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The Bluford Series is a collection of eighteen novels. As of early 2012, over 8 million Bluford novels were in print.

The Bluford Seriesis a collection of 18 contemporary novels published by Townsend Press. The books chronicle the ongoing struggles of students at Bluford High School, a tough but nurturing inner-city school named after famed African American astronaut Guion Bluford. According to the publisher, the novels were written to engage reluctant or underperforming readers, the novels speak to the interests, struggles, and concerns of today's 6th-10th graders. A popular choice for school- and city-wide reading initiatives, the Bluford Series has been endorsed by the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy (JAAL) and the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA). The three newest titles -- Breaking Point, The Test, and Pretty Ugly -- were added in late 2010 and continue storylines that have sparked readers' interest since the first novels were published in 2001. More titles are forthcoming. As of early 2012, over 8 million Bluford novels were in print. The Bluford Series is published by Townsend Press, an independent educational publisher located outside Philadelphia. Townsend Press sells the books directly to schools for $1 each through its website. Scholastic also distributes the Bluford Series in major bookstores and in school book fairs, though with different cover art and a higher price. Additionally, in mid-2011 the Bluford Series also became available as electronic books from Apple's iBookstore and for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook devices.

The Bluford Series is published by Townsend Press, an independent educational publisher located outside Philadelphia. Townsend Press sells the books directly to schools for $1 each through its website. Scholastic also distributes the Bluford Series in major bookstores and in school book fairs, though with different cover art and a higher price. Additionally, in mid-2011 the Bluford Series also became available as electronic books from Apple's iBookstore and for Amazon's Kindle and Barnes & Noble's Nook devices.

Key features

 * Accessible writing style. All Bluford novels are written to appeal to intermediate readers. While content in the series is sophisticated enough for high school students and beyond, the reading level for the novels is between 5th and 6th grade.


 * Short length. Each novel in the Bluford Series contains between 125–200 pages. This relatively short length encourages even reluctant readers to finish the book. Many readers report that Bluford novels are the first books they’ve ever completed. And once they finish one book, most students want to continue—an important step toward becoming regular readers!


 * Relevant topics. Topics, themes, and situations in the Bluford Series were chosen to engage students’ real-life experiences. By having direct relevance to students’ lives, the books keep readers’ interest and help them make meaningful connections with text.


 * Connected stories. Each novel shares the common setting of Bluford High School. Many characters and conflicts carry over from book to book, adding layers to each story. As a result, readers are drawn into a complex and engaging world—one they want to explore.


 * Broad appeal. Action, suspense, mystery, and romance fill the pages of the Bluford Series, offering something for all readers, boys and girls alike.


 * Affordable price. To help schools and students afford the books, Townsend Press has priced each Bluford novel at $1. The entire set of eighteen novels—more than 2500 pages in all—can be purchased for $18.


 * Free audiobooks. As a courtesy to fans who like audiobooks or who lack the skills necessary to read the books independently, Townsend Press has posted free Bluford Series audiobooks online. They can be accessed at www.bluford.org.


 * Online community. A loyal following of fans of the Bluford Series can be found online on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. While there are many different pages devoted to the series, collectively there are over 100,000 fans on Facebook alone. The official Bluford Series Facebook page is located at http://www.facebook.com/Bluford.Series and features reader comments, book discussions, and updates about the series, often from the authors themselves.

Titles
Lost and Found (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This first book in the Bluford Series centers on the life of Bluford sophomore Darcy Wills. Darcy contends with the return of her long-absent father, the troubling behavior of her younger sister Jamee, and the beginning of her first relationship.

A Matter of Trust (2002, written by Anne Schraff): The sequel to Lost and Found, this book centers on Darcy's growing conflict with her old friend, Brisana Meeks. Amid jealousy and competition, Darcy fights for her relationship with Hakeem Randall and struggles with her fears over her own family's future.

Secrets in the Shadows (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This book focuses on Roylin Bailey, a Bluford sophomore who appears in A Matter of Trust. Roylin makes a terrible mistake: He steals money to buy a gift for the girl of his dreams and finds himself in a nightmare he cannot escape.

Someone to Love Me (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This story is about Cindy Gibson, a Bluford freshman who first appears in Lost and Found. Cindy struggles with a stormy relationship with her mother, ongoing trouble at school, a dangerous boyfriend, and worse. Will her fragile family survive?

