Teenie

by Christopher Grant

High school freshman Martine (Teenie for short) is a good student, with a bright future ahead of her. She's desperate to be accepted into a prestigious study abroad program in Spain so that she can see what life is like beyond the streets of Brooklyn. She wouldn't mind escaping from her strict (though lovable) parents for awhile either. But when the captain of the basketball team starts to pay attention to her after she's pined away for him for months and Cherise, her best friend, meets a guy online, Teenie's mind is on anything but her schoolwork. Teenie's longtime crush isn't what he seemed to be, nor is her best friend's online love. Can Teenie get her act together in time to save her friendship with Cherise, save her grade point average so that she can study in Spain, and save herself from a potentially dangerous relationship?
Christopher Grant makes a stunning literary debut with this warmly told story about friends, family, and finding oneself.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Realistic Fiction, Romance, African American, Drama, Urban

272 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Christopher Grant was born and raised in the heart of Brooklyn, NY. He did his undergraduate and graduate work at Stony Brook University, receiving degrees in Economics and Human Resource Management (as well as a minor in John Madden Football for the Playstation).
Teenie marks Christopher’s debut as an author. “I love to tell stories. If you ask any of my friends, you’ll be sure to hear that I’m a certified blabbermouth. In jest, one friend suggested that I try my hand at writing. Ten years later, Eureka!”
Christopher was inspired to write from a female’s perspective after reading an article about publishers looking for men writing as women. “I grew up in a household that was dominated by strong female influences. My mother and three aunts, each with their own unique temperament and assortment of quirks, had a profound affect on me as a child. After reading that article, I figured who better than me than to write that kind of story?”
Christopher currently works as an equities trader and lives in Harlem, NY. He spends his free time reading, writing, playing basketball, and traveling the world with his wife and family.

Reviews

[Wanda]

"Teenie" is about a girl who lives in Brooklyn, New York and that is all about getting good grades so she can be accepted into a program that takes students to Spain for one semester. But life becomes complicated from minute to the next. Having a BFF that has an online love and having the attention of the Captain of the Basketball Team in her school can become overwhelming and distracting. Just when you think things are looking up for you, life teaches you another lesson.

One thing I can say about this book is, I'm so happy I don't have a daughter. Because had I have a daughter and she comes home with the drama this poor child went through. I would definitely be arrested. Teenie isn't your average teenager today. Today's teens is all about boys, drugs and sex. And I know this because I have teenage nieces and nephews and I see that mess they go through. But Teenie is more about her grades and her books. She's a bit on the naive side. As things are looking up, she has the attention of the Captain of the Basketball Team, her grades are good and her BFF are closer than ever. But things aren't what they seem to be. Stuck between doing what's right and not losing her BFF or her new boy interest is when everything changes. And that's when she goes through the most life changing experiences alone. Basically a typical day in the life of many teenagers.

Christopher Grant wrote a story that touches you immediately. And what's sad about it is, that these things really happen. And some of those things has happened to "us". He shows how life as a teenager today is so much more intense and more complicated. Makes me thankful that I had my teenage years in the 90's. Though my teenage years wasn't a breeze either but I handled myself correct and I'm a pretty grounded person. But with today's teenagers when it comes to drugs, sex and peer pressure, they get lost in the struggle. And if we as parents don't pay close attention to our children. We will never really know what's going on and why our children are acting the way they do. Christopher Grant has definitely opened my eyes more to today's teens and what they go through.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars and a definite Good Choice for Reading. I recommend this book to anyone who has teen daughters. Read it first and then hand over to your daughters. Have them read it and then sit down with them and discuss it. Ask questions and most of all LISTEN

[Nikki]

If I had a daughter, I would want her to read this book. And that's saying a lot. Because I wouldn't let her read anything I wrote. The story is wholesome without being cheesy and emotional without being after-school-special-y. Also, I was near tears at one point, and that's rare because I'm kind of a heartless monster when it comes to most young-adult story lines. Oh, you have an eating disorder? Yawn. Sorry for you, but, seriously, yawn. Oh, you have a drug problem? Double yawn. Oh, your mother died? Wake me up when it's over. This novel deals with issues, but it isn't issue-driven.

[Audry]

Note: Yet another YA in present tense. This was one of the handful that didn't drive me bonkers by being in that tense, however. I think that makes a grand total of four YA books (out of dozens) where I thought the present tense didn't get in the way of the storytelling.

Excellent story overall. Strong characters, believable behavior, and very heartfelt content. A little adult-y in its execution in that it kind of ends the way us adults/parents want to see situations like this end, rather than how they often work out, what with girls being taught to be passive and often afraid to speak up when stuff happens to them. However, Teenie's behavior rung true throughout the book and the author didn't take the easy way out to get to a satisfactory ending.

Definitely worth reading. I think I'll hang onto this one.

[Anna]

My apologies to all prior reviewers (as well as the author re: his debut) but...

Sorry, this book wasn't all that. I guess, to be fair, it wasn't all that BAD either -- just plain average. Lots of potential here, & I was intrigued by the writer's confession that he wrote from the female perspective because he read that publishers were looking for guys to do so). And, in this case, I think therein lies the problem. The characters lacked depth, emotions rang more hollow than true, and, where there should've been meat was mere mediocre.

Teenie could've been so much bigger.

[Amy Lignor]

This is a debut novel that goes directly to the heart of the angst, trials, and pain involved with growing up. God knows, we all remember what that was like. And even though it was extremely difficult, when you hit forty, there’s a part of you that would love to go back – with all you’ve learned – and do childhood all over again.

Teenie (her real name is Martine) is a very interesting girl. She lives in Brooklyn, NY with both her parents; she also has two older brothers who are gone from the house attending the University of Maryland. Teenie was always overlooked in school; coming in at five feet and one hundred and one pounds, the only thing people seemed to notice about her was her huge metal braces and her beautiful best friend Charise who was always by her side.

Her parents are caring parents, but they do have rules and regulations that Teenie must abide; especially her father, who always complains about household things like using too much water, wasting too much time staring at the computer, etc. Mom works nights as a nurse and Dad works days as a compliance officer for the SEC – so they see each other for about thirty minutes at a time. Her parents are truly in love, though, and they truly love their daughter.

Teenie is a freshman and the one thing she wants more than anything is to win a scholarship from the Young Scholars Study Abroad Program. Although she loves her parents, she is absolutely dying to get out and spend time in Spain. Her friend Charise is a good friend, but she talks constantly, listens very rarely, wants more than anything to be a cheerleader…and is having a relationship with a college man she calls Big Daddy who keeps sending her debit cards to buy things with. Teenie tries to warn Charise that someone who gives this many gifts is going to want something in return one day, and she’s worried that Charise is setting herself up to get hurt.

There is one guy in school – senior captain of the basketball team – named Greg, who Teenie can barely believe is talking to little ole’ her. The day she gets her braces removed, he comes up to her in the hall and flirts with Teenie; she can’t even speak. Why on earth is this popular, handsome boy singling her out?

Throughout this remarkable story, which does twist and turn in directions that you will NEVER see coming, readers are introduced to really difficult decisions. We are pulled into a family unit that is based on love and protection, but Teenie really doesn’t see this until her world begins to fall apart around her. The courage she shows as a young girl is remarkable, but the lesson I truly took away from the book, is that no matter what fights you and your loved ones get into – they, in the end, are the ones who will stand up for you no matter what!

This is a lovely young adult book and a wonderful family drama. I have a feeling this debut novelist will be around a long time. Enjoy!

[Edith]

Teenie is the story of a high school freshman who is trying to find her fashion sense, get good grades and develop her relationships with others. While her closest (only?) friend Cherise is hooking up the strange older men at night, Cherise is trying to learn how to talk to boys on the Internet in clunky, long hand conversations. Teenie lives with both of her parents while her twin brothers are off to college. From her parents, she has developed an appreciation for other cultures and she wants to travel to Spain to study.

I liked that Teenie was a smart girl who had an academic purpose. I want to say I liked the tone of the the book; I liked the wholesomeness of it but there was a touch of locker room that was way out of place. I didn’t understand why Teenie and Cherise were friends and Cherise herself even stated this in the book! I didn’t know enough about Cherise to understand why Teenie felt a loyalty to her and I didn’t know the character’s history to help me figure this out. I have a hard time feeling sorry for stupid characters and Teenie was stupid. She lacked street smarts and didn’t have sense enough to rely on people around her. She seemed way too immature to be ready for a trip overseas. I do have to remind myself that characters are not perfect, they won’t be if they’re fully developed. The trick is for the character to be developed in ways that readers are able to empathize with them and to want the best for them.

I so wanted her to turn to her brothers for help! I wanted Teenie to learn to trust them and I wanted to really see how close Teenie’s family was. She learned she could trust each of her parents, why not her brothers?

As they say, ‘the devil is in the details’ and these details can make a mediocre story just that much better. Teenie is not an awful book. 7 & 8th grade girls will be drawn to this book and many will enjoy it. While Teenie is a ‘good’ girl, she speaks in a language and lives a life to which many girls can relate. While she’s over her head with the boys, her real issues are with school, meeting her parents expectations and maintaining friendships. It’s a worthwhile add to the media center and I eagerly look forward to another Christopher Grant book.

[Doret]

Freshman, Martine (Teenie) is at the top of her class, she's been working hard to get accepted to Young Scholars Study Abroad Program. Getting in would mean a free trip to Spain.

After Teenie gets her braces off, Cherise, the best friend convinces Teenie to wear something boys will notice. The new look catches the eye of Gregory, a senior and basketball captain.

While Teenie is book smart she needs Cherise help navigating outside of the classroom. After the two have a falling out. Teenie has no one turn to and ends up in a compromising position with Gregory.

Grant doesn't create any wild and unbelievable scenes, the truth of possibility is going to catch many reluctant readers. From Teenie falling for a senior with bad intentions to Cherise chatting online with someone in college.

Teenie's parents are West Indian. The author does an excellent job of intertwining Teenie's cultural background into the story. It was such a pleasure to read a hard too part down contemporary YA novel with a Black female character with Caribbean roots.

"My dad has these sayings - I call them Bereisms and teefin is one that he uses most frequently. Teefin or stealing is done by a teef (thief) or when my dad's really angry, a teefah. It's no wonder that growing up I thought Queen Latifah was a criminal mastermind."

Teenie is a very believable and likeable character.

"At Tech, the lunchroom is the place to be seen. Since I roll with Cherise, I get to sit in the cool section with other freshman. We have to wait our turn before we can mingle with the upperclassman. In our section, the middle of the northwest area, we sit with our clique.

Our area is prime real estate, not too far from the lunch line and within earshot of the football team. Today, for the first time ever I heard them asking about me, the shorty in the Wade dress.

I really liked Teenie. (The story and the girl) ages 13up

[Alexis Villery]

Teenie is your typical teenager who wants to fits in. However, her goals and academic success often set her apart from others. Yet, she still yearns for a bit of attention here and there. Teenie gets her braces taken off and with the encouragement of her best friend, Cherise, gains some new-found confidence. She is further encouraged by the attentions of senior basketball star, Greg Millons. While some things seem to be looking up, Teenie learns that life is not quite simple as she tries to reach academic goals and be a good friend to Cherise. She tries to get into a competitive scholarship program that would allow her to study abroad in Spain. Teenie's naivete soon gets her into trouble and the right thing to do no longer seems so clear especially when you are a freshmen in high school.

I absolutely loved this book! Teenie's voice is so clear and strong. I found myself completely invested in her life and struggles. Even more fun, Teenie was often witty and I found myself laughing out loud for most of the book. The relationship between Teenie is Cherise is also refreshing. While not perfect, it is incredibly realistic. I felt like the dialogue was something I could have had with my best friend in high school. It was so easy to disappear into the story because I felt like I was there.

The book deals with important issues such as bullying, the dangers of the internet, sexuality, and rape. However, Mr. Grant balances the issues so well that it isn't a sad read, but a moving one. The book is both character and plot driven and I read it in one sitting.

It reminds me a bit of Speak by Laurie Halse Alderson but the touches of culture (Teenie's parents are West Indian) and the friendship between Teenie and Cherise sets it apart.

[Tracy]

(HS) Another urban drama... it's an OK read, but I can't say that I wasn't hoping for more. Freshman Martine "Teenie" is an honors student who just got her braces off and makes a debut outfit appearance which catches the eye of senior basketball star Greg. (Spoiler: he asks her for a "blessing" by their 2nd conversation, which she doesn't know is a BJ, and then forces her into it AT SCHOOL twice.) She's a wreck and her recent fight with best friend Cherise (over C's online romance with a pedophile that Teenie gets her father to crash the first meeting) doesn't give her anywhere to go for advice.
The best part for me was Teenie's super strict parents - I'd like to see a lot more of these parents around.
I just die a little every time a book feels so hopeless for my black readers. Being a nerd is not cool. Clothes, especially sneakers, get more mention than anything. Who's doing it with whom and how often. Someone's going to bring a knife to the fight. Basketball. UGH.

[Autumn]

Really good first novel about a smart, responsible young lady who gets in over her head socially. I really enjoyed the details about her Caribbean family, especially her loving but old-fashioned dad. She faces challenges that seem realistic for the NYC setting, but as a whole her life is really stable, even a bit sheltered. The tone is lively and fast paced, with lots of funny remarks from the supporting characters. At the same time, I really worried about Teenie and how she was going to get through the worst week of her life. Keep writing, Mr. Grant!

[Diana Townsend]

I'm not really sure what I think about this book. I didn't hate it, hence the two stars, but I didn't love it either. There was something very strange about the story, and I think the problem is that the story seems false in regards to tone. I didn't believe these girls, their parents, or their siblings. I didn't believe certain parts of the story either. The tones and voices of the characters just felt off for me. I like the point that the story is trying to make, but it falls short for me.

[Grace Helmuth]

In the novel Teenie by Christopher Grant, freshman Marine (Teenie) is a very bright student. Her braces have just been taken off, she has a new dress, and she is ready to make an appearance. She tries to be confident, but she's a wreck inside. She's just had a fight with her best friend Cherise and can'tget her mind off of a prestigious study abbroad program in Spain she is trying to be accepted in. Things are further complicated when she gets the attention of her long time crush Greg, who isn't exactly who she thought he was. Her best friends new online romance just adds to matters even more. She is trying her best to save her friendship, get accepted and go to Spain, and save herself from a dangerous relationship. The book is written in first person point of view and has multiple characters. The mood conveyed by the narrator seems very anxious. I liked the tone of the narrator and how they responded to certain situations. The narrator is serious with her studies but also loves to incorporate sarcasm in her sense of humor. I disliked the narrator's best friend. The friend is quite pushy and never takes time to listen to Teenie. She seems to be selfish and gives off a quite dissapointing first impression. The novel was overall enjoyable and I don't think I'll forget about it anytime soon. I would like to find similar novels.

[Jayla Barbour]

Martine begins as a geeky girl who just started high school as freshman. One day, when she decides to dress all pretty for school after getting her braces taken off, the guy she has like for the longest time comes up to her and begins to talk to her. Not only that, but Martine realizes that how she looked and acted before, needs a huge adjustment. So she completely changes her look. Martine has also been working extremely hard to get into this exchange program for YSSAP. So, Martine has to worry about the guy she likes, the way she looks, and her grades (just like any other teenage girl). But then, Martine's best friend Cherise is actually going to go out and meet "Big Daddy", that's what Cherise and Martine call Cherise's online boyfriend. Martine gets nervous for Cherise because so many signs point to danger in a situation like this, so when Chehrise almost got herself into grave danger, Martine loses her best friend. On top of all of this, the guy Martine has liked for the longest time turns out to not be what she expected. And because of this guy, a major bully is after Martine too. Teenie is a fantastic book and describes how Martine gets through all of these situations in her life

[710ella]

At the start, this book was a little slow but there were many lessons throughout the book. The reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5 is because it did get boring at sometimes. At the end, the message was extremely powerful.

[Taliyah Mccool]

I really do love this book I really recommend those people who hasn't been reading it to go get the book it great for teen and adult.

[Tianna Cain]

I loved this book last year. Teenie and I had quite a lot in common which I enjoyed reading about.

[Ruby]

AMAZING. READ IT IN ONE SITTING. I NEEDED THIS!

[Ari]

For the first time in a long time, I felt as though a friendship portrayed in a book was really real. I've read some books with authentic friendships before but the friendship between Teenie and Cherise was one I was really able to relate to. Their conversations seemed to be (at times) exact replicas of ones that I had had with my friends. The slang, the jokes, the serious talks, that is how my friends and I are. Well my white friends and I don't use the same slang, but when I'm with my Black and Latino friends, I'm much more relaxed with the slang and topics discussed. What I'm trying to say is: this is the first friendship I've read in a book that I was able to apply to my own life on so many levels.

There isn't anything I really didn't like about this book. At first, I worried that the humor would come at the expense of Teenie's West Indian parents (her mother is from Grenada with Portuguese and Syrian blood and her father is from Barbados with Irish and Carib Indian heritage). Her mother is serene and not a source of humor, but Teenie's father is hilarious, strict and he has his sweet moments. Teenie talks about her big West Indian family with a mixture of pride and embarrassment (don't we all feel the same way?), she mocks them but there is love beneath her words. "My family there [Barbados] uses curse words for the smallest things. Don't let them get angry, because they're liable to lob some serious vulgarity, the harshest being 'God blind yah.' That's deep." (pg. 10) HA! Teenie's father and her descriptions of her family will have you laughing, but much of the humor also comes from Teenie's relationship with Cherise. Cherise is fast-on-her-feet and she does not hesitate to diss those who insult Teenie (only she can do that). I found the friendship between Teenie and Cherise to be authentic, at times they grow closer, always having each other's backs (for example when Greg first talks to Teenie, Teenie is too shy to speak. Cherise tells Greg she has laryngitis. Classic!) but then they grow angry with each other and drift apart. That's a quintessential aspect of high school friendships, they are constantly changing and that is reflected in Teenie. While the reader (and deep down, Teenie) know Cherise is making a mistake meeting this strange guy from online, it's hard to fault her for getting angry at Teenie. Yes Teenie is looking out for her but Teenie's help ends up having some 'serious' consequences that make Cherise angry. I have to admit, I would most likely be angry like Cherise first and it would take me awhile to calm down.

Teenie is an upbeat story that did not go in the direction I expected (the summary is rather vague now that I think about it) but I'm so glad it didn't. My sister is in 8th grade and she asked if she could read this book and I'm going to give it to her because I think this is a must-read for girls going into high school. Especially if you don't feel comfortable talking about certain issues regarding the opposite gender with your parents (which is 100% understandable). I like that this summary doesn't hint at the issues it addresses because this book goes beyond the issues. Every member of Teenie's family is fleshed out, including her two twin college-aged brothers (who are so much fun to read about but they made me not want an older brother anymore) as well as Greg, Garth and Cherise. I also loved the brief bit about God. So many YA books don't mention God at all and maybe most teens don't have a religious upbringing. But personally, I'm forced to go to church and it was refreshing to read that Teenie was forced to go as well. Even better, her faith strengthens her a bit but she doesn't have some flashy revelation/miracle type thing, it's subtle. Don't miss out on this story, it's told with both levity and maturity, Teenie hasn't completely grown up yet (after all she's only a freshman) but she's beginning that confusing and exhilarating thing called high school and it's great to see more and more contemporary multicultral novels appearing in which race isn't the driving factor.

Review coming to blog on 1/25

[Hannah]

I had basically no expectations when I first started reading Teenie - the description doesn't sound like much, and it's not a book I've read loads of reviews for. But I'm glad I decided to read this one, and I was pleasantly surprised - Teenie is a fresh and realistic coming-of-age story! Not having one set main topic seemed like a bad thing at first, but that's one of the things I enjoyed most about this book. It touches loads of issues without being a preachy issue-book, and the subtlety is great - it's the kind of book that could mean something different to every reader, in a good way.

My favorite part of Teenie are probably the characters. Even though she's younger than most protagonists I read about (14), she is so easy to relate to, and I felt for her throughout the story. Her voice and the narration are unique but still realistic. The secondary characters are quirky and interesting. I loved reading about Teenie's father and his Bereisms (weird sayings only he uses - they're hilarious) and Teenie's relationship with her parents and older brothers. Many of the scenes with Teenie's family had me laughing out loud. Teenie's relationship with Cherise and her other friends is dynamic and realistic, too.

***The next paragraph contains spoiler-ish information!***
The only character I didn't get was Greg. That whole storyline just didn't make sense to me - if he's such a popular senior and has girls lined up to go out with him, why would he have to force a freshman to do anything with him?

The writing is really good - like I said, Teenie's voice is authentic and fresh. I love how the story is entertaining and funny, but also thought-provoking and touching.

Teenie is a great debut I think has been overlooked by many. It's a realistic portrayal of teenage life, dealing with lots of interesting and important issues without being preachy - a sweet and touching coming-of-age story. I definitely recommend it!

Reviewed at http://www.paperbacktreasures.blogspo...

[Salvamarie]

Teenie Book Review
By Salvamarie Alifonso
One of the cool books I read this summer is Tennie by Christopher Grant. This book is based on a teenage girl named Martine also known as Tennie. This basically revolves around Tennie and her acadamic work. Her best friend however, is the opposite of her. Teenie really wants to go to Spain and explore with her class but then all of a sudden her high school crush all of a sudden starts to pay attention to her and the next thing you know, she's already side tracked and focused on other things. Not only that but her friendship with her best friend is slowly breaking apart. However, Teenie ends up getting herself together. I believe the message of this book is to know what you want and what you want and what you need. I believe this because Teenie was so focused on that boy that she was sort of forgetting what's most important.
I personally did enjoy reading this book because I can relate to it. Plus it was really fun to read and it got more and more interesting. This book kind of made me feel bad for Tennie because of all her hard work being put to waste at one point. I can't seem to find a book similar to this one, however I can relate it to my life experiences because I as well have let things like friendships or relationships get in the way of my work yet I still managed to overcome that. I honestly would recommend this book to kids that care about their work but get sidetracked sometimes.

[Constance]

Martine, known to everyone as Teenie, is a high school freshman from Brooklyn, NY. A smart girl, Teenie is working towards being selected for a prestigious study abroad program. Out of the blue, Teenie garners the attention of a popular senior, Greg. Subsequently Teenie’s confronted with troubling issues that have possibility of derailing her chances of being accepted into the coveted program. Teenie somehow has to keep herself and best friend Cherise out of trouble while staying on track to achieve her goal.

All of Grant’s characters are wonderfully built. From Teenie’s hard working immigrant parents to her rambunctious best friend, these characters are believable. Her dad and brother’s added some merriment to the book. More importantly, Teenie’s is naiveté nature is very authentic. Her uncertainty of how to react when approached by Greg was endearing. There were so many little details I also like how she had a clique, but 2 real friends. I’ve been Teenie before, I’ve been embarrassed, distracted, felt dumped on by my overbearing parents, and known my fair share of Greg’s and Garth’s. That’s the best thing about this book, it’s so realistic. It has just the right about of realness, without being too vulgar. That’s a fine line to walk, especially with Young Adult fiction, and Grant handles it well.

[Alysia]

After reading more YA books the past several months than I ever have, it was sooo refreshing to read one that was so close to my family and me. I know that sounds very commercial but as an African American woman who grew up with both parents in the house and a younger sister most YA books don't reflect anything I grew up with. I didn't runaway or talk back to my parents. (I tried hard not to!) I didn't have a love triangle with a bad boy in high school. And I wasn't a social outcast with a laden magical power.
Teenie is the youngest of three and is a great student with dreams of studying aboard in Spain. I love that! Really!! How many high school freshman think about study aboard? Tennie is not a one dimensional black girl growing up in the hood. Like most teenagers, she also wants to fit in; wear cute clothes, and is interested in boys. (Just like me!) LOL! See what I mean.
The author Christopher Grant is amazing! He writes a book in a strong teen female voice that is funny and very real. Yes! A man did this wonderful work. How did he know what my teenage mind was thinking is beyond me? But he did it. He gave her a strong, clear and brave voice.
This book "Teenie" has a few experiences that are clear learning experiences for any young girl ranging from dealing with boy issues, bullying, the internet, and sexuality.
Excellent book!

[Sofia I]

((spoiler))
Martine, also known as Teenie, is an excellent high school student. Her main goal is to get into YSSAP, which is where the top students are able to go to study in Spain for one semester. She is only focused on trying to get into this program. That is until she is faced with a few problems. Teenie's friend Cherise has convinced her to wear something for boys to notice her. I was not very fond of Cherise's character she wasn't the best influence. Unlike Teenie, she isn't nice "come on, Teenie, seriously look at him. Look at his clothes"(pg.37). She gets herself in a dangerous situation because of her friend. Although that is one character I did not like. What I did like is that the author had to change his perspective for this story. He had to write the book in a girls point of view. Although I wasn't the biggest fan of the book, I still enjoyed it.

[Marissa]

Teenie is not just your typical teenage urban fiction. My friends despise young adult urban fiction because they always say the plot always involves some ho getting pregnant or someone getting shot. This is NOTHING like that!!! I could never say that I related to a book before, but this is very nearly my life story. For all you teenagers with strict West Indian folks(mine are Trini) this is for you!
Basically, the main character,Martine, is a really smart straight-A student with her mind set on attending a study abroad program in Spain, but her best friend, Cherise, is kind of a bad influence and convinces her to wear tight stuff and become a coquette (look it up),and she becomes involved with the captain of the basketball team, who does not have the good intentions that she thinks he does. Also, Cherise is dealing with some problems of her own in a online relationship with some shady guy she doesn't even know.
There were heart warming moments and life lessons without being cheesy,drama without being too ghetto and humor on every page. I highly recommend this book to anyone of any race, background or culture. You'll love it no matter what your favorite genre is.

[Marsha]

Teenie’s plight is one of heartbreaking familiarity. She’s smart, beautiful, attentive and ambitious. She’s also subject to the double standards of an old-fashioned father who coddles his sons and a prim mother who expects proper conduct denoting a well-reared daughter. None of her finer qualities prepares her for the precarious world of dating and interaction with boys, especially boys older than she. When she lands in a situation that is all too common to modern girls, the threat of her predicament raises palpable fear in the hearts of readers.

This novel works in its skillful crafting with authentic-sounding vernacular, the mapping of its Brooklynite environment, its ripped-from-the-headlines plot and the myriad characters who both help and hinder Teenie as she struggles for independence. This novel surpasses the typical YA book with its modern savvy and probing look into the mind of its protagonist and deserves attention from adolescents of both sexes.

[Medeia Sharif]

Teenie (Martine) is hard-working and comes from a strict West Indian household. Her best friend Cherise meets a guy online and Greg, the to-die-for basketball player in her school, starts flirting with Teenie. She's trying to ace her exams to get into a study-abroad program, but it's becoming increasingly difficult to focus on her studies. When Cherise and her have a falling out and Greg becomes more aggressive, Teenie is in a bind with these new challenges and dangers. The characters and situations are realistic. I also enjoyed the multi-cultural facets of the novel found in Teenie's parents and upbringing.

[Wall-to-wall books - wendy]

Excellent book! I loved everything about this book! It had a great "up-to-date" story line. There were great characters - I adored Teenie and her geeky friend Garth! I also loved mommy, she was a great mom and I liked the relationship they had. I loved the setting of this book and especially loved the language! It all seemed very authentic and very real to me! This is Christopher Grants first Novel. I do hope he keeps writing - I would love to read more from him! I very highly recommend this book!

[Anne]

Teenie is a good student. She has her sights set on a study abroad program in Spain. But then the star of the basketball team, that she has had a crush on forever, notices her. Plus her best friend Cherise starts dating someone online and Teenie starts to lose focus as things are not what they seem and everything starts to fall apart.

Characters are fairly stereotypical, but a good read-alike for fans of the Kimani Tru and Drama High series.

[Juniper]

Teenie is a robust main character who is immediately likable. She is studious and polite but with a mind of her own. Her parents are both immigrants which influences her positively, in a way not seen in her peers.
I particularly liked the way the story was paced, you knew something was going to happen but it developed naturally and by the time it did happen you really cared about the characters.

[Louisa]

So I was totally thinking of trying this with my middle schoolers book club--that is until the creepy pedophile and the rapist star basketball turned up. Alas, probably not appropriate for the tween/young teen set.

Nevertheless, Teenie is adorable and she kicks major ass. Another one for the older kids.