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Liked It “I enjoyed this book alot. It was a really good story. Aout a girl named Kendra she had been through so much in her life. She meets a boy and he treats her good. Until he turns and starts to be mean to her.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“I enjoyed this book alot. It was a really good story. Aout a girl named Kendra she had been through so much in her life. She meets a boy and he treats her good. Until he turns and starts to be mean to her. ”
Carrie R wrote this review 11 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“This book was different from most books that I've read. It was mostly about the mother daughter relationship between a daughter and mother who are 14 years apart. ”
Temi T wrote this review 4 weeks ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“wow this was a good book. however I my daughter won't be reading it anytime soon. :)”
Michelle wrote this review Monday, October 26 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“Kendra is written by Coe Booth, who is the author of the book Tyrell which we will be reading later in the semester. I choose it because it was on the list of the quick picks for reluctant readers. The book is written with many interjections of speech that are used by African Americans, and takes a bit of decoding on the part of the reader. The main character, Kendra, lives with her grandmother while her mother attends college, graduate school, and finally obtaines her PhD. Kendra's parents were extremely young when she was born. Year after year she waits for Renee (her mother) to be finished with school, expecting when she is finished, Renee will assume responsibility and custody of Kendra. The character of Kendra is portrayed as mostly a good girl, but she begins what I would call "hooking up" with a boy that her aunt is interested in. Kendra has a war going on inside herself- liking a boy and comprimising her beliefs and self worth in the process. Kendra is a character I was pulling for- hoping she would do the right thing- but also understanding that all people make mistakes and hope that they will be able to make better choices in the future. While reading the book, I was disappointed in Kendra's mother. It always seemed that she was chasing her own dreams instead of being with her child, and as a mother I can't relate to that. However, I had an opportuntiy for an education and career prior to having my child,where as Renee didn't. I felt like Kendra was always pushed off to the side with her mother.
April C wrote this review 10 days ago. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
The books does have a happy ending-one of the few happy ending books I've read this semester. It was a nice diversion and an easy book to read. It is very realistic fiction, and I think young adults would really enjoy it. This is also one of the few books I've read where the African American characters are portrayed as successful- Kendra's mother has her PhD and is working as a college professor, and Kendra and her aunt both attend a school for students displaying academic excellence. This is something we have discussed in class and I hope to see more books that show African Americans in a positive light.
4Q 4P”
“ Reviewed by hoopsielv for TeensReadToo.com
TeensReadToo.com wrote this review Saturday, July 18 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
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.”
“Kendra Williamson is fourteen years old and she attends North Bronx High School for Arts and Communications. She loves to draw houses and floor plans; a skill that will lead to a promising career in the future. She's not focusing a whole lot on future plans, though. The main thing that's on her mind, what she wants more than anything, is to spend more time with her mother, Renee.
Katrina L. Burchett wrote this review Thursday, July 2 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
Kendra lives with her Nana, Valerie. Renee, who gave birth to Kendra in ninth grade, missed ten years of her daughter's life while she finished high school, then college and then grad school. Now she's graduating from Princeton with a PhD and Kendra believes she will finally have a "real" mother. A mother who will be around for more than just minutes at a time and will care about the things she cares about. A mother who will want her. But, sadly, once Renee is back in the Bronx the neglect continues so, desperate for attention, Kendra makes a choice that surprises even her. A choice she regrets, but repeats even though she feels so bad about herself after the first time.
I felt so bad for Kendra. The girl goes out there and makes choices she probably wouldn't have made if somebody would have taken the time to talk to her and, most of all, truly love her. Her mother obviously loved herself more than she loved her daughter. Renee was only concerned about what she wanted and didn't give Kendra a second thought. I was so glad Kendra's Nana cared enough about her granddaughter to raise her. Valerie loved Kendra the best way she knew how, but her way was a bit controlling and smothering. And Kendra's dad, Kenny? Well, it seemed he was still trying to find his own way in the world.
The author was not playin' when she penned this novel. Teenagers are way more mature, way more knowledgeable these days and Coe Booth did not hold back when she wrote about the sexual experiences of her young characters. The things fourteen year old Kendra did really shocked me, and Nashawn Webb, the guy she was with, my goodness, this boy knew as much as a grown man! I was saddened by that, but the reality is there are young people who are growing up way too fast.
There is one thing I learned from reading this book that I did not care to know, and there was quite a bit of profanity to overlook, but this was a good story. And, like I mentioned before, Coe Booth was not playin'! So, if you can handle the truth about the choices "some" young people are making when it comes to sex, you might want to read this book. ”
“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 positive character, just confused and weak.”
Salsabrarian wrote this review Thursday, June 25 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“i heard from a friend so i want 2 read it”
Adrean c wrote this review Tuesday, March 31 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and drew me in enough that I wanted to keep reading to find out if Kendra would avoid her parents mistakes. I enjoyed the story up until the last couple chapters. I felt that everything wrapped up a little too neatly in the end and would have enjoyed a more realistic less perfect ending. But overall I did enjoy the book although I got annoyed at Kendra for some of her choices but they were mistakes that I could see her character making.”
Erin F wrote this review Friday, March 13 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“This book Kendra is about a young girl facing promblems ever teenage girls go through. Her mom had Kendra at the age of 14 and she lives with her Nana while her mom lives somewhere else and working at her job. Kendras mom doesnt really know how to care for Kendra so thats why she lives with her Nana. Now that Kendra is 14 herself her Nana is very strict with her so that she doesnt follow in her mothers foots steps. When Kendra meets Nashawn a cute, and very handsome Junior. Things change for and she finds help through her mom. Every teenager goes through hormonal things and its sometimes hard to deal with and also per pressure. This book is somewhat like the other books I have read like for example Twilight because people in this book are teenagers as well as Twilight. ”
LeMahieu's Freshman English Class! wrote this review Monday, February 23 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
