Kendra

Kendra is a fourteen year-old girl at a crossroad. Up until now she has obeyed her grandmother's rules, and listen to her teenage aunt "tell her about life". Her mother was fourteen when she was born. Her grandmother agreed to temporarily raise her so that her mother could get her education, a stable life, and take over as a parent. Kendra's parents were babies having a baby. Her mother has achieved all of her goals but still puts off assuming her role as a parent. Kendra's father never achieves the stability to care for Kendra but is a demonstrative and loving presence in her life. When Kendra begins to question her ability to be loved and cared for by her mother she questions her own confidence and becomes curious about her attractiveness and sexuality. In fact, she is drawn to the same boy that attracts her teenage aunt. Will history repeat itself? Will her parents pay attention to her and assume their roles? What happens to children when a parent places "success" above everything else?

Coe Booth has been praised by booksellers and librarians alike for her gritty and painfully honest portrayal of teens living on the edge. She has also amassed a devoted following of teen readers who claim she is one of few authors out there who actually tells it like it is. In her first book, TYRELL --- winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Best Young Adult Novel --- she brings up some fairly hefty issues (homelessness, drug addiction, poverty) and addresses them head-on with great aplomb and grace. Her characters, especially Tyrell, were truly inspirational to watch --- fully flawed yet unabashedly ardent in their struggle to figure out who they were, how they wanted to behave and where they wanted to go. Therefore, it is no surprise that her second novel, KENDRA, is a bonafide tour-de-force --- and for many of the same reasons. Kendra is a 14-year-old girl from the Bronx who, like Tyrell, is wise beyond her years. Well, sort of. Perhaps the right word is "mature," but not necessarily emotionally. Like her mother was, she is thin, pretty and sexually curious. But unlike her mother, she isn't about to have a baby at 14 --- especially if her grandmother has anything to say about it. The basic routine of going to school, hanging out with her best friend, Adonna (who also happens to be her aunt; Kendra's father is Adonna's brother), getting good grades and spending most nights at home (she HAS lived with her grandmother ever since she could remember) has worked thus far. So why wouldn't it continue to work in the future? As Kendra soon becomes aware, though, life isn't that easy, nor is it that squeaky clean. The older she gets, the more she becomes interested in things outside her grandmother's home, like designing sets for the play after school, going shopping with Adonna, and boys --- especially Nashawn, the cute bad boy whose locker is next to hers at school. Normally, a harmless crush on a boy wouldn't be a problem...unless he's the same boy Adonna is gunning for. So when Kendra and Nashawn begin hooking up (as in, everything but full-blown sex), Kendra feels more confused --- and more alone --- than she ever has before. Should she tell Adonna what's going on, even though she knows how Adonna feels about him? What about Darnell, the harmless and hopelessly nice boy who wants to ask Kendra out? Is it strange that Nashawn and she are so close after hours while he flirts shamelessly with Adonna when they're at school? And most importantly: Where is her mother when Kendra needs her? Of course, the last question is the most significant and pressing one, and Booth handles Kendra's journey of discovery perfectly. The pain Kendra endures because of her mother's absence is palpable on every page. As any neglected daughter would, she goes through every coping stage --- from intense anger, to sorrow, to self-loathing, to deep need, to flagrant rebellion, and back to anger again --- and at no point do we as readers feel as though any of her e

Kendra is trying to figure out her place in life. She's definitely not full of confidence, like her cousin and friend, Adonna. Her mom is busy with school and she lives with her Nana, who is constantly trying to mold her into the daughter that she wanted. Joining the stage crew for the school play is the start of Kendra's journey. Her ideas and designs are praised and noticed, especially by Nashawn. He's one of the hottest guys in school. The problem is, Adonna has her eyes on him, too. Three's a crowd, that's for sure. Whatever Adonna wants, she's determined to get, no matter who gets hurt. KENDRA was a very good novel. Throughout the book, you get to know Kendra and see her grow up. She makes some choices that aren't approved by everyone, but she's full of good character and has a strong heart. Reviewed by: hoopsielv

I tear up just thinking about this book -- the emotion is so raw. I wanted to give Kendra a big hug and assure that everything would eventually be okay. It's the sort of book you'll read quickly and then want to share with a friend so you can talk about it.