The Bully (2002, written by Paul Langan): Darrell Mercer, a 9th grader at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Darrell and his mother move to the Bluford area in the middle of the school year. Physically smaller than his peers, Darrell quickly becomes a target for Tyray Hobbs, the freshman class bully.

The Gun (2002, written by Paul Langan): (also published by Scholastic under the title Payback) The sequel to The Bully, this book is about Bluford freshman Tyray Hobbs, the tormentor of Darrell Mercer. The tale traces Tyray's troubled home life, his desire to rebuild his reputation, and his quest to get revenge on Darrell, the only boy who ever stood up to him.

Until We Meet Again (2002, written by Anne Schraff): Sequel to A Matter of Trust, this story continues the tale of the Wills family. Darcy learns that Hakeem, her first boyfriend, is moving out of the state. Then her grandmother's health declines and a mysterious new person comes into her life.

Blood Is Thicker (2004, written by Paul Langan and D.M. Blackwell): This sequel to Until We Meet Again follows the story of Hakeem Randall after his move to Detroit. Far from Bluford High, Hakeem quickly finds himself in a world of trouble, and his family is at the center of it. To complicate matters, a new girl hopes to make him forget Darcy forever.

Brothers in Arms (2004, written by Paul Langan and Ben Alirez): Martin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child. Will Martin listen to her, or will he allow anger to control him?

Summer of Secrets (2004, written by Paul Langan): Darcy Wills is at the center of this tale, a sequel to Until We Meet Again. Darcy hides a painful secret from her friends and family. Yet others, including her parents and her childhood friend, are keeping secrets of their own. When the truth finally surfaces, Darcy's entire world is turned upside down forever.

The Fallen (2007, written by Paul Langan): This sequel to Brothers in Arms picks up the story of Martin Luna as he struggles to rebuild his life after the death of his little brother. In trouble at Bluford High School for fighting, Martin faces an even bigger problem at home: Frankie, the most feared homeboy from his neighborhood, is hunting him.

Shattered (2007, written by Paul Langan): This sequel to Summer of Secrets continues the story of Darcy Wills as she begins her junior year at Bluford High School. Eager to repair her relationship with her old boyfriend Hakeem, Darcy discovers that one of her biggest fears has come true. And worse: her closest friends have been secretly lying to her.

Search for Safety (2007, written by John Langan): Search for Safety tells the story of Ben McKee, a new sophomore at Bluford High School. At home, Ben is living a nightmare. His mother has married Larry, an abusive man who wants nothing to do with his stepson. And when Larry loses his job and starts drinking, Ben finds himself—and his mother—in grave danger.

No Way Out (2009, written by Peggy Kern): No Way Out follows Harold Davis, a Bluford freshman who has appeared in The Bully and Someone to Love Me. In this tale, Harold is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe. Will Harold escape the violence that surrounds him, or will he become its next victim?

Schooled (2009, written by Paul Langan): There’s no backing down for Lionel Shephard, a new freshman at Bluford High. With a dream of joining the NBA, all he wants to do at school is play basketball. But everyone’s trying to stop him. His father thinks basketball is a waste of time; his teachers don’t know he can barely read and threaten to fail him; and his dropout friend Jamar wants him to quit school. Unsure where to turn, Lionel must make a choice. Will he pursue his dream or get caught in a nightmare?

Breaking Point (2011, written by Karyn Langhorne Folan and Paul Langan): Breaking Point follows the story of Vicky Fallon, a Bluford sophomore who appears in Brothers in Arms and The Fallen. In this story, Vicky can't take it. Her father has lost his job. Her parents are constantly fighting, and her troubled little brother is out of control. Once an honor student, Vicky is quickly falling behind in her classes at Bluford High. Now her teachers, friends, and her new boyfriend, Martin Luna, want answers. Pressured from all sides, Vicky knows something is about to snap. But the explosion that hits her home is worse than anything she could imagine.

The Test (2011, written by Peggy Kern): Liselle Mason, a former Bluford student who first appeared in Until We Meet Again, is in trouble. For weeks, she ignored the changes in her body and tried to forget her brief relationship with Oscar Price, her moody classmate at Bluford High. But when Liselle's clothes stop fitting, and her brother notices her growing belly, she panics. A pregnancy test confirms her biggest fears. Unwilling to admit the truth, Liselle suddenly faces a world with no easy answers. Where will she turn? Who will she tell? What will she do?

