What do you think?
Rate this book
The Black Sheep
Fed up with her parents and all their ridiculous rules (they keep a binder full of them), fifteen-year-old Kendra Bishop writes away to The Black Sheep , a reality TV show that offers the chance to swap families with another teen. But when the camera crew shows up at her Manhattan apartment, Kendra starts to have second thoughts. Too late. Kendra’s whisked away to Monterey, California, to live with the Mulligans. The carefree household that couldn’t be more different that her own--complete with hippy parents, their five kids, and a pet ferret. And falling for Mitch, the Mulligan's seventeen-year-old son, only complicates things further, especially since Mitch despises the TV show and everything it stands for. But given the chance, Kendra might just be able to juggle first love, her new stardom, and a pushy TV producer who will stop at nothing for higher ratings.
In this hilarious and touching YA novel, Kendra learns to live under a new roof, but finds true refuge in the unlikeliest of places—her own family.
In this hilarious and touching YA novel, Kendra learns to live under a new roof, but finds true refuge in the unlikeliest of places—her own family.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published May 1, 2007
72 people are currently reading
698 people want to read
About the author
Yvonne Collins
29 books81 followersWhen I'm not writing books with Sandy, I can usually be found on a film set, where life is anything but dull. I've hung off the side of Toronto's CN tower, faced down a Grizzly bear, danced with Gregory Hines, and shared a beer with Ireland's Lord Guinness.
In 2003, Panavision Canada recognized my camera skills with the coveted Woody Award. It's an honor. Really.
And to think I almost became a cop. Fortunately for the citizens of Toronto, I flunked the psychological profile. Then, there was my brief stint as a bank manager, but I don't want to dwell on that.
Better to dwell on the restaurant job where I met the man who became my husband. I was the bartender; he was the busboy. It's still a perfect match: I get to call the "shots" and he cleans up after me. More importantly, he cleans up after our schnauzer, whom we affectionately describe as a four-bagger (Note: Dog-owners, you know what I'm talking about here).
I am a tea granny and a home dècor magazine junkie. I play the piano, although I don't own one. I own two guitars, although I don't play them. I sing to my dog, wear fleece even in summer, and never miss an episode of Coronation Street.
I could go on, but my tea is cold. And let's face it, you probably stopped reading after I mentioned the Woody Award.
In 2003, Panavision Canada recognized my camera skills with the coveted Woody Award. It's an honor. Really.
And to think I almost became a cop. Fortunately for the citizens of Toronto, I flunked the psychological profile. Then, there was my brief stint as a bank manager, but I don't want to dwell on that.
Better to dwell on the restaurant job where I met the man who became my husband. I was the bartender; he was the busboy. It's still a perfect match: I get to call the "shots" and he cleans up after me. More importantly, he cleans up after our schnauzer, whom we affectionately describe as a four-bagger (Note: Dog-owners, you know what I'm talking about here).
I am a tea granny and a home dècor magazine junkie. I play the piano, although I don't own one. I own two guitars, although I don't play them. I sing to my dog, wear fleece even in summer, and never miss an episode of Coronation Street.
I could go on, but my tea is cold. And let's face it, you probably stopped reading after I mentioned the Woody Award.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews
November 30, 2019
I was in for a change of pace. Some uplifting fun.
This did deliver that, witty, amusing etc especially one of the characters.
So 10/10 for that.
But it’s not an exciting read, it’s a laid back eyes to the ceiling read thinking Oh my word, kind of read.
Don’t expect too much.
This did deliver that, witty, amusing etc especially one of the characters.
So 10/10 for that.
But it’s not an exciting read, it’s a laid back eyes to the ceiling read thinking Oh my word, kind of read.
Don’t expect too much.
March 3, 2019
thank fuck this book was free on KU.
The Black Sheep was super boring to read. At first, I was like oh lord.. is this going to get any better? Then the MC, Kendra, was just so annoying and whiny for most of this book. I wanted to pretend I was blind so I didn't have to read it anymore. Or ya know.. just skim through it without looking at the actual words.
