Kendra Book

Kendra has been living with her Nana for her whole life while her mother Renee has been working toward a doctorate. Kendra's mother had her when she was just 14 years old, and Nana wanted to make sure that having a child so early early would not prevent Renee from having a successful life. While that goal was met, it did create a rift between Kendra and Renee that left the daughter feeling abandoned and unloved.

Nana has done everything she can to shield Kendra from making the same mistakes Renee made. She does allow Kendra to have time with her father Kenny and her same-aged aunt Adonna, but she is not happy about it ... particularly the latter. Adonna is a good friend, but she exhibits riskier behavior because of her style of dress and the way she obsesses about boys.

Adonna has now set her eyes on Nashawn, the superhunky baseball player who seems to keep checking her out. The problem is that he also starts flirting with Kendra.

When Kendra is starting to feel at her lowest when her mother doesn't come to a theatrical production that Kendra worked hard on the sets for, she finds herself alone with Nashawn. While she highlights the need to protect her virginity, they start a racy physical relationship that allows them to have sex in various locations at school and his house. When Adonna finds out, it leads to a fight, and everything starts to really fall apart.

As with Tyrell, Booth has done a wonderful job with presenting a realistic cast of urban characters. They, and the troubles they face are very realistic. Unfortunately, the tale results with the "moral" that if things are tough with your mom and you are feeling all alone, then you should allow the hot guy at school who treats you pretty crappy to use you for sex, though not in the missionary style, while also stealing him from your best friend/aunt because in the end it will work out:
*he will prove to be a really nice guy who loves you and treats you well even after you take away the booty calls that seemed to be the sole basis for his interest in you
*your mom will realize that she needs to step up and get more involved with your life
*your friend/aunt will forgive you in time for lying to her
*why even bother looking at finding happiness in a relationship with the nice guy who is your friend, treats you with respect, and is interested in you?

The fairy-tale ending leaves me feeling a little stunned. For me it totally ruins the book. I am not usually the type of adult reader that thinks risque behavior should only be included in teen novels to show the horrible consequences, but come on! If you want to write a realistic, urban novel for kids while empowering them, don't create a protagonist that debases herself and then allow everything to turn out all right.

Tyrell, the troubled character from Booth's earlier novel, makes a cameo in the final chapter of the book, allowing readers to see where life has led him.