Pretty Ugly (2011, written by Karyn Langhorne Folan): This book follows Jamee Wills, the little sister of Darcy Wills, who has appeared in many titles including Lost and Found, A Matter of Trust, and Until We Meet Again. A freshman at Bluford High, Jamee never expected Vanessa Pierce and her friends to go this far. The trouble starts at cheerleading practice when Vanessa begins teasing Angel McCallister, a shy new girl at school. When the insults turn nasty, Jamee tried to stop them. She wins Angel's friendship but makes many enemies. Now Jamee is a target, and someone is texting lies and pictures of her all over Bluford. Unwilling to tell her family or snitch on her fellow cheerleaders, Jamee is cornered. Will her next move solve her problems---or make them worse?

Sequence in the Bluford series
A Note About the Sequence of The Bluford Series

While each novel in the Bluford Series can be read independently, the books are interconnected and represent (so far) a span of about 2 years. Sharp readers can expect to find cameo appearances of important characters—or even learn juicy details—that are relevant to other books in the series. In this way, all the books are woven together, either by major or minor characters, by the continuation of ongoing conflicts, or both.

Year 1
The Darcy Wills Sequence:
 * 1) ''Lost and Found!
 * 2) ''A Matter of Trust!
 * 3) ''Secrets in the Shadows!
 * 4) ''Until We Meet Again!
 * 5) ''Blood Is Thicker!
 * 6) ''Summer of Secrets!
 * 7) ''Shattered!

The Martin Luna Sequence:
 * 1) ''Brothers in Arms
 * 2) ''The Fallen
 * 3) ''Breaking Point

Year 2
The Jamee Wills and Classmates Sequence:
 * 1) ''Pretty Ugly
 * 2) ''Schooled
 * 3) ''Someone to Love Me
 * 4) ''The Bully
 * 5) ''The Gun (Payback)
 * 6) ''No Way Out
 * 7) ''The Test
 * 8) ''Search for Safety

Facts About The Bluford Series

 * Breaking Point, The Test and Pretty Ugly were selected by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.


 * The Gun (published by Scholastic as "Payback") was chosen by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as a 2012 Popular Paperback.


 * No Way Out and Schooled were selected by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.


 * Blood Is Thicker was selected by Mayor Daley’s Book Club for a city-wide reading initiative in Chicago in 2009.


 * The Bully has been chosen by districts in multiple states for school-wide reading programs. It is also featured in Books That Don't Bore 'Em by James Blasingame, associate professor of English at Arizona State University and a former editor of The ALAN Review. Blasingame currently edits the "Books for Adolescents" pages of the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy.


 * In 2009 and 2010, Accelerated Reader listed the first 15 titles of the Bluford Series in the “top 40” books for both middle and high school struggling readers.


 * Over 14,000 reviews for Bluford Series titles are available now on Goodreads.


 * More than 8 million Bluford novels have been purchased in schools nationwide as of early 2012.


 * The novels are available to schools for $1 each if purchased directly from Townsend Press.

Key features

 * Accessible writing style. All Bluford novels are written to appeal to intermediate readers. While content in the series is sophisticated enough for high school students and beyond, the reading level for the novels is between 5th and 6th grade.


 * Short length. Each novel in the Bluford Series contains between 125–200 pages. This relatively short length encourages even reluctant readers to finish the book. Many readers report that Bluford novels are the first books they’ve ever completed. And once they finish one book, most students want to continue—an important step toward becoming regular readers!


 * Relevant topics. Topics, themes, and situations in the Bluford Series were chosen to engage students’ real-life experiences. By having direct relevance to students’ lives, the books keep readers’ interest and help them make meaningful connections with text.


 * Connected stories. Each novel shares the common setting of Bluford High School. Many characters and conflicts carry over from book to book, adding layers to each story. As a result, readers are drawn into a complex and engaging world—one they want to explore.


 * Broad appeal. Action, suspense, mystery, and romance fill the pages of the Bluford Series, offering something for all readers, boys and girls alike.


 * Affordable price. To help schools and students afford the books, Townsend Press has priced each Bluford novel at $1. The entire set of eighteen novels—more than 2500 pages in all—can be purchased for $18.


 * Free audiobooks. As a courtesy to fans who like audiobooks or who lack the skills necessary to read the books independently, Townsend Press has posted free Bluford Series audiobooks online. They can be accessed at www.bluford.org.


 * Online community. A loyal following of fans of the Bluford Series can be found online on social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. While there are many different pages devoted to the series, collectively there are over 100,000 fans on Facebook alone. The official Bluford Series Facebook page is located at http://www.facebook.com/Bluford.Series and features reader comments, book discussions, and updates about the series, often from the authors themselves.