Besides not like this brat, the romance and the entire reality tv part of this book just made me want to barf. Or roll my eyes until they got stuck. It was painful to read and I just kind of had to motivate myself to do so. If I had wine to motivate me.. I'd be super drunk by now and it's not even 4pm here.
Overall, I'm SUPER glad that I'm done and can move on with my life. Let's go watch paint dry for fun!
The Black Sheep was super boring to read. At first, I was like oh lord.. is this going to get any better? Then the MC, Kendra, was just so annoying and whiny for most of this book. I wanted to pretend I was blind so I didn't have to read it anymore. Or ya know.. just skim through it without looking at the actual words.
Besides not like this brat, the romance and the entire reality tv part of this book just made me want to barf. Or roll my eyes until they got stuck. It was painful to read and I just kind of had to motivate myself to do so. If I had wine to motivate me.. I'd be super drunk by now and it's not even 4pm here.
Overall, I'm SUPER glad that I'm done and can move on with my life. Let's go watch paint dry for fun!
Want to read
June 12, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (6/12/2019)! 🎁
January 12, 2014
Really?? People have given this book five stars? No offense, but why? That this book was even published is amazing to me, let alone published by mega-giant, Hyperion. They should be ashamed of themselves. Truly. This is the second Hyperion book I've read this month that isn't worth the paper it's printer on (Generation Dead was the first) or the time I put into reading it.
First let me say that the characters are one dimensional... that's right, I said one dimensional. They strive to be two dimensional but are as flat as the page they're written on. All of them are vapid, self-obsessed or snarky... or a combination thereof. None, NOT A SINGLE ONE has any redeeming qualities and I couldn't give a flying f*ck about what happened to any of them. Sorry, but the most interesting character was the goddam ferret and I loathe ferrets.
And if the character deficiencies aren't bad enough, the writing is beyond horrid. Choppy transitions, poor grammar, atrocious sentence structure - you name it, this book has it all. And to top it all off... the story itself is totally predictable and beyond contrived.
I'm done ranting. I don't wish to give this tripe one more second of my time. And yes, I'm mad. Mad because I have lost six hours of my life which I will never get back. Mad because mediocre writing seems to be a trend. Mad because the editors are either asleep at the wheel or simply don't care. Mad because publishing companies are cramming this drivel down our throats. And mad because we're complacent enough to open our mouths and swallow.
First let me say that the characters are one dimensional... that's right, I said one dimensional. They strive to be two dimensional but are as flat as the page they're written on. All of them are vapid, self-obsessed or snarky... or a combination thereof. None, NOT A SINGLE ONE has any redeeming qualities and I couldn't give a flying f*ck about what happened to any of them. Sorry, but the most interesting character was the goddam ferret and I loathe ferrets.
And if the character deficiencies aren't bad enough, the writing is beyond horrid. Choppy transitions, poor grammar, atrocious sentence structure - you name it, this book has it all. And to top it all off... the story itself is totally predictable and beyond contrived.
I'm done ranting. I don't wish to give this tripe one more second of my time. And yes, I'm mad. Mad because I have lost six hours of my life which I will never get back. Mad because mediocre writing seems to be a trend. Mad because the editors are either asleep at the wheel or simply don't care. Mad because publishing companies are cramming this drivel down our throats. And mad because we're complacent enough to open our mouths and swallow.
August 26, 2012
I was immediately interested in The Black Sheep because it sounded like a funny version of Wife Swap for teenagers. Reality TV is becoming huge all over the globe and whilst I've scorned these programmes for years, I can no longer deny the fact that they are incredibly entertaining. What I loved about The Black Sheep was the fact that the protagonist, Kendra Bishop, was unwittingly thrust into the world of reality TV and wasn't an annoying, fame hungry teenager. The main character is really likeable and you can't help but feel sympathy for her as you follow her adventures in California
The Black Sheep portrays reality TV in the worst possible light with probing cameras everywhere and staged plot lines to increase ratings. Instead of showing the 'glamorous' side to reality TV, this book shows the intimidating and intrusion side to it that will hopefully dissuade teenagers who read this from believing everything that they see on their television screens. This book shows the reality of reality TV, if that makes any sense at all. It's definitely not a wishy-washy teen read that makes celebrity status look flashy and the characters are actually people worth reading about. You can really relate to Kendra as she struggles to come to terms with this huge change in life and I love that she's really down to earth. Despite the fact that everything she wrote in her application letter for 'The Black Sheep' was technically true, she is still fully aware that her family situation is no way near as bad as it is for some other children and she isn't changed by the fame or the cameras. Actually, scrap that, she is changed by the cameras - but in a good way. Kendra's character really develops as the novel progresses and she is a really admirable protagonist. The book is written from Kendra's point of view so you read her every thought which makes it all the more interesting.
I do wish that the relationship between Mitch and Kendra had been a bit more developed as I was really looking forward to that part of the story but it didn't really deliver in my opinion. Thankfully, there was lots of other interesting things going on so I didn't particularly mind, but don't expect this to be a full on teen romance or anything.
This book is a great read for any teenage girl, though I think that 'younger' teenagers would find this book more enjoyable. The plot line is interesting and funny; as you can imagine a New Yorker adapting to a hippie lifestyle is a big adjustment to say the least. I wouldn't say that this book is predictable because there were some pretty surprising turns of events along the way that prevent you from seeing too far ahead. Most teenagers will be able to relate to Kendra's parental issues as just about every child goes through the phase of hating all the decisions that their parents make for them. This book is a really quick and enjoyable read that I highly recommend for teenagers to end their summer reading with.
Many thanks to Allison and Busby for providing me with a review copy!
The Black Sheep portrays reality TV in the worst possible light with probing cameras everywhere and staged plot lines to increase ratings. Instead of showing the 'glamorous' side to reality TV, this book shows the intimidating and intrusion side to it that will hopefully dissuade teenagers who read this from believing everything that they see on their television screens. This book shows the reality of reality TV, if that makes any sense at all. It's definitely not a wishy-washy teen read that makes celebrity status look flashy and the characters are actually people worth reading about. You can really relate to Kendra as she struggles to come to terms with this huge change in life and I love that she's really down to earth. Despite the fact that everything she wrote in her application letter for 'The Black Sheep' was technically true, she is still fully aware that her family situation is no way near as bad as it is for some other children and she isn't changed by the fame or the cameras. Actually, scrap that, she is changed by the cameras - but in a good way. Kendra's character really develops as the novel progresses and she is a really admirable protagonist. The book is written from Kendra's point of view so you read her every thought which makes it all the more interesting.
I do wish that the relationship between Mitch and Kendra had been a bit more developed as I was really looking forward to that part of the story but it didn't really deliver in my opinion. Thankfully, there was lots of other interesting things going on so I didn't particularly mind, but don't expect this to be a full on teen romance or anything.
This book is a great read for any teenage girl, though I think that 'younger' teenagers would find this book more enjoyable. The plot line is interesting and funny; as you can imagine a New Yorker adapting to a hippie lifestyle is a big adjustment to say the least. I wouldn't say that this book is predictable because there were some pretty surprising turns of events along the way that prevent you from seeing too far ahead. Most teenagers will be able to relate to Kendra's parental issues as just about every child goes through the phase of hating all the decisions that their parents make for them. This book is a really quick and enjoyable read that I highly recommend for teenagers to end their summer reading with.
Many thanks to Allison and Busby for providing me with a review copy!
January 3, 2017
I liked it because no one died
November 28, 2022
This book is a little silly and unrealistic as a premise. I find it hard to believe that many teenagers would go so hard into acting out the way Kendra did, not to mention that she shot down every opportunity to improve her love life... Girl, come on. Plus, there is the way that the enemies-to-lovers plot turned around - you'd miss it if you blinked. That said, the background characters are very fun and believable, though totally frustrating in the best way. It's not a masterpiece, but I had a fun time reading this and can appreciate how PG it is as a novel for young people. Definitely a bit hammy but not bad!
February 12, 2019
Ive read " the black sheep " ,, i felt bored and i thought about not finishing it ,, i gave it 1 out of 5 stars
October 17, 2018
Amazing! So much drama!
June 10, 2020
I finished this morning! What a great book. The reason for the 4 stars, it wasn't the best book I have ever read, but it still was amazing! Kendra Bishop (KB) gets chosen to be a "Black sheep" after she writes to the ad, upset about losing Rosa her nanny (I think is what she called her?). But when she is chosen she feels almost upset about it. But nothing she can change as she is instantly whisked away to california to trade places with Maya (The other "Black sheep" going to her parents). She meets four of the six kids and heads "Home". But as soon as KB sees Mitch (the fifth child) she knows he is going to be a problem. Several mistakes and a riot later on in this story! It is a good read but it is more of a Sweet romance not a Clean Romance. That is why I say 13 and up.
June 23, 2015
The Black Sheep was completely unexpected, but I absolutely adored it! In a fit of anger, Kendra writes a lengthy letter to an upcoming TV show ranting about her parents' detailed plans for her life. Every second of her day is scheduled with some class or lesson to groom her into a banker like them, leaving no room for Kendra to explore her own interests. The worst part? They're not even around to see their plans put to work! When they're not working, they're running marathons all over the continent! Well, Kendra has been selected to switch lives with a teen from a hippie family, and soon she's the center of a huge controversy (or two!).
The Black Sheep was so much fun! I think I'm going to be a fan of these behind the scene type stories. I'm sure we all know that reality TV isn't totally real, and Kendra's story is no different. The producer twists just about everything Kendra says to get more ratings! Kendra wasn't exactly the most interesting person to begin with thanks to her parents' micromanagement, but Judy manages to cause quite the ruckus when Kendra gets involved in her host family's cause to save the Southern Sea Otter!
I do have the say that the plot of The Black Sheep did feel preachy in places. Kendra gets deeply involved in saving otters, especially when an exclusive golf course decides to move one of their holes right next to a cove where the little critters live. Luckily, I'm all about environmentalism and saving animals, so I loved it! However, I can see some readers feeling like they're being beaten over the head with the message to protect our oceans. It's a very large part of Kendra finding where her interests lie, and it's the catalyst for the romance.
I just really adored The Black Sheep. I loved the reality TV angle, and the messages on environmentalism. It is one of those "the grass isn't always greener" and all that jazz stories, since Kendra comes to realize that all families have their problems, and it's just a matter of communicating. The ending was quite cheesy and unbelievable, but it made me happy, so I don't care! I just had a blast reading this one and it left me with a big, goofy grin.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
The Black Sheep was so much fun! I think I'm going to be a fan of these behind the scene type stories. I'm sure we all know that reality TV isn't totally real, and Kendra's story is no different. The producer twists just about everything Kendra says to get more ratings! Kendra wasn't exactly the most interesting person to begin with thanks to her parents' micromanagement, but Judy manages to cause quite the ruckus when Kendra gets involved in her host family's cause to save the Southern Sea Otter!
I do have the say that the plot of The Black Sheep did feel preachy in places. Kendra gets deeply involved in saving otters, especially when an exclusive golf course decides to move one of their holes right next to a cove where the little critters live. Luckily, I'm all about environmentalism and saving animals, so I loved it! However, I can see some readers feeling like they're being beaten over the head with the message to protect our oceans. It's a very large part of Kendra finding where her interests lie, and it's the catalyst for the romance.
I just really adored The Black Sheep. I loved the reality TV angle, and the messages on environmentalism. It is one of those "the grass isn't always greener" and all that jazz stories, since Kendra comes to realize that all families have their problems, and it's just a matter of communicating. The ending was quite cheesy and unbelievable, but it made me happy, so I don't care! I just had a blast reading this one and it left me with a big, goofy grin.
Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.
September 15, 2010
This started in a promising fashion, but just deteriorates from there. Some of it is really really predictable, and the rest is either boring or very badly written (or both!). None of the plot made any sense. The characters were contrived stereotypical sketches. The "romantic" relationship was anything but (there was no *there* there!). The spoofs of TV personalities were mildly amusing, but that was the sole bright spot. Definitely skip this one.
