Hustlin'

Drama High #7

by L. Divine

Drama High is a fun new series featuring a young sistah who's learning that life in the `hood is nothing compared to life in high school. Series is a YALSA 2009 Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers.

Genres: Young Adult, Drama, African American, Young Adult Contemporary, Contemporary

256 pages, Library Binding

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

L. Divine is a young female author of the young adult fiction series Drama High. L. Divine is also a priestess who is originally from California, has lived in Jamaica and currently resides with her children in Atlanta. She also holds advanced degrees in African American studies from UCLA.

Reviews

[Shantel Johnson]

This book waz really good. All bookz that L. Divine write are pretty good. Especially the Drama High Seriez. When i first read it, I thought that it waz going to be boring, due to the fact that it waz dealing with voo doo and thingz like that. But when I read the first chapter of "Courtin' Jayd", i thought "This book is pretty good". Then thatz when I started reading the whole seriez. And I am looking forward to the next book. These bookz are really good. You should pick it up wheneva you go by your local book store next time. i guess the saying is true: "You cant alwayz judge a book by itz cover"!!!

[Olivia Owens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Now i know everyone at one point in there life can relate to hustlin'. I know i can school is my hustle.

[Frani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Somebody: Jayd
Wanted: To fix her relationship with her ex boyfriend Raheem because they are in love and have been since Jr. High
But: Rah's baby momma Sandy wont go away and Jayd's ex boyfriend Jeremy is still trying to get back together wih Jayd.
so: Jayd has to figure out a way to fix her relationships with Rah, and her two best friends Mickey and Nellie.

Summary:Jayd a 16 year old sophmore at South Bay High, is trying to fix her relationships with her friends and her ex boyfriend Raheem but Rah's baby momma just wont go away! And neither will Jayd's ex Jeremy. Sp Jayd has to figure out a way to fix her friendships and get her crew back to the way they were before. She needs to figure out how to get Sandy away from Rah so she can have him back. She needs to figure out a way to get Jeremy off her case. She needs to figure out a way to get her best friends Mickey and Nellie to stop hatin' on each other, and she needs to get her nemesis Misty off her case. With so much drama on her plate how will Jayd handle all this and her spirit work? Is this to much for Jayd Jackson?


Theme: You have to go look at your own life before you look at and mess with other people's lives.

[Faith (: · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somebody: Jayd Jackson a junior at south bay high school " drama high "
Wanted: drama to go away and live a drama free life. The drama she is having seems to be endless. Jayd is having conflicts with her friends Mickey and Nellie. Then the two main guys (Rah and Jeremy )in her life are both seeking alot of attention. Then Jayd is also getting sucked into Rah's drama with his baby mama Sandy and on top of that Rah and Jayd's relationship is also slipping and Jayd is getting tired of having no attention. Also Misty is always spreading rumors about Jayd and her friends.
But: Jayd cant escape this and fix her friends realationship with each other as well as her and her friends realationship while trying to be focused on getting into the hair business , and working on her spirt work and being an actress !
So: Jayd is trying but she cant do it alone and she's trying to stop her terrible dreams from coming true. How will she do it ?

Theme for the book: Things get worse before it gets better.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jayd is back and the holidays are coming soon. Jeremy is in the past and Mickey is going to have her baby soon. Meanwhile Rah and his baby mama Sandy are getting into some tough times fighting over Rahmina. Jayd, trying to stay out of drama and fights, is just doing what she does, listen to mama and braid hair. That is how Jayd Jackson roles.
I can make a text to world connection. There are a lot of teenage pregnancies. Mickey is pregnant and Sandy already had a baby. So really teens are getting pregenant every day for all we know.
I gave this book 5 stars.It was REALLY good and fun to read. I hope there are more books in the Drama High series.

[Diamonique · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thiught this was an excellent read. Jayd's trying to hustle her way to lead role and stay out of trouble. But trouble always follow. Now she has to deal with Rah's baby mama aka one of her ex-friends and the drama she brings. Keepng Mickey's little secret and Nellie from telling that and other things. It's alot of drama in this one and hopefully Jayd will stick it out.

[Sonja · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is amazing just got it from the public reading center &&' ppl should read it it's very good &&' no lie you'll love it unless...but theres more drama high the are good &&' if you liked this one you should check out Holidaze &&' Lady J there even better so see for your self:)

[Asia Fontenot · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like this book because it has drama in it and it is a very good book I would recommend this to Amy because she has a little bit of drama in her and she would really like this book.The book was about a girl who was fighting.

[CYNTHIA · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is about a girl named ''Lady J.have deferent stories about her dramatic life with boys and friends.I liked this book because I'm really dramatic like her .I would recommend this book to all the girls who be getting in drama a lot.

[Dalana Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love all the Drama High Books they all get 5 stars

[Rayzin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I liked this book beacause no matter who tried to sstop her she kept on doing what she had to do and that was Hustlin'.

[Christopher Guinto · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a girl who's always hustling. I liked this book because it's about drama. I would recommend this book to people who like drama.

[Tiffany Spencer]

Hustlin
After their big win, Nigel has an after celebration at his place so Jayd and Rah head there. Nellie and Mickey bitch at each other back and forth and they all get high as a kite. Nellie finally tells Nigel he might not be the father of the baby and she only chooses him because one day he’ll be ballin' but he acts like he isn’t fazed in the slightest.

At school, Laura gives Jayd attitude about getting the part. Then Chance jumps in to defend Jayd. Laura and Chance get into it when she tells him he knows where his loyalties lie Jayd steps in and tells Laura it’s between them. Laura calls her a fat ass and then leaves. Jayd wonders what she’s up to. Jayd is left alone with Jeremy who takes her books, walks her to her class, tells her he’s not going anywhere, (she didn’t call him back after the night they kissed)and gives her a kiss on the cheek before going to his own class.

Mr. Adawalle is subbing for Spanish and he surprises Jayd by knowing she dated Jeremy (and the int of disappointment in his tone) and that he knows she’s.. different He says he has a “sixth sense”. Later, Jayd tells Big Mama about Nellie’s jealousy and that she suspects Mr. Adawalle knows something. Mama tells her she can’t worry about how other people might play their cards. She can only deal with the hand she’s dealt. She says as far as Laura, call her bluff. Then with Nellie leave it alone. She and Chance both must be getting something out of the relationship.

The next day, Mickey and Nellie are arguing again. Mickey has decided to name her baby Nicky Shante. She knows it’s a girl. Nellie tells her this is convenient since she already planned to get knocked up by Nigel as soon as she first saw him. Jayd tells Nellie to just let it go. Nellie says she can’t because Mickey keeps rubbing it in her face... There’s a drama with Misty and Mickey over whose sit it as at the bottom of the bleachers and Mickey can’t help throwing the fact that she has clap while she tries to bring to attention her pregnancy. Nellie surprises everyone by defending Misty and calling Mickey a hypocrite.. Mickey goes off to be with her baby daddy but tells Jayd to tell Nellie to check herself. Then she starts to bitch about how played it is to try to trap a dude by having a baby. Then they compare Tanya to Mickey. Nellie says at least Tanya was honest, but Jayd says they’re both getting what they want out of it. Nellie though can’t be convinced. She says she’ll deal with it her way and Jayd can deal with it hers. Netta tells her that she’s too into her friends' drama and its clouding her head. Then she shows her her shrine and tells her she has to leave her mess outside her shop and come in with a clear mind.

They show Jayd a lady in a portrait that Jayd says looked at her. They tell Jayd that her friends are a reflection of her and like a reflection, she has to see what’s on the other side. Netta says as hairdressers they have a special power and the mirror is key that unlocks it. Netta says that there are many things that lie beneath the surface but if your too busy looking at your own reflection you might not see the danger ahead. Netta then gives her the privilege of access to her spirit book. Then she gives her the rules. Jayd learns that they have a special power of getting in people’s heads. She wonders if she can get in Rah’s head, but Netta lets her know that’s not how they use it. There are ways to get what they want without manipulation.

Jayd spends the next day in the library and looks up Mr. Adawalle. She prints out a paper he did on Queen Caliia and then notices another one Voodoo Vixens. This one has a bunch of familiar names that include her great-grandmother. She confronts him about it. He tells her that the paper was meant to honor the Queens but the title was just used to get attention. Jayd wants to know what he knows about her lineage. He tells her he doesn’t know why she’s not more honest. He’s from New Orleans and knew her great-grandmother and then says she should have learned from her great-grandmother about dating a white man. Jayd then walks off to sit with Jeremy (who she’s invited to practice).

He’s late on the news of Nigel and Mickey and he wants to know if she’ll keep it. It's his option that babies shouldn’t have to be born into up situation and that abortions look like a logical solution. She asks if he considered the same when it was Tanya and he said he just assumed that everyone considered that as an option.. He says that he’s just saying that the people having babies should just consider the baby’s well-being and the burden. Jayd doesn’t agree at all and gets ticked off with his way of thinkingMickey’s man rolls up to Jayd's house with a threat. He wants her to tell Nigel he’s coming for him. Jayd knows its time for her to talk to Mickey before her bs gets someone hurt.
.
At school Rah texts Jayd that he wants to introduce her to his daughter. Nigel and Mickey don’t seem to be around. In the hallway. Jayd is cleaning out her locker when Misty tells her that once she throws something away it’s public property. Before she can think on that, Jayd is called to the drama room to try on her costume. Laura produces a letter that Mickey and Jayd wrote and gives it to Mrs. Bennett. She informs Jayd that Nigel and Mickey are under investigation for cutting and if it’s found Jayd forged her signature for Mickey she will be too. She flat out asks Jayd if did she do it and Jayd doesn’t deny it.

Jayd confronts Mickey. She just brushes it off and tells her parents won’t come up to the school and Nigel’s the star quarterback and they have a game. Then she tells Mickey about her man’s visit. Mickey just laughs this off and says she’s not worried. Jayd tells her just because she already got what she wanted but some people want more than to get married and knocked up. Nellie says she’ll talk to her man. Misty mocks Jayd about all the things she’s lost, but Jayd just thinks to herself she won’t be soon when she sees what she has in store for her..

On her first day of her new job, Rah texts and says Sandy is trippin and he can’t pick her up. So, Jeremy agrees to take her. They almost kiss. Nettie calls and Jayd explains why she’s late. She tells her to come in early. She finally agrees to let him take her to get something to eat. On Jayds first day of work, after work, Jayd meets Rahima and then they go Christmas shopping with Mickey and Nigel. They go to Nigel’s which turns out to be a big mistake. Nigel’s mom finds out Mickey is pregnant She isn’t happy about it Sandy shows up at Nigel’’s and jumps all over his behind for having Rahima around Jayd. Rah calls later that night, upset, and vents to Jayd about wanting to get his daughter so she won’t turn out like her mother.

The next day Jayd has her first driving lesson. The night before she has a dream about Laura pulling her off the stage and demanding her crown. Mrs. Benett and Mr.Brown take away Jayd’s part and say they’ll launch a full investigation after the holiday break. Mr. Attawale tells her if she didn’t do it don’t admit to it. If she did be honest. If they don’t have proof keep her mouth shut. Mama gives Jayd ingredients for an “Anything Goes” potion that’s meant to get back what’s hers. Jayd does receive her driving license after she passes her final test. Nellie (at a cast party) tells Jayd when she tries to speak, her friendship with her and Mickey are over. Jayd finds out she’s been hazed and that she’s the one that sold out Jayd, Nigel, and Mickey. Chance gives Jayd the original announcement with her as Lady MacBeth. Before the show, Jayd sprays her potion and Laura loses her voice. The show ends up being a success! Jayd and Mickey walk away from Nellie.

My Thoughts:
A lot of it had to do with Rah and Sandy and Rah wanting to get custody of his kid so she won’t turn out like her mother. But would Rah make a better parent and is Sandy a bad mother? I just can’t say. We see that Rah provides for Rahima and gives her the best of everything. This may or may not be in his favor. That he *does* provide for her is a good thing, but look *how* he provides for her. He’s a drug dealer. Sometimes men who live street lives don’t live them long. Maybe he’ll eventually move in another direction with music. He obviously loves her but I wonder with all the things he’s involved in while he have the time to be a full-time, single, father or will Jayd find Rahima being dropped off with her when he needs to handle business and doesn’t want his daughter involved. I don’t know if he’s looking fully at what Sandy *does*. Then ok so Sandy’s supposed to be “crazy”. Don’t get me wrong she *is* a little bit (showing up at Tricia’s school and starting ish over Rah) but then we can’t really say (and don’t have any examples of her being a bad mother). She might be a bad influence, but that we’ve seen Rahema doesn’t appear to be abused or ill-cared for. So, I can’t say that Rah *should* have full custody of Rahema. He’s just as bad *in character* an influence. He sells. He has multiple women. He’s controlling and he’s something of a hypocrite.

