Lost and Found

The Bluford High series, written by Anne Schraff, Ben Alirez, Devan Blackwell, Karyn Langhorne Folan, Peggy Kern, John and Paul Langan, Gerald Purnell, and Tanya Savory, is a popular collection of young adult novels set in a fictional high school in the urban Southern California community of Bluford. Because the series contains contributions from many different authors, it offers a wide variety of writing styles and perspectives while still maintaining an overarching tone and purpose. The series takes place in a marginalized city community and showcases the issues that youth and their families encounter. It explores the challenges experienced by teenagers from diverse backgrounds, tackling issues such as family struggles, peer pressure, bullying, friendship, self-identity, and first loves. It is well-regarded for its realistic portrayal of the everyday lives of high school students, often centering on difficult topics that resonate with young readers.

The books feature a recurring cast of teenage characters, with each book in the Bluford High series focusing on a different character’s personal journey. Although the novels can be read independently, the overarching narrative of the series explores the characters’ experiences and development over the long term. Characters like Darcy, Jamee, and Tarah deal with problems like academic pressures, family troubles, and tough decisions.