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No Boyz Allowed
True story: I’m Gem, G-E-M, like a precious jewel, and my life has been nothing like my name. I’ve been on my own since I was nine and now I’m sixteen. But so what. I’m good, and so is my little brother. So why the state won’t let us do our own thing is beyond me. Instead, we’ve been forced to live with a foster family who wants to love us, but I’m not beat—I’m just trying to do me.
To make matters worse, I’ve been checking for this guy, Ny’eem. But my new clique has an unbreakable rule—no boyz allowed to come between our friendship—which is forcing me to keep my relationship with Ny’eem a secret. Though not for long. . .because in high school secrets are always exposed, scandals always rewrite the rules, and friendships are never what they seem. . . .
To make matters worse, I’ve been checking for this guy, Ny’eem. But my new clique has an unbreakable rule—no boyz allowed to come between our friendship—which is forcing me to keep my relationship with Ny’eem a secret. Though not for long. . .because in high school secrets are always exposed, scandals always rewrite the rules, and friendships are never what they seem. . . .
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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1166 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
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May 8, 2012I love Ni-Ni Simone books, becuase hse tells it like is and is real with real life situations.
October 7, 2012
Would you pick up a book with a misspelling in the title? Even an intentional one? Usually I wouldn't, but the cover blurb was written in the main character’s voice and it pulled me in at once. It sounded like a real girl talking and a strong-willed, witty girl at that. No Boyz Allowed is a pretty typical high school drama, focused on fitting in, making friends, and dating boys. It's clearly intended for young women of color, starting with a really beautiful poem called "Brown Beauty", but race isn't a big part of the book and I think any teenage girl could relate.
My initial impressions from the cover blurb were mostly right. The characters seemed very real, reminding me of Meg Cabot's character depictions. The cover also made it clear that the characters would use a lot of slang, something I was afraid would ruin the book for me. Fortunately, the author didn't over-do it. Even to someone who'd never heard a lot of the slang used before (me), the characters were comprehensible. This may even have added to the feeling that the characters were real.
Gem, the main character, definitely grows throughout the novel. In particular she has to deal with the anger and trust issues she has because of her mother's drug abuse landing her in the foster system. Her mother did some despicable enough things that this part of the book gets it a solid PG-13 rating from me. The writing is decent. Nothing spectacular, but almost exactly what I would expect from a book written for young adults.
The plot was less impressive. I liked it less than Meg Cabot's work because of the complete focus on boys. In Meg Cabot's books, girls may dream about boys but they clearly have other priorities. In this book, all the girls seem like the less powerful players in their relationships. They follow boys around with very little encouragement. At the same time, Gem is incredibly nervous talking to boys. While I was certainly as nervous as Gem when I was 16, I'd rather have a slightly less realistic but more admirable heroine - someone young adult readers could look up to.
Review first published at Doing Dewey
My initial impressions from the cover blurb were mostly right. The characters seemed very real, reminding me of Meg Cabot's character depictions. The cover also made it clear that the characters would use a lot of slang, something I was afraid would ruin the book for me. Fortunately, the author didn't over-do it. Even to someone who'd never heard a lot of the slang used before (me), the characters were comprehensible. This may even have added to the feeling that the characters were real.
Gem, the main character, definitely grows throughout the novel. In particular she has to deal with the anger and trust issues she has because of her mother's drug abuse landing her in the foster system. Her mother did some despicable enough things that this part of the book gets it a solid PG-13 rating from me. The writing is decent. Nothing spectacular, but almost exactly what I would expect from a book written for young adults.
The plot was less impressive. I liked it less than Meg Cabot's work because of the complete focus on boys. In Meg Cabot's books, girls may dream about boys but they clearly have other priorities. In this book, all the girls seem like the less powerful players in their relationships. They follow boys around with very little encouragement. At the same time, Gem is incredibly nervous talking to boys. While I was certainly as nervous as Gem when I was 16, I'd rather have a slightly less realistic but more admirable heroine - someone young adult readers could look up to.
Review first published at Doing Dewey
July 31, 2012
Just finished pulling an all nighter with this one and boy was it worth it. Ni-Ni did not diappoint this book managed to get my heart beating faster and I was just in love with Cousin Shake, lol, in a way I have missed him, I would love to have seen just a little more into Toi's life, or even just a little more mention of Seven but all in all it was good and I loved it. Good job simone, now its back to waiting for the realease of your next master piece. How I felt about Ny'eem
August 10, 2012
Love it.
