After Tupac and D Foster

Literary awards - Newbery Medal Nominee (2009), Josette Frank Award (2009), Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Nominee (2009)

After Tupac and D Foster

D Foster wandered into Neeka and her best friend’s lives like a breeze they didn’t see coming. The three girls quickly bond over their love of Tupac Shakur’s music, but D brings something more—a glimpse into a world far beyond their safe Queens neighborhood. Through her, Neeka and her best friend begin to understand a life shaped by loss, foster care, and a yearning for freedom they can hardly imagine.

Tupac’s music becomes a thread that connects their growing friendship, as D seems to understand his struggles and his lyrics in a way that makes them feel personal. But just as suddenly as D arrived, her mother reclaims her, and she vanishes from their lives. Not long after, Tupac is taken from the world as well, leaving the girls grappling with change, grief, and the fragility of connections that feel eternal but prove fleeting.

Jacqueline Woodson weaves a poignant, lyrical tale of friendship, identity, and the lasting impact of brief but transformative relationships. After Tupac and D Foster is a story of growing up, letting go, and finding meaning in the spaces where life and loss collide.