This collector's edition of the acclaimed, bestselling novel contains a
letter from the author, deleted scenes, a picture of the author as a teen
rapper, an annotated playlist, Angie's top 5 MCs, an annotated rap,
illustrated quotes from the book, and an excerpt from Angie's next novel.
#1 New York Times bestseller · Seven starred reviews · Boston Globe-Horn
Book Award Honor Book For all the struggle in this book, Thomas rarely
misses a step as a writer. Thomas continues to hold up that mirror with
grace and confidence. We are lucky to have her, and lucky to know a girl
like Bri.--The New York Times Book Review Sixteen-year-old Bri wants to be
one of the greatest rappers of all time. Or at least win her first battle.
As the daughter of an underground hip hop legend who died right before he
hit big, Bri's got massive shoes to fill. But it's hard to get your come up
when you're labeled a hoodlum at school, and your fridge at home is empty
after your mom loses her job. So Bri pours her anger and frustration into
her first song, which goes viral . . . for all the wrong reasons. Bri soon
finds herself at the center of a controversy, portrayed by the media as
more menace than MC. But with an eviction notice staring her family down,
Bri doesn't just want to make it--she has to. Even if it means becoming the
very thing the public has made her out to be. Insightful, unflinching, and
full of heart, On the Come Up is an ode to hip hop from one of the most
influential literary voices of a generation. It is the story of fighting
for your dreams, even as the odds are stacked against you; and about how,
especially for young black people, freedom of speech isn't always free.