Titles
Lost and Found (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This first book in the Bluford Series centers on the life of Bluford sophomore Darcy Wills. Darcy contends with the return of her long-absent father, the troubling behavior of her younger sister Jamee, and the beginning of her first relationship.

A Matter of Trust (2002, written by Anne Schraff): The sequel to Lost and Found, this book centers on Darcy's growing conflict with her old friend, Brisana Meeks. Amid jealousy and competition, Darcy fights for her relationship with Hakeem Randall and struggles with her fears over her own family's future.

Secrets in the Shadows (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This book focuses on Roylin Bailey, a Bluford sophomore who appears in A Matter of Trust. Roylin makes a terrible mistake: He steals money to buy a gift for the girl of his dreams and finds himself in a nightmare he cannot escape.

Someone to Love Me (2002, written by Anne Schraff): This story is about Cindy Gibson, a Bluford freshman who first appears in Lost and Found. Cindy struggles with a stormy relationship with her mother, ongoing trouble at school, a dangerous boyfriend, and worse. Will her fragile family survive?

The Bully (2002, written by Paul Langan): Darrell Mercer, a 9th grader at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Darrell and his mother move to the Bluford area in the middle of the school year. Physically smaller than his peers, Darrell quickly becomes a target for Tyray Hobbs, the freshman class bully.

The Gun (2002, written by Paul Langan): (also published by Scholastic under the title Payback) The sequel to The Bully, this book is about Bluford freshman Tyray Hobbs, the tormentor of Darrell Mercer. The tale traces Tyray's troubled home life, his desire to rebuild his reputation, and his quest to get revenge on Darrell, the only boy who ever stood up to him.

Until We Meet Again (2002, written by Anne Schraff): Sequel to A Matter of Trust, this story continues the tale of the Wills family. Darcy learns that Hakeem, her first boyfriend, is moving out of the state. Then her grandmother's health declines and a mysterious new person comes into her life.

Blood Is Thicker (2004, written by Paul Langan and D.M. Blackwell): This sequel to Until We Meet Again follows the story of Hakeem Randall after his move to Detroit. Far from Bluford High, Hakeem quickly finds himself in a world of trouble, and his family is at the center of it. To complicate matters, a new girl hopes to make him forget Darcy forever.

Brothers in Arms (2004, written by Paul Langan and Ben Alirez): Martin Luna, a new student at Bluford High, is at the center of this story. Haunted by the tragic death of his little brother, Martin seeks one thing: revenge. But his mother wants more for her only remaining child. Will Martin listen to her, or will he allow anger to control him?

Summer of Secrets (2004, written by Paul Langan): Darcy Wills is at the center of this tale, a sequel to Until We Meet Again. Darcy hides a painful secret from her friends and family. Yet others, including her parents and her childhood friend, are keeping secrets of their own. When the truth finally surfaces, Darcy's entire world is turned upside down forever.

The Fallen (2007, written by Paul Langan): This sequel to Brothers in Arms picks up the story of Martin Luna as he struggles to rebuild his life after the death of his little brother. In trouble at Bluford High School for fighting, Martin faces an even bigger problem at home: Frankie, the most feared homeboy from his neighborhood, is hunting him.

Shattered (2007, written by Paul Langan): This sequel to Summer of Secrets continues the story of Darcy Wills as she begins her junior year at Bluford High School. Eager to repair her relationship with her old boyfriend Hakeem, Darcy discovers that one of her biggest fears has come true. And worse: her closest friends have been secretly lying to her.

Search for Safety (2007, written by John Langan): Search for Safety tells the story of Ben McKee, a new sophomore at Bluford High School. At home, Ben is living a nightmare. His mother has married Larry, an abusive man who wants nothing to do with his stepson. And when Larry loses his job and starts drinking, Ben finds himself—and his mother—in grave danger.

No Way Out (2009, written by Peggy Kern): No Way Out follows Harold Davis, a Bluford freshman who has appeared in The Bully and Someone to Love Me. In this tale, Harold is trapped. Medical bills for his sick grandmother are piling up, and a social worker has threatened to put him in a foster home. Desperate for money, he reluctantly agrees to work for Londell James, a neighborhood drug dealer. The choice leads him into a world of dangerous streets where no one is safe. Will Harold escape the violence that surrounds him, or will he become its next victim?

