Kendra

It's taken me a long time to read one of Coe Booth's books. Not because I didn't want to - because I cannot pry them out of the hands of the teens in my library. A time or two I've tried to squirrel away our copy of Tyrell, but every time some teen girl will end up standing over my desk staring at the cover so longingly that I have to hand it over. These babies do not stay on the shelves, and rightly so. Just look at that great, high-urban-teen-appeal cover. And I was glad to find that what's inside the cover lives up to it.Kendra was born when her mom was only 14 years old. While her mother Renee pursues a PhD at Princeton, Kendra is left at home with her strict grandmother. She feels abandoned by Renee, who pretends that Kendra is her show more sister when they are around her college friends. And while her Nana clearly loves her fiercely, the ways that she shows it are usually stifling. Nana sees Kendra as a way to undo any mistakes she made with Renee.Kendra is a heartbreakingly sweet, lonely girl. She is so desperate for a real mother/daughter relationship with Renee, who constantly pushes her away. Kendra's relationship with her mother affect every part of her life, and her moods change depending on her last interaction with Renee. When Kendra attracts the attention of Nashawn, a very attractive young man who she's had a crush on for years, she has no one to confide in. Her lecturing Nana is out of the question, Renee is never around when Kendra needs her, and Kendra's best friend/aunt Adonna is also crushing on Nashawn - an added complication. Things move fast between Kendra and Nashawn, and their relationship is secretive and messy. With no real guidance from the important people in her life, Kendra makes some mistakes in judgment, both in her growing relationship with Nashawn and in her interactions with her family.Booth's character's are complex in their motivations and actions, and in their realistic relationship with Kendra. The family dynamic feels so true-to-life, both in the good and the bad. I loved reading Kendra's interactions with her completely charming young father, Kenny, who is doing his best to make an independent living and provide as much support as he can to Kendra. The emotional connections between these characters are strong.This is a novel that addresses a teen girl's sexuality without pulling punches - we see both the terror and the pleasure that come out of Kendra's first sexual relationship. She is a smart, self-aware young woman who recognizes that she is not making good choices - she is just caught up in the moment, and caught up in getting attention from such a desirable young man. She's confused and elated and terrified all at the same time, and the reader is right there with her inside her head. There is no question that older teens who are grappling with similar questions will relate to Kendra - as is evidenced by the empty spot on my YA shelves where Coe Booth's books should be. show less

Kendra is a 14 year old girl growing up in the Bronx. Raised by her grandmother, Kendra struggles with traditional teenage anxiety about sex, love and attention. When Kendra's mom moves back to NYC (she had Kendra at 14 and went on to get her PhD at Princeton), Kendra assumes she'll go live with her. When Kendra realizes her mom doesn't want Kendra living with her, Kendra begins an emotional spiral downwards resulting in bad behavior.

Booth's writing packs an emotional wallop. Although I did like "Tyrell" more, I did find myself empathizing with Kendra's inner monologue and actions. Her attitude, combined with real pain about her mother's selfishness, will resonate with many teenage girls. I always enjoy novels that don't end with a show more false, forced happiness, but instead just seem to continue the story the way it would actually be. Booth's a marvel at this. Recommended. show less

In the ghetto, if a boy does anal sex on you, it means he's ready for a relationship.

This feels like "Pride and Prejudice" in the PJ's. It reads like a generic YA romance but with the trappings of so many early 90's "gangsta" movies. Kind of. The main conflict is that Kendra's mother is back after her post-graduate degree, and Kendra's hoping she'll finally take her away from the neighborhood and the strict-ass grandmother who's been raising her for sixteen years.

But the bigger crux of the book is her boy crushes and her sexually acting out as a result of this negligence. Kendra's better than that, but the past is repeating herself as she waffles between the nice guy and the bad boy player, as cliche dictates. Of course, as far as show more generic YA romance goes, it ends there. Kendra pulls away from sex with the bad boy at the last second, cautious of losing her virginity (for disciplinary and moral reasons). He doesn't force himself or respect her wishes or grow resentful -- he's "going to need something". That devolves into booty calls in the closet after school leading to the butt sex so she can remain "chaste".

And after all that, the fudge packer confesses affectionate feelings for her. And they start going out together. Is this a realistic scenario? Yes. Maturity rides up fast in risky situations. Does it send a good message to American youth? No, it does not. I'm not going to say that a writer can't write what he/she wants, but I'm a believer that books "teach you that dragons can be killed". This moral seems to be, if you give up the rough enough, love is just around the corner. show less

Kendra feels confused and pulled in different directions: her aunt and best friend Adonna dictates her dress and how she should be in school. Her grandmother Nana is very strict about what Kendra does and where she goes, demanding that Kendra not end up pregnant at 14 like her mother Renee. Kendra drops her panties without hesitation in Nashawn's presence. And all Kendra wants is for her mother Renee to finally be around for her. The intended audience will appreciate Kendra's story and its urban flavor. Personally I found the story plodding at times and Nashawn's turnaround from horny playa to senstive boyfriend willing to take it slow a bit of an eye-roller. (I was rooting for gentlemanly nice boy Darnell.) Generally, Kendra is a show more positive character, just confused and weak. show less

A quick read, and a protagonist who's easy to feel sympathetic for while being believably adolescent about certain things. Comparing with Annie John which I'd been thinking about in relation to the French classic "Bonjour Tristesse", I think the sympathy derives from a) Kendra really does objectively have something to feel self-pity about, while b) she doesn't wallow in it, and c) she learns and grows and takes responsibility for her mistakes. Which personally I think are fewer than she thinks, or maybe different than she thinks. Not the boy I'd have chosen, for example, but then he's not that bad and besides she's 14 and unlikely to be mating for life here.

Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com

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 show more some choices that aren't approved by everyone, but she's full of good character and has a strong heart. show less

Although I feel like this is a book for older teens, I am pretty sure many younger teens will be clamoring to read it. Kendra is the product of a teen pregnancy who lives with her grandmother, and her grandmother is very protective of Kendra, afraid that she will also become sexually active. Kendra, however, is a quiet girl who loves to draw houses and work on the stage crew for the school theater department. But when her mother, who has spent years getting graduate degrees, continues to shun Kendra, Kendra begins to fall into a sexual relationship with an older boy. This part of the book is very hard to read - Kendra seems like she has so much going for her, and the boy she has regular encounters with is pretty much a mystery. She show more doesn't know him at all, and the sex is fairly graphic. And there is really no explanation for the fact that Nashawn (the boy) decides he wants to have a regular relationship with her, and is suddenly willing to take it slow and not try to have sex for awhile. This seems like it is slipping into the fantasy that all teen girls have - that the guy will like them enough to change their mind and take it slow. Kendra also falls into a relationship with her mother that seems tentative but supportive - probably because her mother is still so young. I do really like Coe Booth's urban novels - they are full of characters who you care about. But I just think this one falls into some dangerous stereotypes that might not serve teens so well. show less