"I still thought breasts might be more trouble than they were worth. Growing up reminded me a little bit of Hide and Go Seek. When it was your time...
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Jun 14, 2010
Caroline Alicia
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This book reminded me of my childhood. I grew up very sheltered with my parents, especially my Mom, keeping me away from everything and everyone she deemed a bad influence. My neighbors were an a White and Indian couple. The black girls in school would call me a 'white girl' and shun me. So when I made my first Black friend, who happened to be from the projects, I wanted to emulate everything she did to fit in with the other black girls in school. The newest slang, the newest dances, know biggie
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Jun 04, 2008
Velvet
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The smart, adventurous heroine of Sinclair's funny, fresh first novel about growing up African-American in 1960s Chicago, picks her way through minefields of advice from her mother's generation while searching for a place in her own. She outgrows an early obsession with good hair and the right skin color (fudge? Cracker Jack? pecan? paper bag?) to discover politics and self-respect after Martin Luther King is murdered. Sinclair writes like Terry McMillan's kid sister, in earthy, slangy dialogue
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Jan 05, 2011
Jeremy
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I read the first chapter, in which the only thing discussed are comparative skin tones, and had to put it aside and read something else. Then, being stubborn, I picked it up again and bulled on through.
Ok, first of all, I am almost never a fan of mainstream books narrated by pre-teens. (Genre books do this shockingly well, for reasons that people have written theses about.) But I barely made it past the opening "conflict," in which there is a terrible misunderstanding beca More...
Ok, first of all, I am almost never a fan of mainstream books narrated by pre-teens. (Genre books do this shockingly well, for reasons that people have written theses about.) But I barely made it past the opening "conflict," in which there is a terrible misunderstanding beca More...
Apr 20, 2010
Tianna
rated it: 
This was a good one. A couple of places have this book classified as LGBT teen fiction, but I don't think I'd go that far. Honestly, it sounded more like your standard teen fiction. The LGBT issue was raised now and then, but it certainly wasn't a focal point IMO. Maybe that's just because I had periods in my life where I was just as sexually confused and questioning like Stevie, so I didn't even notice all the gayness.
A lot about Stevie's childhood reminded me of my own. Her desire More...
A lot about Stevie's childhood reminded me of my own. Her desire More...
Nov 02, 2009
ASK: Why does the mother not like her own race? Did you go through any of the conflicts you put in your story?
CONNECT: I can conect with Stevie's brother, David, because he did things that I did when I was his age. For example, he joined a club because of a girl he thought was cute. I joined chorus when i was in middle school because all the girls were cute. He gets embarrassed by his family, and sometimes i get embarrassed by mine. His mom is always staying on him and his family abo More...
CONNECT: I can conect with Stevie's brother, David, because he did things that I did when I was his age. For example, he joined a club because of a girl he thought was cute. I joined chorus when i was in middle school because all the girls were cute. He gets embarrassed by his family, and sometimes i get embarrassed by mine. His mom is always staying on him and his family abo More...
Mar 30, 2009
Sarah
rated it: 
This book was just okay for me. Pleasant read, neat idea to have coming of age story set in the 60s in Chicago. Believable characters with some tender moments, but I didn't feel changed after reading this book.
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It's Chicago in the late 1960s, and Jean "Stevie" Stevenson is figuring out her life and her world. Covering her life from age 11 to 16, Stevie deals with peer pressure, must decide if blacks and whites can really be friends, and struggles to figure out her own More...
*
It's Chicago in the late 1960s, and Jean "Stevie" Stevenson is figuring out her life and her world. Covering her life from age 11 to 16, Stevie deals with peer pressure, must decide if blacks and whites can really be friends, and struggles to figure out her own More...
Jul 09, 2009
Wightknyte11
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Sinclair constructs a good child narrator in this book. In general, she is very believable. There are a few bits that don't fit the age the character is supposed to be, but most of the time the character is created well. The setting and other characters are rich as well, though some of the dialogue does seem to be forced jive rather than believable dialogue. Still, the writing is on much more often than it is off. Sinclair writes about racial tension without getting too pedantic. She creat
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May 06, 2008
Chalida
rated it:
stevie is such a great character. you have to love her.
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Dec 27, 2008
Brenda (Lansdowne)
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I enjoy reading books of girls coming of age. I thought this was a pretty interesting one. The title caught my attention.
It is about a young black girl growing up in the late 60's, who has to deal with the societal changes, as well as her role in her culture. She learns about herself, while staying true to the person she is.
At the end, the author goes out on a limb, and explores her relationship with a white staff member and sexuality. It is not what you think....so r More...
It is about a young black girl growing up in the late 60's, who has to deal with the societal changes, as well as her role in her culture. She learns about herself, while staying true to the person she is.
At the end, the author goes out on a limb, and explores her relationship with a white staff member and sexuality. It is not what you think....so r More...
Dec 12, 2009
Faith
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Very good for what it is, a debut, coming-of-age novel. Set in the south side of Chicago in the 1960s; the point-of-view character is an African-American teenager. The opening line is, "Mama, are you a virgin?" and the novel has many other funny moments, as well as some harrowing ones. Good pace but no narrative thread to speak of. Highlights for me were the dialogue (the grandmother's "countrified" speech; Mama's schoolteacherly correct speech; the daughter's urban slang) an
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Apr 08, 2010
Andrea
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Pretty good story about a girl coming of age in the late '60s on the South Side of Chicago. Over the years, she deals with all of the normal high school stuff: bodies, sex, boys, friendships, Mom... plus race issues at the time and the changing cultural climate... the confusion of feeling weird in your own body but also ripe for the world at large. The teenage dialogue was the best part - brought it right back to high school for me.
Feb 01, 2009
Lennie
rated it:
In this coming-of-age novel, Stevie is a black teenage girl, growing up in Chicago during the 60's. She's basically a good kid but her need to be accepted by the "in" crowd leads her to make some bad choices. It's a great story filled with a lot of humor!
Apr 17, 2009
David
rated it:
Sinclair constructs a good child narrator in this book. In general, she is very believable. There are a few bits that don't fit the age the character is supposed to be, but most of the time the character is created well. The setting and other characters are rich as well, though some of the dialogue does seem to be forced jive rather than believable dialogue. Still, the writing is on much more often than it is off. Sinclair writes about racial tension without getting too pedantic. She creat
More...
Jan 27, 2009
Lesley
rated it:
oh to be a teenager.
this book was sweet and an interesting look at southside chicago in the 60's. some of it felt too condensed and it skipped past chunks of time, but really i just wanted more. i also appreciate the queerness at the end. of course.
this book was sweet and an interesting look at southside chicago in the 60's. some of it felt too condensed and it skipped past chunks of time, but really i just wanted more. i also appreciate the queerness at the end. of course.
Nov 28, 2010
Victor
rated it:
A good Novel.. Haven't Heard much from April Sinclair but this was a good read. This book was set in Chicago,about a young girl growing up during the civil rights and Black power movements.
Good Story..
Good Story..
Nov 03, 2009
Carolyn
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i realll liked this book because it talked about how a young girl got teased all the time because she was not popular and she didn't really have any friends and she felt like she really didn't belong.
Sep 10, 2009
Lisa
rated it:
Smart, funny and well written. Set in 1960's Chicago, the author deals with issues of racial identity, class and
gender roles. Told through the voice of an 11 year old girl named Jean "Stevie"
gender roles. Told through the voice of an 11 year old girl named Jean "Stevie"
May 17, 2011
Alyssa
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Through this book I learned a lot about a culture and a piece of history I hadn't thought much about. Today I think of this book when I think of Chris Rock's movie 'Good Hair'
Oct 28, 2009
Very Powerful! If you are emotional then I recommend you keep Tissues next too you at all times when you are reading this book!
Apr 20, 2009
Mo
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Interesting Read, would say that I was crazy about the topic, but certainly gave some clarity and background to the topic at hand.
Oct 05, 2009
Amber
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Fantastic--wonderful characters--great coming of age story. Some funny, some heartfelt--awkward and painful at times--as it should be. Tumultuous time to be black and a teen in the 60s and this one captured not only the character's changes but that of our nation--without feeling forced, preachy, or dishonest. Will definitely pick up more by this author and highly recommend this
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Jul 13, 2011
Angie
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story told from the perspective of a black girl growing up during the 60s in Chicago, and all the changes she witnesses, both in her world and in herself.
Dec 02, 2009
Leslie
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i think this is very good book. this book will always make you wonder what we happen next.
Jan 07, 2009
Nardsbaby
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It Isn't Scolding
I read this book so many years ago, and mainly because it was causing such a controversy at a school I just had to know what was "so bad" about this book.
It's a coming of age story where you meet young Stevie, a L7 (square) whose learning all about life and what it has to offer as far as what is a friend? a period? and the big deal about sex?
I think April Sinclair did an excellent job, we need books because sometimes mama can't talk to yo More...
I read this book so many years ago, and mainly because it was causing such a controversy at a school I just had to know what was "so bad" about this book.
It's a coming of age story where you meet young Stevie, a L7 (square) whose learning all about life and what it has to offer as far as what is a friend? a period? and the big deal about sex?
I think April Sinclair did an excellent job, we need books because sometimes mama can't talk to yo More...
May 14, 2010
Katie
rated it:
a really solid coming-of-age novel set in 1960's chicago. both political and personal, with a nice sprinkling of queer content, too.