Schooled (2009, written by Paul Langan): There’s no backing down for Lionel Shephard, a new freshman at Bluford High. With a dream of joining the NBA, all he wants to do at school is play basketball. But everyone’s trying to stop him. His father thinks basketball is a waste of time; his teachers don’t know he can barely read and threaten to fail him; and his dropout friend Jamar wants him to quit school. Unsure where to turn, Lionel must make a choice. Will he pursue his dream or get caught in a nightmare?

Breaking Point (2011, written by Karyn Langhorne Folan and Paul Langan): Breaking Point follows the story of Vicky Fallon, a Bluford sophomore who appears in Brothers in Arms and The Fallen. In this story, Vicky can't take it. Her father has lost his job. Her parents are constantly fighting, and her troubled little brother is out of control. Once an honor student, Vicky is quickly falling behind in her classes at Bluford High. Now her teachers, friends, and her new boyfriend, Martin Luna, want answers. Pressured from all sides, Vicky knows something is about to snap. But the explosion that hits her home is worse than anything she could imagine.

The Test (2011, written by Peggy Kern): Liselle Mason, a former Bluford student who first appeared in Until We Meet Again, is in trouble. For weeks, she ignored the changes in her body and tried to forget her brief relationship with Oscar Price, her moody classmate at Bluford High. But when Liselle's clothes stop fitting, and her brother notices her growing belly, she panics. A pregnancy test confirms her biggest fears. Unwilling to admit the truth, Liselle suddenly faces a world with no easy answers. Where will she turn? Who will she tell? What will she do?

Pretty Ugly (2011, written by Karyn Langhorne Folan): This book follows Jamee Wills, the little sister of Darcy Wills, who has appeared in many titles including Lost and Found, A Matter of Trust, and Until We Meet Again. A freshman at Bluford High, Jamee never expected Vanessa Pierce and her friends to go this far. The trouble starts at cheerleading practice when Vanessa begins teasing Angel McCallister, a shy new girl at school. When the insults turn nasty, Jamee tried to stop them. She wins Angel's friendship but makes many enemies. Now Jamee is a target, and someone is texting lies and pictures of her all over Bluford. Unwilling to tell her family or snitch on her fellow cheerleaders, Jamee is cornered. Will her next move solve her problems---or make them worse?

Sequence in the Bluford series
A Note About the Sequence of The Bluford Series

While each novel in the Bluford Series can be read independently, the books are interconnected and represent (so far) a span of about 2 years. Sharp readers can expect to find cameo appearances of important characters—or even learn juicy details—that are relevant to other books in the series. In this way, all the books are woven together, either by major or minor characters, by the continuation of ongoing conflicts, or both.

Year 1
The Darcy Wills Sequence:
 * 1) ''Lost and Found!
 * 2) ''A Matter of Trust!
 * 3) ''Secrets in the Shadows!
 * 4) ''Until We Meet Again!
 * 5) ''Blood Is Thicker!
 * 6) ''Summer of Secrets!
 * 7) ''Shattered!

The Martin Luna Sequence:
 * 1) ''Brothers in Arms
 * 2) ''The Fallen
 * 3) ''Breaking Point

Year 2
The Jamee Wills and Classmates Sequence:
 * 1) ''Pretty Ugly
 * 2) ''Schooled
 * 3) ''Someone to Love Me
 * 4) ''The Bully
 * 5) ''The Gun (Payback)
 * 6) ''No Way Out
 * 7) ''The Test
 * 8) ''Search for Safety

Facts About The Bluford Series

 * Breaking Point, The Test and Pretty Ugly were selected by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as 2012 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.


 * The Gun (published by Scholastic as "Payback") was chosen by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as a 2012 Popular Paperback.


 * No Way Out and Schooled were selected by the American Library Association/Young Adult Library Service Association (YALSA) as 2009 Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers.


 * Blood Is Thicker was selected by Mayor Daley’s Book Club for a city-wide reading initiative in Chicago in 2009.


 * The Bully has been chosen by districts in multiple states for school-wide reading programs. It is also featured in Books That Don't Bore 'Em by James Blasingame, associate professor of English at Arizona State University and a former editor of The ALAN Review. Blasingame currently edits the "Books for Adolescents" pages of the Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy.


 * In 2009 and 2010, Accelerated Reader listed the first 15 titles of the Bluford Series in the “top 40” books for both middle and high school struggling readers.


 * Over 14,000 reviews for Bluford Series titles are available now on Goodreads.


 * More than 8 million Bluford novels have been purchased in schools nationwide as of early 2012.


 * The novels are available to schools for $1 each if purchased directly from Townsend Press.