Kendra by Coe Booth
Kendra by Coe Booth, graduate, MFA in Creative Writing at The New School.
Scholastic, 2010
The acclaimed author of Tyrell returns with a striking novel about a mother and daughter who are only fourteen years apart, but need to learn to understand each other before it’s too late.
Kendra’s mom, Renee, had her when she was only fourteen years old. Renee and her mom made a deal — Renee could get an education, and Kendra would live with her grandmother. But now Renee’s out of grad school and Kendra’s in high school . . . and getting into some trouble herself. Kendra’s grandmother lays down the law: It’s time for Renee to take care of her daughter. Kendra wants this badly — even though Renee keeps disappointing her. Being a mother isn’t easy, but being a daughter can be just as hard. Now it’s up to Kendra and Renee to make it work.