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ballen790's review
3.0
Kendra Allen told a story. An interesting story. The writing style, the some lines being skipped and others starting lower down the page was interesting to me. It was definitely purposeful but I couldn’t tell what the purpose was.
The voice in the story was amazing. I could relate to the slang and even some of Kendra’s sentiments. I was able to draw comparisons between us, not necessarily her experiences but some of her thoughts on other people. She had many opinions on men. Some of which made me literally yell out Facts! And other points where it just made me feel sad for her. Her relationship with her family was a chaotic one.
The uncertainty on the age was confusing to me. I know it was purposeful but I think I would have liked a bit more concrete on that. I mean it didn’t really matter but I like definites so were you 14 or 12 or 13?! Another point that I thought about a lot was her situation with Never. She doesn’t say if she feels like it was as serious as it might have been but she knows it was something. I like how it’s brought back at the end in regards to her conversation with LA.
This memoir was very entertaining, funny, and heart breaking in some instances. I wanted to connect more or follow better with the things that happened to her but some points I feel like she described the emotions in the situation and not necessarily the details of the situation.
This was a quick read and I’m glad I picked it up. The cover and author’s last name def caught my attention.
The voice in the story was amazing. I could relate to the slang and even some of Kendra’s sentiments. I was able to draw comparisons between us, not necessarily her experiences but some of her thoughts on other people. She had many opinions on men. Some of which made me literally yell out Facts! And other points where it just made me feel sad for her. Her relationship with her family was a chaotic one.
The uncertainty on the age was confusing to me. I know it was purposeful but I think I would have liked a bit more concrete on that. I mean it didn’t really matter but I like definites so were you 14 or 12 or 13?! Another point that I thought about a lot was her situation with Never. She doesn’t say if she feels like it was as serious as it might have been but she knows it was something. I like how it’s brought back at the end in regards to her conversation with LA.
This memoir was very entertaining, funny, and heart breaking in some instances. I wanted to connect more or follow better with the things that happened to her but some points I feel like she described the emotions in the situation and not necessarily the details of the situation.
This was a quick read and I’m glad I picked it up. The cover and author’s last name def caught my attention.
lattelibrarian's review
4.0
"For some reason we equate suffering to perseverance and misinterpret the gravity of shame, the duration of its presence; how we always end up stuck in the ages it starts."
Told through a series of harrowing vignettes teeming with adolescence and sexuality, Allen spares nobody. Not even herself. Her language is fruitful and colorful, striving to piece together a narrative that simultaneously makes sense and tears itself apart. This makes for a beautifully powerful book, but at times a difficult one, too.
Is it strange to say that this book is entertaining? I don't want to consider someone's trauma as something that intrigues me, like it's a storyline made for television or a novel. But it's something to behold, a memoir unlike any others in terms of style, construction, and language.
Told through a series of harrowing vignettes teeming with adolescence and sexuality, Allen spares nobody. Not even herself. Her language is fruitful and colorful, striving to piece together a narrative that simultaneously makes sense and tears itself apart. This makes for a beautifully powerful book, but at times a difficult one, too.
Is it strange to say that this book is entertaining? I don't want to consider someone's trauma as something that intrigues me, like it's a storyline made for television or a novel. But it's something to behold, a memoir unlike any others in terms of style, construction, and language.
nuhafariha's review
4.0
Thank you Ecco and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!
Available Aug 9th
I've been a huge fan of Kendra Allen ever since her debut poetry collection, the Collection Plate, last year. Fruit Punch follows similar themes of childhood, religion, family and identity. Effortlessly switching between prose and poetry, Allen takes us on a heartbreaking journey as a young Black girl finds her way to womanhood in an often cruel world. This is a tender, truly felt memoir.
Available Aug 9th
I've been a huge fan of Kendra Allen ever since her debut poetry collection, the Collection Plate, last year. Fruit Punch follows similar themes of childhood, religion, family and identity. Effortlessly switching between prose and poetry, Allen takes us on a heartbreaking journey as a young Black girl finds her way to womanhood in an often cruel world. This is a tender, truly felt memoir.
brestev's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
3.25
readlexread's review
This was just as good and thoughtful and also gut wrenching as I anticipated.