January 12, 2018
This book is about an orphan girl and her younger brother who move from foster home to foster home. Move from school to school. Friends to friends. Families to families etc. Will they also be kicked out of this foster home or are they hear to stay? The writing of this book was very effective because it gave you that hood feeling. The strength of this book was how it was so realistic. I found myself lost in the book a couple of times, it never once bore me. For me, the only weakness of this book was how short it was. Just 100 or 50 more pages would've been real good. If this book was part of a series i would definitely continue to read it it was very interesting. Some parts had me wanting to be in the book at that moment so I could experience those specific parts. Overall, I really like this book and the author did a very good job.
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November 5, 2019I Think This Is A Good Book. It Talks About The Struggles Of A Young Teenager. How Her Momma Was On Drugs, and she left her and her brother. How She Finally Felt Like A Teenager. She Went Through Getting A Boyfriend, Having A Best friend, Having A Bigger Brother, Being On The Basketball Team, And Lastly Losing Her V-Card. Over All It’s A Must Read
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2018
The overall book is a great book,and i would recommend it to anyone if they asked. I just think that the title can be a little mis-leading because i feel like the book reflects more on her actual back-ground and her lifestyle rather than her relationships.
January 18, 2019
It was ok. Could have been better.
I was confused at times. Really didn't start getting excited till the end. Not my cup of tea. Does everybody have to sound so ghetto?
I was confused at times. Really didn't start getting excited till the end. Not my cup of tea. Does everybody have to sound so ghetto?
February 16, 2014
Reviewed by Valerie
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I absolutely love how Ni-Ni Simone connects with her readers. Here’s an example from this book’s dedication:
To the Gems of the world–know that as long as there is God, there is Love, And wherever there is love, there is always hope. And wherever there is hope, there is always the ability to be anything you want to be!
How powerful is that dedication to teen readers? Very. Then she starts the book with a poem about black beauty that was beautifully written.
Gem and her brother have been on their own as long as she can remember. She keeps hoping that her Mom will come along and take them out of the foster system but it hasn’t happened yet. Not sure of what’s best for her and her little brother, she acts up and gets them thrown out of each and every home that takes them in…until this one.
I laughed so much as the characters in this foster home were introduced. The aunt and uncle were eccentric and weird and gave a lightness to the story that had heavy elements. One night, Gem’s little brother climbs into bed with her and convinces her to stop being “mean” so they could stay at one home. It broke my heart knowing that she was a sixteen year old trying to keep their world together and confronting the reality that her mother never would come to rescue them. In fact, when the confrontation took place in the book I cried my eyes out.
Under the protective eye of her foster family brother, Gem goes to a party and gets introduced to some of the students that will go to her new school. One boy in particular catches her eye but the highlight of the party is finding an old childhood friend she reconnects with. As her life finally seems to be coming together, things fall apart again and Gem has to confide in her best friend and her new foster family as she weathers the pain that comes with a breakup.
The story flowed from beginning to end and I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the language nuances, but did feel that some of the elements of being a foster kid were not really explained. For instance, the foster family gives Gem bags and boxes of brand new clothes without really letting us know what they do for a living but the crazy family relatives living in the house more than made up for any little tidbits we didn’t know the answer to.
I feel that this author has made a connection with her readers that will draw them to this story.
Book provided by the publisher for review
Review originally posted at Romancing the Book
I absolutely love how Ni-Ni Simone connects with her readers. Here’s an example from this book’s dedication:
To the Gems of the world–know that as long as there is God, there is Love, And wherever there is love, there is always hope. And wherever there is hope, there is always the ability to be anything you want to be!
How powerful is that dedication to teen readers? Very. Then she starts the book with a poem about black beauty that was beautifully written.
Gem and her brother have been on their own as long as she can remember. She keeps hoping that her Mom will come along and take them out of the foster system but it hasn’t happened yet. Not sure of what’s best for her and her little brother, she acts up and gets them thrown out of each and every home that takes them in…until this one.
I laughed so much as the characters in this foster home were introduced. The aunt and uncle were eccentric and weird and gave a lightness to the story that had heavy elements. One night, Gem’s little brother climbs into bed with her and convinces her to stop being “mean” so they could stay at one home. It broke my heart knowing that she was a sixteen year old trying to keep their world together and confronting the reality that her mother never would come to rescue them. In fact, when the confrontation took place in the book I cried my eyes out.
