Gritty. Hard for me to relate to. ( )

Williams draws from her childhood growing up in Houston's 5th Ward, an extremely poor neighborhood, and being a product of an abusive father to pen an incredible first novel. She vividly describes in detail each situation and episode with the use of similies and metaphors. She also tackles some tough issues, molestation, rape, premarital sex, and prositution, without sugar coating what is going on.

The story is mainly about 12 year old Shayla and her trials and tribulations with her mama, older sister, neighbor Kambia, and her dead beat biological father who uses her mother only thinking about his well being and happiness. ( )

when i first read the title, i was instantly turned off and didnt want to read the book.it sounded like another dumb alien book. but after reading a summary of it, i just had to know more about it.the book is very good. i read it when i was young and still havent forgot about it.the main character is not kambia elaine..but her friend.kambia elaine is just the one with the most heart-wrenching conflict.i strongly advise you to read this book. ( )

I put off reading this for the longest time, I guess I thought it was Sci-Fi! Instead it is a well developed story of a family and a friendship and the evolution of both. Kambia is not the main character, or even the main focus of the book, but is a key figure in the plot and the climax. The subject of child molestation is treated in a circumspect and sensitve way that is very thought provoking. Perhaps we all have a Kambia in our own neighborhodd that we are failing to rescue. ( )