Sal is a young Latino rapper. He raps - when he's allowed - at school and he raps in clubs downtown. But he's not the only rapper at his school. His African-American rival is Alonzo: Shelly's strong, aggressive, and jealous boyfriend. The problems really get started when Shelly shows interest in Sal's rapping talent. We see how Sal and Alonzo fight it out in "rap battles". As they play with words and rap about the issues they are facing, Sal and Alonzo are not just fighting for their musical reputations - but for Shelly's attention. This reader includes: explanations of new vocabulary directly at the bottom of each page activities to check understanding and develop your language skills Think about it: opportunities to reflect on what you have read Find out more: questions and tasks designed to help you learn more about what you have read