K My Name Is Kendra (2010) (edit title/settings)

Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit see section history

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Summary edit see section history

Characters edit see section history

• Kendra James: She's the fifteen-year-old title character; a typical teenager. Moody, full of attitude and struggling to see the beauty within herself--what makes her so special. She's also a lover of words and an avid reader. If she's sure of nothing else, it's that she will someday be a successful author.
• Meisha James-Hill: It's been ten years since anyone has seen or heard from Meisha, the eldest James daughter who ran away when she was fifteen years old. But she's back now, married and raising two children of her own. And even though she's scared and nervous about how the family will respond to her return, she is fully prepared to fight her way back in, if for no other reason than to keep Kendra from making the same mistakes she did.
• Loretta James: Mother to two sons and three daughters, including Kendra, Loretta James does her best alongside her husband to raise strong, hardworking, educated children. Fiercely protective on the one hand and an unapologetic disciplinarian on the other, Mrs. James refuses to lose yet another child to the cruel world.
• Aris James: The eldest child and an upwardly mobile Morehouse graduate, Aris James is poised to take on the world. When drama begins to unfold in his family and a situation arises that requires him to step up to the plate as man of the house, he's right there to do it, and he does so without missing a beat.
• Philip James: The younger son and a prolific songwriter and rapper, nineteen-year-old Philip James has high aspirations of one day running his own record label. He'll probably reach his goal--if he can keep Kendra out of trouble and himself from becoming a statistic.
• Lawrence James: No one can say Mr. James doesn't try to be a good husband and father--even if he does have an estranged relationship with his oldest daughter, and is unsure of how to interact with his middle one. He does the best he can, even in the moments when his world begins to come crashing down around him.
• Carlton "C-to-the-J" James: Former pro football player Carlton James is known and loved worldwide for his game both on and off the field. To the James family, though, he's simply known as Uncle C.J. But, depending upon who you ask, he's not necessarily loved.

Quotes edit see section history

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• “"If you have TWO fast-tailed daughters, Mama, then maybe YOU ain't doing something right!"”

  Kendra to her mother during a heated argument

• “That old lady from that Tyler Perry movie? The one who recited the poem at the wedding in the end?”

  Kendra to her mentor before learning about Dr. Maya Angelou's body of work

First Sentence edit see section history

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

1. Kamichi Jackson (Author)

First Edition edit see section history

Notes for Parents edit see section history

This book contains no curse words or graphic scenes.

Subjects edit see section history

• Books › Teens › Literature & Fiction › Girl Power

Links to Supplemental Material edit see section history

• Amazon.com: Kindle edition of K My Name Is Kendra as posted by the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award committee. Read the opening pages and leave your feedback!