Baby Girl

by Lenora Adams

All I can say is that I never thought it would come to this. I never thought I would run away. For some reason I thought you, of all people, would see and know.

Sheree has always been a tough girl, able to take care of herself. Then she finds herself in a situation where she can't. She needs help. She needs answers. But she can't get either from the people she she turns to -- her parents, her friends, and especially, her boyfriend, who calls her Baby Girl and treats her like she's disposable.

So who can Sheree turn to? Maybe the answer lies deep within herself, and it's truly time for her to grow up.

In a voice that rings strong ant true, debut novelist Lenora Adams tells a story that is rich, complex, and achingly real.

Genres: Young Adult, Fiction, Contemporary, African American, Realistic Fiction, Young Adult Contemporary

240 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2007

About the author

I am currently a stay at home mother for my three children ages 6, 8, 10 (boy-girl-boy).

I volunteer at their elementary school and once a week I volunteer at a high school in Charlotte, North Carolina. Before staying at home, I worked as a television news reporter in Lancaster/Harrisburg/York, Pennsylvania.

"I enjoy reading, writing, running,
sports, traveling and fine dining."

"I enjoy a good restaurant as much as a good book!"

Reviews

[♥MRS. · Rating 5 out of 5]

-The Baby Girl ran away from her home beacause she knows that no one would care bout her or anything. Right in the beaning of the store she is living in Milagro House in Pennsylvania. Where teenage girls learn how live is and how to live it too. But the Baby Girl needs her space to wrote a letter to her mom telling her where she is and why she there. She been going though alot in her live. she knows what she needs to do to live in a place like that.
She never thought that she would ever meet someone that loves her, and would come to some prombles too. Sheree is a strog girl that takes care of herslfe. But out in the streets its so much different then knowing whats going on. Sheree Jemison gave birth to a six-pound baby boy. She named the lil boy Beauford Dianthus Jemison. She got a live chioce to make now she has a child, now she needs to take care of it and needs to take care of her too.
Sheree thought live would be easy if things would be easy, if she didnt have her mom round and know that having someone that loves you too. She learn how to live in the streets too.
Sheree knows that being in a gang too, in really hard and can mess up your life and the people round you too. Now that she has a little boy, she now have to live for him and know how to teach him the right choices in live. She dont want her little boy to end up like her.


I like this book because Sheree is a girl that knows what to do. Also how you would know when things aint right. She kinda like me too, beacause I know how my life is, i know how some people are rounding. I also learn that ranning away from what you most fear to dont go away, they will follow you in life. Being on the streets aint easy either, you fall in love with someone and get peragn, and learn how to servie. . . So i always have to make good choices in live and finish high school and maybe go to collage too. Never look back, and live your live how it is. I really liked this book.

[Christine Engelbrecht · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book is half told from the point of view of Sheree, recounting the events that led up to her second pregnancy (the first when she was 12 was aborted) and departure from home to her mother, in letter format more or less. The rest is a letter from her mother back to Sheree. Sheree recounts her mother’s behaviors, bringing home men all throughout her childhood. One of these suitors sexually abused Sheree. Her mother also introduced her to cigarettes and marijuana. Sheree grows up to be subservient to men’s sexual needs, usually in exchange for money, though deep down she seems to think that she has real, sometimes loving relationships with these men. Sheree’s own father is largely absent from the story. Sheree’s best friend, Ange, also uses drugs and becomes pregnant, eventually having an abortion. Sheree recounts a lack of support or love from her parents. Stacy recounts to Sheree how she became pregnant, dropped out of school and embarked upon finding men to support or satisfy her. Stacy apologizes for passing her mistakes on to Sheree to repeat. Sheree finishes by writing a letter to her baby son, recounting her pregnancy and her delivery, explaining how she came to be at a halfway house.
References to drugs, alcohol, smoking, underage sex, and abortions. This book definitely has some offensive material. If it was taught as part of a class set, which I would not recommend, it would definitely require a permission slip from parents.

