Off-Color (edit title/settings)

• Rated 0 stars

“Spunky and headstrong, Cameron blasts music, challenges adults, and cuts class when she feels like it. She lives with her single mom in Brooklyn and hangs out with best friends Amanda, P, and Crystal. Life in their working-class neighborhood is pretty cool until Cameron’s mother suddenly loses her job and can no longer afford the rent. Move to public housing? YG2BK! But no one’s kidding, and Cameron finds herself living in the projects. Can a white girl from across town hope to be accepted by the black girls in the projects? A revelation from the past forces Cameron to confront a startling truth that just might put things in perspective . . . that is, if Cameron can handle it. Hilarious, surprising, and defiantly candid, Off-Color is a thought-provoking and thoroughly entertaining new novel from Janet McDonald. Hip and wise, the author grabs the readers and doesn’t let go.”

• Rated 4 stars

“This story is about a girl name Cameron and she is white. She lives in brooklyn with her mom and is in high school and has alot of friends. When she finds out that her real dad that she never knew is black her whole world is turn upside down. Her mother lost her job so now they have to move to the projects. Cameron is slowly trying to find the balck side of her and how to tell her friends. But in the end she end up with a black boyfriend and figuring out that her being black is not a problem. Its now part of her.”

• Rated 3 stars

“I have read "Off-Color" by Janet McDonald. I think the message of this story is to not judge people just because of your looks or race. Just like in the book, Cameron has to move to the "projects" were mostly african americans live. She has to gain everybodys approval to live in the "projects" to were she can feel accepted. She already doesn't want to live there, but she has to because her mom lost her job. Another example is when Cameron cuts class just because she feels like it. You don't have to be a certain way just to get to be able to do something. Everyone can do everything they want to. You don't have to have people tell you how you should be or what you should do. Just like the prepy girls do at Cameron's old school. A third example is how Cameron's home life is not the best. She is without a father and her mother is raising her on her own. And if/when something happens to her mother, it majorly effects Cameron as well. Just because someone portreys a certain image to others, doesn't mean that person is actually like that. Just like Cameron. She comes across tough, but is actually very scared inside. I think the authors intent for writing this book is to make others realize to treat everyone with respect because you might not know what is actually going on in their life. This reminds me of the show, "If you really knew me." The show is about high school students that reflect a certain image to others, but is really using that as a discuise to hide how they are actually feeling. This is just like Cameron. All in all, this book is to tell to not be mean to others because you might not know what is actually happening in their lives. I give this book five stars because it kept me interested on eache and every page. There was nothing boring about this book.”

• Rated 3 stars

“THis book had alot of conflict but not as much as i am used to. not the greatest read but it is quick and easy to understand. not as interesting as the crank series. does get boring at parts but is very easy to read in a couple days if not hours.”

• Rated 2 stars

“Boring- but the end saves it a little.”

• Rated 2 stars

“I'm tempted to give it 2 stars. A friend who shares my interested in diversity and multicultural titles read this and was disappointed. She wanted a second opinion. The story is about a young girl and her single-parent mom. Patricia works in a nail salon. When the owner closes the shop, Veronica and Cameron have to move to the projects. While unpacking Cameron discovers a family photo with pictures of her, her mom and a man who looks black. Yep, baby's daddy is black. The book is chock full of stereotypical names and panned scenarios. It's a bad b movie in print. I admire the intent but the execution fails and is at times offensive.”