Throughout the Bluford Series, the authors deal with numerous teen problems like abandonment, running away, domestic abuse, taking care of the elderly, peer pressure, stuttering, and bullying.
Parental Abandonment: In Lost and Found, Darcy and Jamee's father abandoned them. Today this is an unfortunately common problem; which can lead to low self-esteem, behavior problems, and even some suicide.Run AwaysIn Lost and Found, Jamee ran away from home because all of the pressures of breaking up with Bobby and dad coming back came crashing down upon her. Unfortunately, this is a common predicament, usually caused by parental abandonment, economic problems, and domestic abuse.For more information on runaways visit http//www.1800runaway.org/
Domestic Abuse: In Lost and Found; Jamee's boyfriend, Bobby Wallace, struck her after she broke up with him. Yet again, this is a common problem today. Nowadays, most young girls think that it is acceptable to be abused by her spouse/boyfriend when it's not.
Elderly Caretakers: In the first three books, Jamee and Darcy were obligated to take care of their grandmother. This is a predicament that affects not only your social life, but your mental health. Some children are forced to take care of their grandparents at an early age, sometimes before they can take care of themselves. An alternative would be a nursing home, but nursing homes are a serious risk. With nursing home abuse being the highest ever reported. Most families are reluctant to seek care from them so the grandparents move in with the family and their kids. This later develops financial problems and the adults are too busy to look after their own parents, so kids are forced to care for their grandparents at a far too early age when they themselves need to be taken care of.For more information on nursing home abuse
visit:http://www.nursinghomeabuseresourcecenter.com/index.html
Stuttering: In A Matter of Trust, Hakeem was constantly teased by Roylin for stuttering. Most people who stutter often have self-esteem issues, think they are stupid, or are often frustrated; when they actually are the same as every one else.
Bullying: In A Matter of Trust, Hakeem is often teased and bullied throughout the entire book. They later find out that Roylin himself was hit as a child and is only taking his frustration out on Hakeem. Most people who bully are often in the same situation, they often feel abandoned or, physically scarred, or emotionally scarred and bullying is the only way they know how to vent their feelings.
To make a long story short, the Bluford Series deals with teen problems that have strong ties to and are often caused or contributed to by parents.
