STEP TO THIS

Gia, a high-school sophomore, wants to improve her style, secure a spot on the Hi-Steppers dance squad and go on a date. These things are problematic to both her religious mother and her uncle, who happens to be the pastor of her church. With the encouragement of her fellow church youth-group member, Ricky, Gia secures a spot as an alternate with the dance troupe but her lack of style is holding her back. She manages to catch the eye of a star football player and finds herself rebelling against her mother’s wishes and the mores of her church to have the experiences she craves. The novel is replete with African-American cultural references, and the church community is a major element in the plot. There are too many references to current entertainers and slang to give this a long shelf life, and the writing is just serviceable, with some of the characters verging on the cartoonish. However, the story is told with energy and humor and will appeal to those seeking a softer side to urban fiction. This is the first in the So For Real series. (Fiction. YA)