Genre
Young Adult Fiction
Setting and Context
Present day, projects in New York, against a backdrop of gang violence.
Narrator and Point of View
The narrator is the protagonist, Bri, who tells the story from her own point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone is surprisingly upbeat and humorous, against a backdrop of struggle and frustration.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Bri Jackson is the protagonist; the media, who portray her as a stereotypical angry black girl from the projects, are the antagonists.
Major Conflict
There is constant conflict in Bri's life, beginning with the conflict between rival gangs in her neighborhood. Her father is shot dead by a rival gang member.
Climax
The climax of the novel is the success of Bri's first rap which goes viral and catapults her to both fame and notoriety.
Foreshadowing
Bri's anger foreshadows the content of her rap.
Understatement
No specific examples.
Allusions
The book alludes to gang violence, especially between rival gangs, centering around the music industry.
Imagery
Bri's rap creates an image of a dangerous gangbanging girl who is constantly angry and is a threat to the safety of others. Her lyrics tend to make people imagine a picture of a girl brandishing a gun with intent to do harm.
Paradox
Bri is not a stereotypical menace to society but realizes she has to appear to be her stereotype if she is to succeed in the hip hop business.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between the family's economic situation and Bri's desperation to succeed and make money to save them from eviction.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
The projects is the term used to describe all of the different people who live there.
Personification
No specific examples.