[Mary Sparks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a very good book. This book was one of the best books that I have ever read. This book really catches the way that life is for some girls that gets no love from their parents and they try to find love in the wrong places. This book shows how some girls have it harder than some people. It tells a story of a girl that gets pregnant at the age of seventeen and she runs away from home. Sheree (Baby Girl) writes a letter to her mom and tell her where she ran away to and why she ran away. Sheree has a beautiful baby boy and she names Beaford after her father. Sheree also writes a letter to Beaford so when he is old enough to and understand the letter she would tell him the whole story. But Sheree's baby's daddy name is Damon and he is an older guy that pays Sheree for sex. But this book really has some truth behind it and I believe that everyone should read this book to get a great understanding of it. But I think that really teenage girls should read this book because they can learn a lot from because I know I did.

[Karah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Extremely realistic. It pains me that so many girls can identify with Sheree. Sheree's smart but petty. She admits that she competes with other girls for her no-good boyfriend, Damon. I can't relate but I have known girls who were that foolish. She learned the crucial lessons once her son was born.

I don't think this book was too graphic for teen girls. I think the author spared us much explicitness.

[Alicia · Rating 1 out of 5]

So sick of teenage girls getting knocked up by thugs!

[Kayla ruby · Rating 5 out of 5]

i havent fishen it yet but i love it so far

[Renee Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

English 425 Submitter’s name _______________________ Renee Hess
Book Bank Book Bank subject:
_______________ Reluctant Reader

Reference information:
Title Baby Girl
Author Lenora Adams
Publisher Simon Pulse Year 2007
# of pages 234 Genre Fiction
Reading level Interest level for ages 14 and up
Potential hot lava:
Drugs, sex, alcohol, molestation, and cursing

General response/reaction:
I enjoyed this book. It was a fast and easy read that kept my attention throughout. I thought that the style of the book was unusual. Instead of having chapters the book is written of three long letters. Overall, I found this book to be very inspiring and something that every teenage girl should read.

Subjects, Themes, and Big Ideas:
Coming of age, finding your identity, friendship, love, gaining respect, and responsibility

Characters:
Sherre—main character who finds herself struggling by having to deal with a young mother, no father figure, a demanding boyfriend, and the reality of being pregnant

Damon—Sherre’s boyfriend and the father of her baby

Stacy (Moms)—Sherre’s mother that was fifteen when she had Sherre and is still stuck on acting like a teenager

Roc---Sherre’s father that has been absent all of her life until she gets pregnant then he works hard to be in her life

Angela---Sherre’s best friend who doesn’t judge her or her obstacles she has had to overcome

Plot summary:

This book was about a seventeen year old girl named Sherre. Sherre’s mother gave birth to her when she was only fifteen. Sherre’s father never had anything to do with her and her mother was always at Regal’s, the local bar, and smoking marijuana. Sherre’s mother had always had different men coming and going, some who oversteped their welcome by making advances to Sherre. At times Sherre felt that her house was not a home, but a sleeping place. Sherre has a boyfriend named Damon who is twenty-two and hustles drugs. Damon is also quit a lady’s man and works his way around the streets. Damon convinces Sherre she is his number one girl and she falls under his spell doing whatever it is that he says to do. Eventually Sherre runs away from home to live at the Milagro House, a women’s shelter. She writes her mother a letter explaining how her home life was not the best and that she was two months pregnant. Sherre stays at the Milagro House for a few weeks before returning home. Her mother promises that things will be different and that they will make a real home for the baby. Roc, Sherre’s father, also starts coming around more acting like a true father to Sherre. Although things were changing in Sherre’s house Damon was not. He finally got to the point where he didn’t want to have anything to do with Sherre or her soon to be baby. On February 6th Sherre gave birth to a six pound seventeen inch baby boy. After the birth of Beauford, Sherre realized that she was to love and take care of the baby and that she was going to do whatever possible. Sherre went on to graduating high school and is going to make a career with landscaping. She also went on to love her baby with all of her being and is determined to give him a better life than she had.

Strengths (including reviews and awards):

This book was really good at drawing in imagery, allowing me to be fully aware of what Sherre’s life was really like. I also felt that the author gave the story a very real feeling. I know there are girls just like Sherre facing the same situations in life and I felt as though Sherre’s story was very realistic.

Drawbacks or other cautions:

The only drawback that I feel hurts the book is the repetitiveness of Sherre’s thoughts. As Sherre thinks about Damon all of her thoughts are pretty much the same throughout. I felt as though I was reading the same thing over and over.

