your situation. This book also explains how that person started to kinda get trust back from that certain person. Overall, the book was good, some parts in the story teaches you some lessons about life.

Two sisters, Darcy and Jamee who attend Bluford Highschool, are still heartbroken over the fact that their dad left them to go with a much younger women in New York. This situation broke their family apart, especially Jamee, their mom works a fulltime job and never really has time for them, and well their grandma is well, bedwritten meaning, she has to stay in bed all day and can barely move. Out of the no where the sisters dad comes back and tries getting their family back together like before. One of the sisters, Jamee, spends much more time than Darcy spends with her dad. Then, Darcy decides to go out to dinner with her father, where then they start talking about the memories and all the things they used to do when he was still with them. Even though Darcy doesnt really agree with her parents getting back together, she starts accepting the fact that she might just give her dad a chance, because at the end of the day thats still her dad. A couple months later Darcy and her little family start gaining trust back and start coming close again. Their dad, desperate to get their trust back takes them out often on dinner and visits the girls mom at her job. He starts getting himself together and starts getting money to get the girls things they need or want. At the end of the story Darcy starts having more faith that her dad coming back might bring her family even closer. This book is person vs. person because the girls dad is finding it difficult how at first his own daughter because she was scared about his hurting them again. The theme of the book is to have aith and trust that everything will get better and trust people in getting them back and believing that they wont hurt them.

The title of the book relates to the book because Darcy is finding it hard gaining her trust back in her father. She knows that it's wrong that she doesn't trust her own father but the fact that their father is coming back again out of no where and just wanting to get back in their life like nothing ever happened makes Darcy start to think why? Why is it that now he wants to come back. Also, in the story she starts having trust issues with her boyfriend because of a girl named Brisana. So the title, "A Matter of Trust relates to the book by all the trust issues she has.

I was surprised when Darcy had finally decided to go on the date with her father. She finally had given him a chance to talk to her after him begging her to go out with him for a dinner or talk. After their dinner Darcy gained a bit of trust back and thought that if her dad makes her mom happy like before, then why not just give him another chance.

I give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I give this book 4 starts because it's overall very good, and teaches you lessons, but I think they should've added more detail about what happens to their family after they start getting together as a whole. If you are ever having trust issues and don't know how to solve your problems I recommend you this book to see how these girls solved theirs and maybe you'll find the answer here, or maybe If you're interested in any type in drama books these series can be you your answer.

[Aileen Antillon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had you ever had the one feeling, that you don't trust a few person out there? well i had, and not just one person but a several of persons. I guess thats how life is. When someone says they truly trust you they mean it, so don't make that person regret the trust they have in you. That just really makes me think i cant trust anyone out there but the family. My opinion in this book i actually really liked it i read most of Bluford High books they are great, they're so addicting i literally read that book in a day thats how good it was.

The story simply gets its name by "a matter of trust". Like i said can't really trust anyone.This book is mainly about amid jealousy and competition. She struggling with her relationship with her boyfriend and family problems. I couldn't imagine through all the stuff she's been through its too much.

The main problem is that she can't trust anyone since her friends betrayed her and said too much stuff doing at school and out of school. Her family and everything is distracting her from everything. She cant even stay concentrated in one thing, everything just appears bad to her. Like they say the struggle for real.
*********SPOILER ALERT*****************
Darcy fights for her relationship with Hakeem and is struggling with her fears over her own familiys future. A Matter of Trust is about how sisters overcome being abandoned by their father, living with a mother who works hours, and hours and struggle to keep their grandmother out of the nursing home.The setting of this book would be modern time in a metropolitan area. The story starts off strong when Darcy’s and Jamie’s father abandons them without a warning. This loss triggers tension in the family. For example, the sisters begin to argue all the time. The protagonist is Darcy and the antagonist is her little sister Jamie. Darcy’s little sister Jamie is in junior high school, and Darcy attends Bluford High School. The plot is full of details and drama about how Darcy is having problems with her best friend and stress at home because her mom was barely home. The author included so many details that I could actually visualize everything that was happening in the story. In addition, the novel is suspenseful. On top of all Darcy’s home problems, some suspicious man is following her. My favorite part is when Darcy encourages her boyfriend to participate in the talent show. Darcy wanted her boyfriend to try out with her because he can sing and knows how to play the guitar really good. This book is worth reading because I believe the author describes exactly how high school drama is and how stuff goes on at other peoples home.

I rate this book a 5 . It was great as well as the other Bluford high books. Hopefull she dosnt keep struggling in life anymore. She didnt deserve all of this that came to her on the quicks. Now that i told you a bit about this book you should read it, you'll love it.

