Martin Luna's world is crumbling. A fight threatens to end his sophomore year at Bluford High School. But at home, things are even worse. Frankie, the most feared homeboy from his neighborhood, is hunting him. Alone and with time running out, Martin makes a desperate choice. Will it save or destroy him?

Martin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child. Will Martin listen to her, or will he allow anger to control him?

Darcy Wills needs help. A frightening ordeal at the end of the school year has turned her world upside down. And her parents, distracted by problems at home, don't seem to notice her troubles. With her ex-boyfriend miles away in Detroit and her beloved grandmother gone, Darcy is more alone than ever. Unable to deny the painful truth she's been hiding, Darcy turns to her remaining friends only to discover one of them has an even bigger secret. Now, forced into a crisis beyond her control, Darcy must take a stand for herself—and for her friend. Only one thing is certain: when the dust settles, Darcy will never be the same.

ReviewFrom day one, the Bluford books flew off my shelf like hot tamales. The kids would not put them down. -- M. Patano, Reading TeacherWhen I finished these books, I went back to the beginning and read them all over again. -- Caren B., 9th grade studentProduct DescriptionTyray Hobbs wants revenge. Weeks ago, he was one of the most feared students in Bluford High. But then Darrell Mercer publicly humiliated him, and Tyray lost his reputation. To get it back, he must take down Darrell. But how? With a broken hand, a troubled family, and no friends in sight, Tyray feels trapped. And when the kids he once bullied start threatening him, his world completely unravels. Desperate to settle the score and regain respect, Tyray sees only one solution to his problems—a gun.

Hakeem Randall can't take it anymore. First he learns that his father is sick and his parents can no longer afford their home. Then he must leave his friends at Bluford High and move to his uncle's house in faraway Detroit. Things go from bad to worse when Hakeem is forced to share a small bedroom with his moody and secretive cousin, Savon. Once childhood friends, the two quickly become enemies. Now they are ready to to go war with each other, and the outcome of the battle promises to change their lives forever.

ReviewAn enjoyable read. The author weaves all the realistic details of daily life that make readers forget this is fiction -- James Blasingame, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, September 2002The suspense got to be so great that I could feel the blood pounding in my ears! --Terrance W., a 10th grade studentThe second book (used with the class) was The Bully by Paul Langan, and it took the next six periods of eighth-grade classes by storm. I was no more than 2 paragraphs into reading my chosen chapter when I could tell from the absolute silence that the audience was hookedSilence gave way to choral groans and laughter before a tense moment resulted in silence again and finally cheers when the protagonist, a small bullied ninth grader named Darrell, confronted the school bully Tyray, unexpectedly in the school cafeteria and sent him sprawling in a pool of spilled spaghetti. --James Blasingame from Books That Don't Bore 'Em, Scholastic, New York, NY. 2007 Product DescriptionDarrell Mercer, a 9th grader at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Darrell and his mother move to the Bluford area in the middle of the school year. Physically smaller than his peers, Darrell quickly becomes a target for Tyray Hobbs, the freshman class bully.