January 25, 2010
Young self-centered girl upset at Parents enters Reality Show.
She leaves NYC and goes to LA.
Real eye opener for only child to end up in family of 7.
Learns to seek to save an endangered sea otter and relationships of family and the male species.
Good look at Journalism also.
She leaves NYC and goes to LA.
Real eye opener for only child to end up in family of 7.
Learns to seek to save an endangered sea otter and relationships of family and the male species.
Good look at Journalism also.
April 7, 2015
Congratulations book, I NEVER roll my eyes during kissing scenes but you did it, you made me do it. This book is terrible. Good riddance.
September 10, 2017
I read this book a long time ago and have been meaning to re-read it for a while. All I remember about this book was that I really enjoyed it. Re-reading it has made me understand the reason why: the humor of this book is hilarious. However, that's the only aspect of the book I seemed to really enjoy. The characters were fun but cliche, especially the main character Kendra who I felt was a typical teenage girl who complained a lot. But hey, I was there too once so I can't judge. The lessons taught towards the end were fairly admirable but in all honesty, this book was cheesy in general. It was really the humor of the book and even the vocabulary used that kept me reading.
June 6, 2021
DNF'd on page 10. Was the letter the protagonist wrote to the producers emailed or snail-mailed? On page 9 she's re-reading the letter on her laptop and says "I could have so easily hit SAVE rather than SEND." But on page 10, the producer takes out the letter, signals the cameraman to get a closeup of it, and says "There are tearstains on the page," and the protagonist says, "It's Sprite." So which is it?
I love the concept of the book--I love books about reality TV and was a big fan of Wife Swap, and I thought this book had a cute twist on it-- but I don't have patience for books that haven't been copy edited.
I love the concept of the book--I love books about reality TV and was a big fan of Wife Swap, and I thought this book had a cute twist on it-- but I don't have patience for books that haven't been copy edited.
June 21, 2019
Funny and interesting
I totally enjoyed this book. The humour really shine through, keeping the pace fast and light. The idea of this reality TV show was so well presented that it seems real.
But then, all reality TV is just as weird. The authors should try selling the concept to a network😱😛😃!
I totally enjoyed this book. The humour really shine through, keeping the pace fast and light. The idea of this reality TV show was so well presented that it seems real.
But then, all reality TV is just as weird. The authors should try selling the concept to a network😱😛😃!
January 21, 2020
This a quick YA read with a predictable storyline and ending. I think it would have been better if Maya was a more relatable character, everything about her didn't make sense to me. If the book was half Maya's perspective and half Kendra's, with Maya's character & Kendra's parents being more likable this book would have been much better.
September 6, 2024
This a quick YA read with a predictable storyline and ending. I think it would have been better if Maya was a more relatable character, everything about her didn't make sense to me. If the book was half Maya's perspective and half Kendra's, with Maya's character & Kendra's parents being more likable this book would have been much better.
June 3, 2017
The book was witty and engaging, the story entertaining, although maybe not the most realistic. The only part that truly bothered me was the main relationship developed because of the age difference.
May 29, 2018
Fun, fast read...
This is a cute book, that shines light on reality TV and the not so real aspect of it. It is also a cute romance, that is sweet, and appropriate for the age range.
This is a cute book, that shines light on reality TV and the not so real aspect of it. It is also a cute romance, that is sweet, and appropriate for the age range.
February 19, 2019
This book is about 2 teenage girls that switch lives across the country. I recommend this to anyone that likes a cheesy love story because one girl moves and falls in love but then has to leave after her summer is up.
July 15, 2018
Puke on toast
September 12, 2018
Predictable, lulled a bit in the middle, but would likely be enjoyed by young teens.
January 14, 2019
Not worth the time.
April 5, 2021
I want a sequel to see what happens after the show ends!!
September 8, 2021
Fun teenage romance
December 29, 2022
A very cute and quirky book!
August 19, 2023
Pretty good book. I've given it 3 stars because I didn't really like the ending. The romance was also pretty off but otherwise it made me laugh!
October 22, 2024
This fluffy YA book was an entertaining cruise read that I found in the ship's library.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 157 reviews