[Mario Monsalve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever, ever had a hard time gaining someones trust back when they was really close to you? I think this book can relate to the same situations your. This book explains how the person started to get trusty with this certain person.


there is 2 sister named Jaimee and Darcey who attends bluford high school that are still heart broken because of there dad letting them go with t younger mom in Newyork. When there dad left the whole family broke apart especially Jaimee, Darcey and Jamee's mom work at a job that is full time witch means that the mother doesnt have time to spend with her daughters and also jaimee's grandma, witch her grandma couldn't get out of the bed without help because she could barely walk. later on the dad wants to come bad get his family back like they were before. Darcy started to spend more time with THEIR DAD. THEN darcey decided to have dinner with their dad and started to talk about there memories THEY HAD IN THE PASS. darcey does not ant there parents back together, even though she starts accepting the fact that that's still her father. Later on the father starts gaining the trust back and to be in the family. at the end of the story darcey starts having more faith that her father bring back the family even closer. this book is person vs person because darcey doesn't want their father to hurt there family again like last time. the theme of this book is that give someone a second chance because they might of change and isn't like before.


this title relates the book because Darcey keeps telling her if she should trust her dad or not. Darcey knows it is wrong how she doesn't trust her own dad but the fact that her father is trying to convinced the family that he changed but thento sound like nothing happen. also in this particular story she also had trust issues with her boyfriend be this girl started to flirt with him and she didn't know if her boyfriend was cheating on her. So the title does relate to the story by darcey having a lot of trust issues with certain people.


I was surprised when darcey has accepted her father to have dinner because darcey's father broke their family apart and now that he is acting like if that wasnt him doing any of this. and after the dinner rcey felt bit of sadness of her dad because he didnt actaully meant to do it and thher father acted selfish but darcy had gain a bit of trust back.


If i would've rate this book i would've give it five out five because this book can teach other people that give other second chance and will be sometimes worth it. If you stuck about trust issues read this book, it will teach you howto deal with it. So if you guys like drama book i really recommend you this book because a lot o drama accures this book.

[Sharlika · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book I have read is called “A Matter of Trust”, by Anne Schraff. This book is a fiction book. The theme of the book is to always have confidences in your self, have trust in others that is close to you and deal with different situations differently, also to forgive the people who done wrong to you.
A Matter of Trust is based on trust, drama, and love. The main characters are Darcy, her father, Hakeem, and Brisana. Darcy has sum trust issue wit her dad, about what had happened when she and her sister were little. Hakeem and Darcy are kind of in a relationship, she likes him a whole lot, and she doesn’t want any one to take him away from her. She has a lot of feelings for him, she cares deeply for him. But she’s not sure if he feels the same way about her. Brisana used to be a friend of Darcy until they had became enemies and does some things to Darcy that she doesn’t like at all.
This book was good.
This book was entertaining enough to keep reading it. It had some good parts that I had liked but it could have been better with a little more action in it. One of my favorite scenes is when Darcy had taken her grandmother to the park to just relax. When Hakeem had showed up to chill with her and meet her grandmother. He had also asked her out on a date and I thought that was really cute for him to finally show her his true feelings toward her.
I would recommend this book to any reader. I believe this book can be read by any one. If you like any other books by Anne Schraff then you should read this one, you might enjoy it more then I did.
A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff is a good book to read. It’s entertaining and has good scenes in it, the story has a good way to show how people should act and be more mature about situations they get them selves into. This story is fir every on to read and It’s and story to read.

[Suma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dear Charan,

I am reading the book "A Matter of Trust' by Anne Schraff, which is a work of realistic fiction.
This book is about a young woman named Darcy. She has a lot on her plate from a elderly grandmother to her long lost father coming back into her life wanting to regain her trust. She also has a stuttering boyfriend. Darcy's best friend used to be this girl named Brisana. Sadly, they fell apart once they both got to high school, because Darcy began to hang out with "zeros" in other words losers. To avoid conflict Darcy just ignored Brisana. Until one day Brisana tried to steal Hakeem ( Darcys boyfriend) from her. Darcy had enough and put her foot down.

This book made me realize that people really do change once they get into a new environment , this place being High School. I say this because people totally forget where they came from, once they get a little extra attention.
The character Darcy is strong, with everything going on in her life she never gets weak, she keep her head held high even when she just wants to cry.
I'd recommend this book to young adults because its an interesting book worth reading, its filled with things we as young adults are going through.

I wonder what made the author want to write about this topic?

[Lovekitty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff, the second installment to Lost and Found. I have to say, this book was a lot better than the first.
We see Darcy again, while she deals with a kind-of-but-not-really romantic relationship with Hakeem(their relationship status can be annoying. I mean, are you together or not?)the prospect of her former best friend stealing Hakeem away from her, and uncertain of whether to re-establish a relationship with her father, who left the family five years ago.

This book, once again, deals with realistic situations but features more dark tones; most notably gang violence.
I appreciate how these books deal with real problems and situations within [mostly] the black community, and it's refreshing to read a more true-to-life story and relate to it.

The only problem I really have with this novel is the dialogue between characters. It was quite stiff and somewhat stereotypical.
And, sadly, Darcy is still a pretty bland character.

Overall, A Matter of Trust is worth the read. Despite the dull dialogue and blandness of the protagonist, it has valuable lessons to teach, lessons that pertain to everybody.

