Kendra, Coe Booth's sophomore YA novel, is the story of 14 year old Kendra. Kendra dreams of leaving the projects of the Bronx, designing great architecture, and most of all, finally living with her mother, Renee. Renee has been absent for the majority of Kendra's life, growing up, she had Kendra when she was just 14. Now Kendra, struggling under the loving, yet controlling thumb of her grandmother, is dealing with her budding sexuality, hunger for a real relationship with her mother, first love/lust, friendships, and the urge to become more than her surroundings. Told in straight forward street talk, Kendra drops you smack dab in the middle of the Bronx and right back in high school. The characters are typical teens, trying to figure out their place in the world. There’s nothing really different about today. At least that’s what I’m sitting here trying to tell myself. Adonna is late, the way she always is, even though I called her twice already to tell her I’m about to leave her if she don’t get down here now. Nana’s in the kitchen probably waiting for me to come outta my room so she can make sure I’m dressed decent for school. Like if she left for work before me, the first thing I’d do is change into the skankiest outfit I could find or something.Like that’s even who I am.
Finally, the bell rings. I hear Nana open the door, and all she says is, “Babe’s in her room,” like she can’t even be bothered to say hi.
By the time Adonna gets down the hall, I’m standing up with my book bag on my shoulder and I can’t wait to get outta here.
“You ready?” Adonna asks, like it’s not obvious.
“I been ready.”
She drops her book bag on the floor and I see her looking on my desk, at some of the new house plans I sketched. I know she thinks I’m wasting my time doing them, but she don’t say anything. Probably because she can see I’m not in the mood today. Instead, she turns to my full-length mirror and stares at herself like she’s ever gonna look anything but perfect. I mean, today she’s wearing her tight black jeans and a red cami with these cute little triangle cutouts around the neckline. Nana would never let me leave the apartment wearing something like that.
The main question I have after reading your review is why Renee has been out of Kendra's life, if she has done so well with her own life. I would think there would be a lot of resentment on Kendra's part that her mom got herself out of the projects, but she is still there. Does the book discuss Kendra's feelings about that?
ReplyDeleteI agree with your comments about the boyfriend. I expected him to dump her after exploiting her instead of it moving toward a positive relationship. That would be an interesting question for the author. Did Booth do this because she felt the need to add hope to the book or because she felt it was realistic? If I knew nothing about the author I might say the former but knowing her background I'd have to go with realism. Coe Booth worked as a social worker with teens in similar environment. Like Chris Crutcher, she says that what she writes is very real - in fact the teens she has worked with face even more difficult situations.
ReplyDeleteI was wondering the same thing as Vanessa. If her mother is so well off now why is she gone? I was also wondering if her father is around and in her life so much why does she live with her grandmother? The book sounds like it would be a good read for young girls.
ReplyDeleteI like the fact that you mentioned it is wrote in "street talk". I think for some students, that factor alone lures them into the book because they can see themselves as the characters.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Vanessa, where the heck is Renee if she has done so well for herself. I was surprised by the twist that she was educated after having a child so young and then felt betrayed because she wasn't taking care of Kendra. So many students come from broken homes and have grandparents and aunts taking care of them so I think they could relate with this book.
ReplyDeleteYes, as Alyson stated, there are many kids living with grandparents, so it would be possible that, for that reason alone, kids would want to read this book. I am not sure that readers would consider the motives of the absent mother. Interesting point though.
ReplyDeleteI was also wondering about Renee and her lack of a role in Kendra's life but maybe Renee (being so young herself) feels unable to care for a teenager. I feel like teenage girls, especially ones with complicated home lives would relate well to this book.
ReplyDeleteLike everyone else said, this leaves me wondering why her successful mother takes off. It sounds like this book is pretty heavy with issues, but it is something with which teenagers can relate. The fact that it is written in street talk could make it really appeal to urban students.
ReplyDeleteThis book sounds edgy and interesting. I am intrigued by the fact that the author does not paint the relationship between the main character and her boyfriend in a more negative light. I too would be interested in the author's reason for choosing this course.
ReplyDeleteI think I can see why this novel would appeal to a wide variety of our urban kids and rural kids. Kendra's confidence is evident in her speech patterns and I'm sure our students would love to add a little swagger to their walk & mimic her speech.
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