When We Wuz Famous — Greg Takoudes

Francisco, a straight-A student from Spanish Harlem, wins a full scholarship to an elite boarding school. His future seems promising, but when he moves into the dorm, his new classmates assume the worst; they pepper him with questions about drugs, gangs, rap, and the barrio. In an environment of privilege and possibility, Francisco becomes everything he'd fought so hard to avoid.

It's all so confusing, made even more complicated when Francisco realizes that back home in Spanish Harlem, he no longer fits in. In an attempt to help one of his "brothers" from the hood, Francisco makes a terrible decision that costs him his future and leads to his friend's demise.

Greg Takoudes has written a riveting novel about breaking down stereotypes, crossing boundaries, and clinging to where you come from.