Then it tried to make Jeremy look bad because he thought (and to some extent I agree) that people need to consider the child’s well-being before they bring them into these situations. People tho REALLY SHOULD. I don’t think abortion is the answer in every case but I do think people should consider their options. If I could choose I’d say let the baby live but I think an adoption is a good option in comparison to abortion because some people really want kids and just can’t have them and they’d be willing to provide them with love, support, time, and attention. I think Jayd is so quick to hear what she *wants* to hear that she doesn’t always *listen*. That’s why while I don’t mind Jeremy I just don’t think he’s a good fit for Jayd because they’re like fire and ice.

Now, Mickey. I said it in the last review. I don’t have a problem with her making Nigel the father. CLEARLY, Nigel doesn’t have a problem with it. Even though this will NOT go well if it’s not his. No, what I had a problem with is Mickey is laughing off the fact that “her man” is threatening her friend over her ish.. But then I had to think about it. It’s not like Mickey has ANY control over “her man” so what CAN she do? She’s probably TERRIFIED of what she *knows* is gonna happen to her (and that’s end up in a coffin). I just don’t know. Mickey is a ish friend for putting her friend in the middle of her ish, but then I don’t want her to be beat to death neither. Even though she *did* kind of put ALL THIS on herself.

I’m tired of Nellie. Jayd can drop Nellie and Mickey and I’d be all right. I have female friends I talk to on and off (mostly off) but as for ones I kick it with all the time, I don’t. These are NOT REAL FRIENDS, Yet, she’s always quick to try to fight for both these chicks. LET THEM GO! Some paths in life you might *have* to walk alone and by the end of this book, I hope either Jayd finds real female friends that don’t bring all this drama or learns she’s stronger alone without them and Rah.. Then there’s something weird about that teacher. I think he’s connected to Voduu too. Did you notice his eyes glow like Jayds?

Rating: 5

[Hadassah Zenor-Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the book Drama High: Hustlin’ by L.Divine because it is a very realistic fictional book, meaning the characters face some of the things teens do in the real world. This book is a story about 16 year old Jayd Jackson who lives in Compton, California who has a lot going on in her life. Her best friend is pregnant, her boyfriend's ex has come to haunt them and on top of that she’s a junior at Drama High. One important idea that Divine shows is that life for most teenagers isn’t “smooth sailing” like a lot of books, Tv shows and movies lead us to believe. One way Divine shows this is, one, by the title and, two, by the events that happen in this teenage girl's life. If you’re looking for a realistic fictional book about semi-real life scenarios the Drama High series is the series for you.

[Danielle Sheppard]

This book is good, Divine writes great books, well long story short This is about a girl named Jayde, and she hustles which is try, or get money. But she gets money by herself and people don't like it not even girls at school they are just haters. But she doesn't care what anyone say's or has to think she mind them she very independent she's in high school of course. She hustles to get her own things like a car, instead of having her father give her anything because he's so cheap. She works at a hair shop owned by her mothers friend, and that's how she makes her money.

[Satorie Summers]

Hustlin' is a great book. The book is about a girl named Jayde hustling to make her own money and pay for her own car rather than depend on her cheap father. She works at a hair shop owned by her mothers friend. Jayde is an independent High School female that all girls like to hate on. However she dosnt pay them any mind.





210 Pages!

[Lena♥(Nothing Like Your Last,Im Your Present) Lakeisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was good to me in a way,it's the first book I've read out of the series and it didn't disappoint me either,I would reccomend this book series for Teenagers,I don't think adults would be too much interested:)

[Shanyia]

The book is so good i love to read drama high its a really good series i would read them anytime but they get boring after you reaed all of the books i think that they should make more alot of people love to read them

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

best of the series now i need the next

[Miz.liencie Dunn · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was really alsome

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love it

[Breyana Respress · Rating 5 out of 5]

That's write girl you working to get your money right no ones going to hand it to you so u shouldn't let drama stop you from doing what you do best and that is being you

[Mo'ett Simmons]

it was starting off being good but i didn't finish

[Shianethornton]

i think this book is really awesome beacuse it talks about aa teens life and i like reading it beacuse it tells me what to look out for in the future when i am a teen

[prettyfacekay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think it's about a girl doing stuff on her own

[Sashique Wynter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is great for people who love drama i recomend it for girls who love teen drama i promise you once you start you wont want to stop :)

[Karoline Cymphonique]

it was a great book to read

[Kemanne Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was a very good book.

[Alyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

gooooooooooooood

[Jalyn Shubert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jayd and her freinds are going throught a tuff time because Mickey is pregant and dosent know who the babdy father is.