Under the protective eye of her foster family brother, Gem goes to a party and gets introduced to some of the students that will go to her new school. One boy in particular catches her eye but the highlight of the party is finding an old childhood friend she reconnects with. As her life finally seems to be coming together, things fall apart again and Gem has to confide in her best friend and her new foster family as she weathers the pain that comes with a breakup.
The story flowed from beginning to end and I didn’t have any trouble keeping up with the language nuances, but did feel that some of the elements of being a foster kid were not really explained. For instance, the foster family gives Gem bags and boxes of brand new clothes without really letting us know what they do for a living but the crazy family relatives living in the house more than made up for any little tidbits we didn’t know the answer to.
I feel that this author has made a connection with her readers that will draw them to this story.
October 20, 2012
Gem has been on her own since she was a little girl. She and her little brother have been shuffled around the foster care system for as long as she can remember, and she’s tough as a result of it. When she and her brother Malik are put into a house with a family that seems to genuinely care, Gem rebels. Then she’s reunited with an old friend and starts up a relationship with a seriously cute guy, and things go from complicated to even worse. Can Gem stay true to herself, learn to trust other people, and balance her friendships with a relationship? Does she even want to?
There’s no denying that Ni-Ni Simone has tapped into a specific demand in the book market. Her books about teens living positive lives despite obstacles they face are popular, relevant, and fairly well done. Her latest offering, No Boyz Allowed, might not be as strong as some of her previous books, but it still offers a funny, fresh perspective that teens will gobble up.
Gem’s voice is particularly well developed. The novel is full of short chapters with lots of dialogue and snappy lines that will hook teens and reluctant readers especially. There’s certainly something to be said about whether or not Simone’s books will stand the test of time, solely based on the amount of slang she employs, but that hardly matters. She’s filling a niche market that could use more authors like her.
The plot isn’t particularly complicated and moves along at a whip-fast pace. Gem’s narration drives the story, and though characters from some of Simone’s other novels make appearances, it’s by no means a sequel. Think of the characters more like little hints at a larger universe, a la a Dessen novel.
By no means an unpleasant read, the ending feels too neat. There’s also the issue that Gem’s actual life experiences seem to be used solely as a way to make her guarded. Simone isn’t interested in actually going deep with her characters or exploring their pain–she just wants to tell a good story. Most readers who seek out Simone’s work aren’t going to mind this. Frothy and entertaining.
No Boyz Allowed by Ni-Ni Simone. K-Teen/Dafina: 2012. Library copy read for the 2012 Cybils Round 1 Panel.
There’s no denying that Ni-Ni Simone has tapped into a specific demand in the book market. Her books about teens living positive lives despite obstacles they face are popular, relevant, and fairly well done. Her latest offering, No Boyz Allowed, might not be as strong as some of her previous books, but it still offers a funny, fresh perspective that teens will gobble up.
Gem’s voice is particularly well developed. The novel is full of short chapters with lots of dialogue and snappy lines that will hook teens and reluctant readers especially. There’s certainly something to be said about whether or not Simone’s books will stand the test of time, solely based on the amount of slang she employs, but that hardly matters. She’s filling a niche market that could use more authors like her.
The plot isn’t particularly complicated and moves along at a whip-fast pace. Gem’s narration drives the story, and though characters from some of Simone’s other novels make appearances, it’s by no means a sequel. Think of the characters more like little hints at a larger universe, a la a Dessen novel.
By no means an unpleasant read, the ending feels too neat. There’s also the issue that Gem’s actual life experiences seem to be used solely as a way to make her guarded. Simone isn’t interested in actually going deep with her characters or exploring their pain–she just wants to tell a good story. Most readers who seek out Simone’s work aren’t going to mind this. Frothy and entertaining.
No Boyz Allowed by Ni-Ni Simone. K-Teen/Dafina: 2012. Library copy read for the 2012 Cybils Round 1 Panel.
November 12, 2012
No Boyz Allowed is about a young girl named Gem, like the jewel except her name is not a representation of her life. With her dad gone and her mom addicted to drugs she and her brother have bounced from foster house to foster house. When all things start to go good and she reunites with an old friend and finds herself adjusting to her new family and life. Just when things get better she falls for a guy who is supposedly dating one of her friends. And in there click the one rule is no boys are allowed to come between them. I enjoyed this book. There were a lot of funny moments throughout the story and turns at the end.
