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Urban Underground #5
One of Us
Set in contemporary urban America, the Urban Underground series is about a group of teens attending Tubman High. The high school years are important to our intellectual and emotional development. Teens are faced with many obstacles, both imagined and in real life. Finding stories that speak to their struggles can help guide them and build the foundation for the future. The American teen experience at Tubman is typical as students deal with trust, loyalty, friendship, unemployment, urban decay, drugs, dropouts, bullies, alcoholism, abuse, and self esteem to name a few. The highly readable style and mature topics will appeal to struggling teen readers of both sexes and encourage them to finish each novel. Paperback books look and feel like a trade edition and are complete in just under 200 pages.
In the alley on his way home from work, Derrick Shaw witnesses a murder. To save his life, Derrick promises not to reveal the identity of the shooter, a former Tubman student. But he feels sick and guilty about his vow of silence. It would have been easier if Rafe Wexford was a gangbanger, shot dead, but Rafe was a good guy attending City College
In the alley on his way home from work, Derrick Shaw witnesses a murder. To save his life, Derrick promises not to reveal the identity of the shooter, a former Tubman student. But he feels sick and guilty about his vow of silence. It would have been easier if Rafe Wexford was a gangbanger, shot dead, but Rafe was a good guy attending City College
83 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2010
20 people are currently reading
252 people want to read
About the author
Anne E. Schraff
294 books407 followersAnne 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 5, 2017
The main characters in this book are Derrick Shaw, Derrick's family, Destini, BJ Brady, Wes, Rafe Wexford, and Bethany Walsh. The other characters are Martho Lane and his friends. Derrick Shaw is a student that goes to a high school called Tubman high school. He gets bullied a lot. He has a really low self esteem but his parents love him very much and always wished the best for him. Derrick's family was kind of poor so he went looking for a job. He went to the 99 cent store and asked Wes if he could work there because his family needs money. Wes thought that Derrick was a good kid so he hired him. Wes taught Derrick some things. Wes told him that people shoplift a lot around there. So Wes taught him how to deal with those kind of people. Wes really liked Derrick and Derrick really liked him too. Derrick got off work at 9 p.m. and when he was biking home he saw BJ Brady shoot Rafe Wexford in the alley. BJ saw Derrick and was about to shoot him because Derrick just saw what he just did. Derrick begged for his life. BJ let Derrick go, but he told Derrick that if he tells anyone about what happened that night, BJ will kill him and kill everyone that he loves. Derrick biked home and was really scared. The next day at school everybody talked about the shooting in the alley. Derrick was still scared. After school he went to work and he saw some girls. Derrick caught them shoplifting so he went to talk to them in a nice way so they would put it back or not shoplift and pay for it. Wes was really proud of Derrick. Derrick was super happy so after work he went home and told his family about his job, he loves it. Derrick met this girl named Destini in school. Destini asked Derrick to go on a date with her so they went after school. After the date Derrick took her home and then he saw BJ. Derrick started panicking. BJ came and talked to him, and said that his girlfriend was pretty and gave him $100 for not telling anyone about the murder. Derrick started to worry now that BJ knows about Destini and his whole family. Derrick didn;t want a murderers money so he donated his money to help people. One day.. this guy named Fabian was accused of murdering Rafe. Derrick saw it on the news and told his parents that Derrick witnessed the murder. Derrick told his parents that he saw BJ kill Rafe. They went to the police and told them that BJ did it and Fabian was released. Read this book to find out what happens in the end! In my opinion .. I think this book is the best book that I've read so far!
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March 4, 2013Jehad Gazawnah
One of Us
The story One of Us by Anne Scrhaff is a very suspenseful book and one you just can’t put down, you just want to keep reading. It has a lot of violent and dangerous moments throughout the story. Each event has a big role into what happens in the end of the story. I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger age group because of the language and things used in the story. For a mature age group this is a very good book to relax and read to.
In the story you feel what the main character Derrick Shaw is going through in his life. You read about struggles that people go through every day and that rarely even ever crosses your mind once. This book is fiction but can be even based on true events in most of what happens in this book. Crime is all over the place and people don’t see it as much as others. Different areas throughout the United States are more dangerous than others, rime rates and death rates. Nothing is the same but in the story you read about crazy situations.
Almost every teenager goes to school in the United States. Derrick is one of those kids who would be picked on by other students in the book. You are in his point of view so you know what he feels and how this affects him. This story can show others what the effects are and why they should stop. It also can encourage others to not give in to bullying and not letting it affect them. You see a lot of bravery in this book that shows you can make it through hard times.
Everyone has a story and everyone has different ways of going through life. You have your own way of living life and now you get to read about someone else. See what they see and what they go through each day. Not every story has a happy ending and there are reasons to that statement. This is a heartfelt story that can change your mood emotionally and have you feeling the sorrow as the characters throughout the story.
Not everything you see appears as it does as you think it might. You see this lot in this story and end up shocked cause of circumstances that happen. I don’t want to give away good parts of the story but if you like suspenseful and entertaining books I recommend you picking this one up. I guaranteed you won’t be disappointed and would end up happy with the outcome of you reading this book. It’s not that long of a story and something good to pick up on your spare time. You can see through another’s eyes and live a life through words and another person’s point of view. Just think about it.
One of Us
The story One of Us by Anne Scrhaff is a very suspenseful book and one you just can’t put down, you just want to keep reading. It has a lot of violent and dangerous moments throughout the story. Each event has a big role into what happens in the end of the story. I wouldn’t recommend this book to a younger age group because of the language and things used in the story. For a mature age group this is a very good book to relax and read to.
In the story you feel what the main character Derrick Shaw is going through in his life. You read about struggles that people go through every day and that rarely even ever crosses your mind once. This book is fiction but can be even based on true events in most of what happens in this book. Crime is all over the place and people don’t see it as much as others. Different areas throughout the United States are more dangerous than others, rime rates and death rates. Nothing is the same but in the story you read about crazy situations.
Almost every teenager goes to school in the United States. Derrick is one of those kids who would be picked on by other students in the book. You are in his point of view so you know what he feels and how this affects him. This story can show others what the effects are and why they should stop. It also can encourage others to not give in to bullying and not letting it affect them. You see a lot of bravery in this book that shows you can make it through hard times.
Everyone has a story and everyone has different ways of going through life. You have your own way of living life and now you get to read about someone else. See what they see and what they go through each day. Not every story has a happy ending and there are reasons to that statement. This is a heartfelt story that can change your mood emotionally and have you feeling the sorrow as the characters throughout the story.
Not everything you see appears as it does as you think it might. You see this lot in this story and end up shocked cause of circumstances that happen. I don’t want to give away good parts of the story but if you like suspenseful and entertaining books I recommend you picking this one up. I guaranteed you won’t be disappointed and would end up happy with the outcome of you reading this book. It’s not that long of a story and something good to pick up on your spare time. You can see through another’s eyes and live a life through words and another person’s point of view. Just think about it.
May 16, 2016
Nakeitra Mack Mack’s Book Review
Miss Allen
English 1-6
16 May 2016
On his way home from work a man is killed cold-blooded in a dark valley. Derrik Shaw struggling to keep his grades up but when he promises not to say anything he carries a whole lot of weight on his back until he cannot carry it anymore longer.
My emotions to this book was a bit terrifying because he seen a dead person fighting for their life and there was no way he could help them without his life ending as well. I had a very powerful connection with the main character as far as grade situation because once upon a time I was in the same situation trying to keep a c and a average.
The author does well at structuring the book and putting it in order that they did. As the book went along everything else kind of fell in place on it’s own. I think anyone that reads the back of the book would want to read it right then and there because it’s described in such good deep detail and it will get the reader’s attention and have them hooked to where they won’t want to stop reading it.
Miss Allen
English 1-6
16 May 2016
On his way home from work a man is killed cold-blooded in a dark valley. Derrik Shaw struggling to keep his grades up but when he promises not to say anything he carries a whole lot of weight on his back until he cannot carry it anymore longer.
My emotions to this book was a bit terrifying because he seen a dead person fighting for their life and there was no way he could help them without his life ending as well. I had a very powerful connection with the main character as far as grade situation because once upon a time I was in the same situation trying to keep a c and a average.
The author does well at structuring the book and putting it in order that they did. As the book went along everything else kind of fell in place on it’s own. I think anyone that reads the back of the book would want to read it right then and there because it’s described in such good deep detail and it will get the reader’s attention and have them hooked to where they won’t want to stop reading it.
September 4, 2010
Derrick knows he isn't the smartest guy in the world, but he has a loving family, a good afterschool job and a positive attitude. When he accidentally witnesses an old friend committing murder, everything he has seems to be in jeopardy.
I really enjoyed the way Schraff posed some deep questions and moral quandaries using simple language. Derrick was portrayed as deeply good, competent and sympathetic despite being a little slow. Schraff also included a few anti-bullying strategies in the text that seem like they might work. It was a pleasure reading about a such a gentle protagonist who perseveres in a tough setting.
I really enjoyed the way Schraff posed some deep questions and moral quandaries using simple language. Derrick was portrayed as deeply good, competent and sympathetic despite being a little slow. Schraff also included a few anti-bullying strategies in the text that seem like they might work. It was a pleasure reading about a such a gentle protagonist who perseveres in a tough setting.
October 9, 2013
This book is about this kid who wants to help his family out by paying the bills and buying food. So he gets a job and doesn't think he could be mean to the customers that steal. Because he was bullied in high school but now he loves his job and he helps his family
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October 22, 2016it was very inetersting
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 19, 2013
I loved it... I was such and amazing book.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews