Teenie

Gr 7 Up—"The only constant in life is change. The sooner you understand that, the easier it will be for you to cope with hard times, learn from them and grow." For Teenie, this sage advice from her mother sets the tone for this coming-of-age story set in Brooklyn. Teenie is a small girl, only 100 pounds, but with big dreams. She hopes to earn a scholarship to study in Spain for a year, a dream that sets her apart from her friends, and even from her Barbadian parents, who love and care for her, but with their conservative outlook on life, fear letting her go. After a tumultuous year filled with potentially dangerous relationships, including a star athlete trying to force her into oral sex and a best friend who is accepting hundreds of dollars from an online "friend," Teenie realizes that change, although frightening, can also be a good thing when you have confidence in your choices and the support of family and friends. Realistic descriptions of teenage life and appealing characters make for an enjoyable reading experience.—Margaret Auguste, Franklin Middle School, Somerset, NJ