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kilks401's review
5.0
While her story is informed by her surroundings, she is not defined by them. Kendra makes mistakes, but it's clear why she makes them. There is no moralizing but also her mistakes are not trivialized. Just a great book.
julia_dale's review
3.0
Some parts were hard to get through and I wish it was longer and a little more developed. Kendra makes some pretty big decisions really fast and seemingly really easily especially at the end. It was good to get back to this genre though.
lisamquinn's review
3.0
I like this book because teens read it. I did not like this book as much as Tyrell. I was very invested in the plot of Tyrell and what happened to his brother. I didn't really care for or about Kendra...
thisgrrlreads's review
3.0
I'm not really certain why everyone is thrilled with this book. It's a good book, I liked it better than Tyrell.
rkk104's review
4.0
The writing in this book is pretty straightforward, however, the subject matter and character growth was great. Kendra is a 14 year old girl from the Bronx. Raised by her grandmother after her mother had her when she was 14, and left for college/graduate school, she's spent her whole like waiting for the moment her mother was going to come back and reclaim her as hers. The book explores this subject a lot, as well as her relationships with her friends and boys. It was a bit of a refreshing story amongst many of the typical, cookie-cutter YA books you see these days.
velveteen67's review
4.0
Great read. Recommend to teens who want to read about teens struggling with family and finding a place where they belong. The author, Coe Booth, writes really strong and realistic characters. My heart breaks for what Kendra, the main character, is going through and in the end you see that not all issues are black and white and can be easily fixed when it comes to family.
bhalpin's review
4.0
This is a really good book. Here's why:
1.)interesting, complex, well-drawn, and realistic characters.
2.)Narrative voice of the main character feels authentic--it sounds like a girl from the projects rather than an adult trying to sound like a girl from the projects.
3.)An urban story that does not involve drugs or shootings (Thank you!)
4.)Great psychological realism that really credibly shows why Kendra makes some pretty bad decisions.
5.)Finally, a book with a realistic and refreshingly upbeat perspective on teen sexuality and female sexuality in general. Unlike so many novels where girls learn that their sexuality is dangerous, Kendra shows that teen sexuality is simultaneously terrifying and fun.
The book's frank and non-preachy depiction of teen sex will probably keep it out of a lot of school libraries, which is a real shame. This is a book people need to read.
1.)interesting, complex, well-drawn, and realistic characters.
2.)Narrative voice of the main character feels authentic--it sounds like a girl from the projects rather than an adult trying to sound like a girl from the projects.
3.)An urban story that does not involve drugs or shootings (Thank you!)
4.)Great psychological realism that really credibly shows why Kendra makes some pretty bad decisions.
5.)Finally, a book with a realistic and refreshingly upbeat perspective on teen sexuality and female sexuality in general. Unlike so many novels where girls learn that their sexuality is dangerous, Kendra shows that teen sexuality is simultaneously terrifying and fun.
The book's frank and non-preachy depiction of teen sex will probably keep it out of a lot of school libraries, which is a real shame. This is a book people need to read.
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