The World Is Mine (Come Up (Quality)) [Paperback]

Lyah B. LeFlore (Author), DL Warfield (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Come Up (Quality) | Publication Date: December 1, 2009

Blue Reynolds has it all: money, brains, style, charisma, and the hunger to be more than what his parents have planned for him. He's a dreamer on a mission to become the world's next music business mogul. But for now he'll settle for being the youngest, hottest party promoter around...and the man on the arm of the fly and sassy Jade Taylor.

Collin Andrews is Blue's best friend, and the order to Blue's madness. Blue dreams up the ideas and Collin figures out how to make them happen; together, they make a powerhouse team that's ready to blow the roof off the music game!

Coming up is never easy. These two dreamers will have to put everything on the line and do whatever it takes to succeed. It's the new American dream, and the sky's the limit. All they need is one shot.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

The worlds of rap, DJing, and moguling (if that’s a word) are given homage in this propulsive story about choosing your own dreams. Six protagonists crowd the plot, but at the center is D.C. high-schooler Blue. “What twenty-first-century teenager do you know who doesn’t want to be famous?” he asks, and the assertion is proven repeatedly via alternating narrators. Blue wants to launch an “entertainment brand”; his buddy Collin wants to be Blue’s business partner even as his father forbids it; their first client Tre boasts, “I am Nas, Talib, Pac, Snoop, Biggie, Jay, Kanye, and Weezy”; Whiteboy is their artist collaborator trying to escape ghetto violence; Jade is Blue’s tempestuous maybe-girlfriend; and Mamie is the DJ whose track is so fly that Blue steals it to back up Tre’s first hit. The constant texting and trash talk flow with an irresistible energy, popping with slang like “lace the cypher.” The Come Up series has nailed a strong opener; let’s see if the merciless cliffhanger pays off. Grades 7-10. --Daniel Kraus

Review

"Fresh, fly, and flashy." -- Usher

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Product Details

• Paperback: 269 pages
• Publisher: Simon Pulse; Original edition (December 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416979638
• ISBN-13: 978-1416979630
• Product Dimensions: 7.1 x 6.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,887,650 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Must Read For Hip Hop Fans., March 17, 2010

By 

DAC "Thehappynappybookseller" (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The World Is Mine (Come Up (Quality)) (Paperback)

This is LeFlore's YA debut and fourth novel.

Blue Reynolds is a high school junior who dreams of becoming the next big music business mogul. He gets a break early in the novel. While attending a Blackout party with his best friend Colin and their other friend Whiteboy. Blackout parties are popular teen parties that happen once a month. The schools go all out, hiring bands and deejays.

At this particular party the band was late. The packed crowd is unmoved by the hypeman. Blue hits the stage, takes the make and gets the crowd going. When the band finally arrives Blue is ready to chase his dreams. Everything moves pretty quickly after that.

Blue is hired to do his homecoming, soon after Blue Up Productions is born. Set in D.C. Blue wants his company to be the go to for teen parties. Collin, the best friend is right by Blue's side, keeping him grounded. Blue and Collin have a lot of common. Their dad's want them to follow in their footsteps and become lawyers.

Tre is a 15 yr old conscious rapper with skills. Blue wants him to be the first Blue Up Productions artist. Mamie is a deejay who goes by the name DJ Ill Mama. It's hard for a female DJ, Mamie is hoping Blue Up Productions will give her, a big break.

Mamie after an argument with her aunt.

"I placed my headphones over my ears and dropped the needle on the wax, the rock and roll classic Under Pressure by Queen and David Bowie. Then I mixed in some classic hip hop and R&B with Mary J Blige's No More Drama. That's exactly what I needed in my life right now - no more drama! All I needed was two turntables and a mic in my hand to feel better."

The chapters alternate (with smooth transitions) between six major characters. Every thing seemed to happen pretty quickly for Blue but Leflore's created likeable characters that made me want to keep reading. The World is Mine was a very enjoyable and entertaining read.

The World is Mine is illustrated by DL Warfield. In 2000 he started a company called Goldfinger. Some of his clients include Nike Sprite, Geffen Records, Sony Music, Nordstrom and Adidas. The illustrations (mainly the characters) are found at the beginning of the chapters. Having someone tell me what the characters look like didn't distract or add to the story.

After reading Warfield's bio, I wished he was utilized more. It seems kind of a waste to use Warfield mainly to illustrate the characters. I am not a visual reader so this would work fine text only. Though if there's going to be illustrations Warfield should be allowed to contribute.


I am happy LeFlore has decided to write YA, its nice to see something thats not only different but good. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Ages 14up