[EJayy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love this book it shows how being a good person will always make your life easier. it goes from Darcy to thinking her and Brisana are the tens in this world ( upper class people ) to her opening up and understanding that there are people just like her in the world and they are no better than her. so then brisana gets madd and starts to take Hakeem Darcey`s boyfriend away until Darcey realizes that this used to be her bestfriend so then they get back to the old days. and the father comes back in Darcey and Jamee`s life and their mother accepts him because she knows that deep down inside she loves her husband . this book is like amazing i cant wait to read the next book. this book has alot to do with the struggle that teenagers face. and who to trust and who not to. this is a spoiler so yeah. i never write these but i think this is like the momment where i have to. please read the book it was completely great like i never read a book with so much action and feeling. =)

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Matter of Trust is a high school love drama. It can relate to most teens and their issues they might meet in high school ,

A matter of trust was mostly about a girl named darcy who was madly inlove with this boy name Hakeem Darcy has to over come obsatcles with keeping her stuttering boyfreind,Hakeem, out of arms reach of her ex-bestfriend Brisana. Brisan tries to get revenge on Darcy for choosing other friends over her. She also has to over come the shock of seeing her father for the very first time since he left the family some years ago she also had to except the fact that hakeem might be moving .

This book i would rate about a 9 because its soo reality and alot of teens are going through it and have already bin through it .

[Ruth Noemi Rojas · Rating 3 out of 5]

For starters, I would like to thank the Lord for allowing me the opportunity to read this book. It's been a while since I've read books from this series. I believe the last one I read was Brothers in Arms by Paul Langan, and I loved it. I loved Martin Luna. I also love Darcy Wills, the main character in this book. I really liked how the story ended because it was sweet! I liked all the characters. I liked how this was a cute, fun, and short read. This series, Bluford High is written by two people, Anne Schraff and Paul Langan. Schraff writes about Darcy and Roylin. Langan is the series editor and he writes about Martin (Who I love!) and other male characters in this series. Overall, I enjoyed it a lot.;)

[Tyler Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a girl named Darcy and she keeps flirting with her boyfriend. Also Darcy's grandmother is sick and her father is trying to find his way back in there family.This book is a page tuner and is very insteresting. The parts that made this book insteresting was when Darcy, Jamee, and their mother went to Aunt Charlotte house for dinner.These conflicts helped me better understand the charachters.

[Nyamari Duran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing. My favorite thing about the Bluford series books are that they have real life situations that actual people go through every day. Darcy lIves in a small apartment with her mom, sister, and her sick grandmother. Life was fine until it took a turn for the worst. Darcy's ex best friend Brisana is trying to ruin her life and her dad who abandoned her years ago, is now trying to make up for the trouble he has caused. What will Darcy do and who will she trust?

[Geisis Medina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a great book. I really love to see how Darcy feel now about her dad coming back to that house. Also she think that her family might be a normal family after her mom and her dad had a conversation that made her mother give her father a chance

[W-O-R-D-S DON'T HURT THIS 1 · Rating 5 out of 5]

WHAT I LEARNED ABOUT THIS BOOK WAS THAT THEY ALWAYS TRY TO STILL YO BOYFRIEND

[Tremayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

she wuz very smart not to fight her old bst friend and just let it go its a good example to show people not to fight over each other

[Kiacarter · Rating 3 out of 5]

i thought this book was ok. it didnt really catch my attention all like that.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

i like this book and i want read the others series of this author

[Nancy Cervantes · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was good but i didnt like how the author ended the story.

[Jalynn Oakman · Rating 5 out of 5]

i thought this book was a good book because it had learning pointss in it and how to deal with certain situations.

[Aaliyah]

this author really amazing me with the detail she adds in the book. she gets me emotional everytime and i love her. Not only that but she makes the stories relate to you or a similar situation!

[Jacob Aitken · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is more a link in the chain rather than a stand alone. There is no crucial "problem" to be solved, other than dealing with Brisana. It is important in terms of character development.

[Yaritza]

A Matter of Trust by Anne Schraff, Anne Schaffer was born in Cleveland Ohio and had taught high school students for 10 years before becoming an author. Anne had received her bachelors and masters degrees from California State University. The theme of the book “A Matter Of Trust” is how one is learning the meaning behind trust and also the rise of jealousy in the world.

The story is about a teenage girl named Darcy who begins to have conflict with an old friend of hers named Brisas and also has grown jealousy towards her due to her noticing Brissa’s interacting with her boyfriend Hakeem. My favorite part of the story is when Darcy stood up of her boyfriend Hakeem when a boy in their English class named Roylin was making fun of him because he had a stuttering problem. My least favorite part is when Darcy tries to help Hakeem with Roylin by standing up for him but Hakeem gets up set and yells at her.

The main characters of this story are Darcy, Hakeem, Brissa, Tarah, and Cooper. These characters were made to be very believable because they all carry emotions that people can relate to in many ways. My favorite character was Cooper because he was very honest with Darcy and made sure she didn’t do anything she would regret. I could relate to Cooper because I like to help out the people I love and make sure they are able to know/understand the consequences to their actions.

I really enjoyed this book because I can relate
to some situations that were brought about and also I’ve witnessed some actions that were taken.I would recommend this book to the drama seekers because this book has a lot of drama that is developed between characters throughout the story.