August 24, 2013
I didn't get a chance to finish but what I've read so far has been good. Gem and her brother are have been in foster care every since there mother chose crack over them. Now, they are moving to a new foster home because once again Gem's attitude has gotten them kicked out but they have some neglected by some foster parents so its not all her fault. She really doesn't like Cousin Shake because he's and old school fool with a touch of Mr. Brown (Tyler Perry character) style. Oh yeah his wife is like his twin but the female version or Madea. And their foster parent are nice but you night remember Seven's mother from books like Shortie Like Mine or If I was Your Girl.
March 6, 2015
The book I've read is called is "No Boyz Allowed" by Ni-Ni Simone. It's about a girl name Gem and her little brother Malik, who moves in a lot of foster homes due to Gem's attitude etc. This is because her mom is a crackhead and her dad is nowhere to be found. Gem moves to a new foster home, but she still has a nasty attitude, meets up with a old good friend, goes to a new high school, join back into a club that she and her friend created before, is in love with a guy, and now has an enemy. (A girl that is friends with Gem's old friend, Pop). What I like about this book is the drama because everyone has to deal with it in life.
February 10, 2014
I loved this book, Ni Ni Simone is one of my favorite authors. I've read many of her books, and this one happens to be my favorite. I love the characters Gem, Ny'eem, Cameron ( Popcorn), and Amir (Man-Man), I loved those characters. Cameron reminds me of myself, she's loud, fun and full of no worries. Gem is a strong female character, she's been taking care of her and her little brother, since her mother been addicted to drugs. Then came this family that took them in. I also loved Cousin Shake, he was hilarious an old funny old man. I cant wait to see what Ni Ni Simone comes up with next. =)
March 15, 2013
This was a Great book i L-O-V-E-D it Hers a summmary: Gem is andfoster kid cracked head girl with only one thing to hang on to 'her bri=other;that is until she meet Her new family and boyfriend while Gem struggles to relise that she meets up when an old time friend . When LOTS of drame statrs up she learns that they all got her babck
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October 9, 2015Awe. I love happy endings. I thought Process playing a nasty trick on Gem toward the end of the book.Then you find out they were the only real friend each other had. Also you shouldn't believe everything you hear about another person without talking to them about it first. Don't just jump to conclusions about people.
December 19, 2012
I really enjoyed this book. It was full of humor and challenges of a teenage girls life with her friends. It also constantly leaves you wondering what is going to happen next then surprises you with an unbelievable situation
January 2, 2013
I think my students will enjoy this too. The main character has moved from foster home to foster home with her little brother when finally she lands into a family that is just what she needed. She has drama, falls for guy, plays basketball, and learns to let go of the pain that life brings.
August 20, 2013
Family we all have them. But what is it like to be a teenage foster kid, with a little brother you want to keep in your life. Hard and impossible to image. But the author makes the life of this talented beautiful and gifted young girl come alive. Good clean real life read.
February 11, 2014
My first Ni-Ni Simone title. They are SO popular in the high schools I wondered what the hype was all about.
There was some dialogue I missed totally but tried to use my context clues. Shall we say generation gap?
There was some dialogue I missed totally but tried to use my context clues. Shall we say generation gap?
January 10, 2017
It is a good book. It about no boyz should not allowed in between girls friendship. No boys in girls group. Gem and Ny'eem is a cute couple. Ny'eem is a good man and loves Gem so much. Gem loves him too. I don't like a girl get in between Gem and Ny'eem relationship.
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May 17, 2012I am probably going to enjoy this book when it comes out in August.! :)
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April 12, 2014lOVED IT, THANKS gOODREADS!
September 7, 2012
I enjoyed this book! A quick read for me. If it weren't for goodreads I never would've heard of this one. Now I will definitely look out for more of her titles.
August 21, 2012
Great book . Kind of felt cheated with then end though . But great book !!!
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August 10, 2012this really is a good book
tbr-physical
June 14, 2017**The publisher sent me a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review**
I will follow with a full review after reading it.
I will follow with a full review after reading it.
Want to read
May 21, 2013 This is the first selection of the Precious GEMS Foundation for Young Women book club.
Want to read
January 13, 2013good book
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews