Let Me Hear a Rhyme

Tiffany D Jackson

In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday’s Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he’s still alive.

Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn’t mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph’s music lie forgotten under his bed after he’s murdered—not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party.

“One of the first things I think young people, especially nowadays, should learn is how to see for yourself and listen for yourself and think for yourself”

“History is not there for you to like or dislike it is there for you to learn from it and if it offends you even better because you are less likely to repeat it. It's not yours to erase; it belongs to all of us.”

“By understanding history we have a common ground to understand each other.”

“Education takes place in the combination of the home the community the school and the receptive mind.”

“There is no more powerful force than a people steeped in their history. And there is no higher cause than honouring our struggle and ancestors by remembering.”

“Before we even attempt to teach children, we want them to know each of them is unique and very special. We want them to like themselves to want to achieve and care about themselves.”

“Education heels gives new information new knowledge of who they are and what they are.”

“Education is creating not limiting and destroying.”

“You may not have been born in Africa but Africa was born in you.”