WHEN WE WUZ FAMOUSBY GREG TAKOUDES

PUBLISHER- HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

YEAR PUBLISHED- 2013

Nikolas Pham

Introduction

The setting of the story is in New York where the main character, Francisco, has to leave his home in Spanish Harlem. He has to leave behind his best friend, Vincent, and his girlfriend, Reignbow, to go to his new school Seton Grove Academy.

Protagonist/Antagonist Protagonists

Francisco- A very athletic basketball player who was the star of his basketball team. He had all A’s at his old high school and got a scholarship to Seton Grove Academy.

Reignbow- Francisco’s girlfriend, She is very beautiful and has a great singing voice. She is in love with Francisco and has to stay in Spanish Harlem while Francisco goes to his new school.

Antagonist

Vincent- Francisco’s best friend. He likes to find trouble and doesn’t think be fore he acts. Nothing he did made much sense and no one could really figure him out.

Central Conflict Francisco is struggling in Seton Grove

Academy and isn’t making good grades. Also, Vincent doesn’t want Francisco to leave because he thinks that everything is going to change. He wants Francisco to himself so he tries to make Francisco and Reignbow break up and tries to get himself into trouble so Francisco will be forced to come back and help him.

Minor Characters

Jason- is Vincent’s friend. He is really big. He is also good basketball player and all he wears are jeans and hoodies every day.

Spencer- Francisco’s roommate at Seton Grove Academy. He is preppy and teases Francisco. He is rich and his father is the senator.

R.J- He is the bodyguard of a gangster named, Boom. He is crazy and hot headed. He talks so fast that it sounds like he is stuttering.

What Critics Said The characters of Francisco, Reign, and Vincent

are archetypal yet sympathetic, and readers will be moved by how tough it is for them to escape the confines of their neighborhood, even when opportunity knocks. 

http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/when-we-wuz-famous

WHEN WE WUZ FAMOUS is a story about friendship and adversity with unexpected twists and cliffhangers. It is one of those books where once you pick it up, you are unable to set it down.  http://www.teenreads.com/reviews/when-we-wuz-famous

My take on the novel This book is very interesting and shows

the hard ships Francisco had to go through at Seton Grove Academy because of his race and his background. It shows how he struggles to balance his life between his best friend and his girlfriend. It shows the pressure that Francisco had trying to live up to everybody’s expectations.