For the Love of Money

July 31, 2000
Rowdy and predictable, this sequel to Flyy Girl, the tale of a streetwise, boy-crazy Philadelphia teen who learns some hard lessons, revisits the life and times of Tracy Ellison Grant, now 28 and a successful author (of a novel called Flyy Girl), TV and screenwriter, and rising movie actress, as she takes a closer look at her fame, fortune and heart. Tracy's old flame, Victor Hinson, has been doing a stretch in jail; once released, he changes his name and marries someone else. Tracy tries not to let his defection stop her from enjoying her notoriety. But she is still vulnerable as she makes a visit to her old stomping grounds, Philadelphia's Germantown: she feels exposed and fake speaking at her old high school, and on a radio chat show she's disturbed to hear rumors that she's a lesbian. She stays in touch with her old crew, but she is disillusioned on that front, too. Her friend, Kiwana, formerly Afrocentric and militant, disappoints Tracy when she marries a white man, and fast-talking Mercedes audaciously tries to scam Tracy for money. Tracy's heart still retains a soft spot for the reformed Victor, now a Muslim businessman, and the embers of their old affair flare up in a situation that resolves itself in several surprises. Tyree may turn off some readers with Tracy's clich d poetry and occasional references to himself and his success throughout the narrative. Although the prose (rife with self-important italicized words to make obvious points) is often clunky and the dialogue flat, Tracy's adventures provide cool commentary on ambition, love, friendship and the price of fame.

August 9, 2000
In this sequel to Flyy Girl, Tyree brings readers up to date on the fast-lane life of Tracy Ellison. Continuing his skillful use of dialog, the author wanders between present and past to tell the story of Tracy, now a Hollywood celebrity. Chapters end with poetry by Tracy about becoming a star, being dumped by her first love, Victor, and returning to her hometown. She tries to act unaffected by her success, but family, friends, and acquaintances relate to her differently. Tracy "struggles" to get a hot movie part while trying to lure author Omar Tyree to help her write the sequel to Flyy Girl. By book's end, (surprise) he agrees to write it. The book is filled with other annoying self-serving plugs for the author. Maybe Tracy's story is uplifting and intended to give a positive picture of stardom, money, and family. Maybe young adult readers are supposed to learn how wonderful money and fame can be if you keep your head on straight. However, the tale and the telling are just not very interesting. Curious fans of Flyy Girl might pick it up. For libraries with the first novel; others may want to pass.--Shirley Gibson Coleman, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI

Copyright 2000 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2000
This novel picks up where Tyree's novel, "Flyy" "Girl" (1996) left off. Tracy is no longer a teenager dealing with the ups and downs of dating and the dos and don'ts of fashion. Since her high-school days, Tracy has matured and begun a career as a Philadelphia schoolteacher. As she quickly discovers, she is not content with her life and moves out to Los Angeles. Tracy's rise to fame and stardom, from Philadelphia schoolteacher to Los Angeles power, is storybook. On her arrival in Los Angeles, she takes some writing classes, immediately finds employment as a scriptwriter for a television show, quickly becomes associated with some power players, and is on her way to fame and fortune. Her story, "Led Astray," is turned into a major Hollywood feature film, for which Tracy is screenwriter, associate producer, and star. She accomplishes all of this not because of her love of money but rather from her inner drive to succeed. This novel is sure to be another Omar Tyree best-seller. ((Reviewed June 1 & 15, 2000))(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2000, American Library Association.)