I initially thought this would be another Abbott book and was chagrined to see that I would have to write it. I decided to just read it and get it over with. It was not the chore I thought it would be.
Sheree is a tough, street-wise seventeen year old who knows the game and how to play it. Her mother has taught her all she needs to know; how to recognize weed (everything else is bad for you), how to run the game so you get what you need from men (they're just looking to use you), to always be honest with her mother (listening to how her mother's male companions were in bed).
Sheree's story is told in a letter to her mother after she runs away from home. She tells about the men coming in and out of the house, her first time with a boy (she was twelve), her desire for her dad (absent), her friend Ange and her boyfriend Damon (22 and a drug dealer). Sheree is looking for a mother and father, struggling for love and too wise to open her eyes.
I liked Sheree. I wanted her to succeed. I wanted her to use what she saw and knew was wrong to make the changes she wasn't brave enough to make.
My only qualm with the book was the author's writing style. Sheree speaks a mix of slang and English; Ms. Adams wasn't able to quite tie them together. It seemed that she wanted Sheree to authentically speak like a teenage tough girl while illustrating her intelligence. I think it can be done (I've heard people transition between the two); Ms. Adams either wasn't well versed enough in speaking slang herself or just couldn't make the blend. This is my only complaint; it made for a bit of jarring reading. However, Sheree was a compelling enough character that she carried me through the bumpiness.
Favorite Quote:
"Aunt Carlita is taller than Uncle Louie by a bouffant."
Overall Opinion:
Sheree made you like her and hope for the best for her. She saw the mistakes of those around her and her own and works to change them.
Rating:
7
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