Teaching ideas:

This book would not be suitable to read in a classroom. I feel that there are too many hot lava topics to be considered an appropriate book to have a class read. There aren’t really a lot of teaching topics either, but here are a few:

For a planned parenting or sex education class this book could be discussed in order to help young people the effects and responsibilities of parenthood.

Have a unit on making right decisions and the consequences that follow.

Have students write a paper on their family. What they would change and what they feel is the best thing about their family or family member.

Have students that don’t know anything about the street life watch documents on what it is like to live on the streets.

Have the students write a paper about a time when they felt completely alone.

Have students visit a Milagro House and interview some of the women their and hear their stories. Also, find out what work and effort goes in to maintaining a place like the Milagro House. Maybe, even have students volunteer there.

[Grace Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lenora Adams purpose for writing, Baby girl, is to let her audience know that when things get rough, you have to stay strong and focus. Strength is the impact this book has on its readers. Sheree was a very strong girl who went through many trials and tribulations throughout her life. Ree Ree’s dreams are big, but chances are small. Nothing ever got better for her, nonetheless she maintained. This story also proves that you are a product of your environment. This book will have lasting value because modern day teens go through the same problems Sheree went through. Every teen go through matters dealing with sex, drugs, money and relationships.
Baby girl is well written because it has a street edge twist to it so teens could understand more. The vocabulary is extremely easy to read. It is very detailed and every page will have you at the edge of your seat not wanting to stop reading. It gives you insight and makes you think about your own life. For example, Renee mom told her, “If you’re smart, you don’t give them your heart, ‘cause they never give theirs” made me think of when my mom gives me advice about relationships (Adams 66). Using the street language made it more realistic and had you think more. Adams choice of vocabulary was very useful in this type of teen drama book.
This book was indeed captivating and dramatic. It was moving because Renee was raised up by her mother who depended on men. Renee’s mom told Renee not to follow the lose morals she went by when she was younger. Although she sets some serious rules and expectations, as a role model, she lacks authority. An example of Renee’s mom’s lose morals is when they were in the kitchen smoking with another and her mom said, “I want you to know what real bud taste like” (Adams 47). Renee not having an in control role model often went against her mom and did what she wanted. I personally didn’t relate to any characters although I related what was being said at times. This book was not boring, matter of fact every page had me in deep thought. The different events teach you right from wrong and show you the consequences for doing the wrong things.
There are many great strengths of this book; however the one that stands out the most is its very lifelike. An example of it being lifelike is when Renee’s boo says, “Im’a stop by around nine. Be home! Put on that pink thing you have” (Adams 54). Renee was being used for sex by an older boy than her and he would give her money. The same thing happens today, boys using girls for sex. The greatest weakness of the book is that it was way too short. I would have liked to see Renee grow and be successful.
I would recommend this book to young teens like me. It has lessons and morals to follow by. You would really like this book if you are interested in teen dramas. It was actually the best book I’ve ever read so far. You would probably shed a few tears throughout the book. It helped me to look at life through a different aspect and be thankful that I have parents who actually care about me and care about my future.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reviewed by Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky" for TeensReadToo.com

Sheree, or Ree Ree as she is known to her family and friends, has the odds stacked against her. Growing up with her single mother and not having much of a relationship with her father hasn't given Ree Ree the best start in life. Her dreams are big, but her chances are small.

Life isn't easy, but Ree Ree has people who care about her and try to steer her in the right direction. Her mother was just fifteen when Ree Ree was born. It was a case of one-sided love. Her father had other ideas about how to spend his time besides hanging around being a dad. Now when Ree Ree needs him most, he's the father of several more children and living with a new woman who doesn't have any use for a wayward teenage stepdaughter.

Ree Ree's mother and grandmother have tried to keep her focused on school and a decent future, but it's not easy with all the temptations out on the streets. Her mother is a nice-looking woman with an eye for men and spends most nights at the local bar. Although she sets some serious rules and expectations, as a role model, she definitely lacks authority.

BABY GIRL is written as three letters. The first is Ree Ree's description of what has gone wrong in her life, and her attempts to stay connected with her mother and reconnect with her father. The second letter is her mother's view of raising Ree Ree and dealing with a daughter who repeats the mistakes of the mother. Finally, the last letter is Ree Ree facing her son and the consequences of her own decisions.

Lenora Adams uses the language of the streets to create a realistic drama about an attempt to break free of the past and build a better future. But as the quote on the cover asks, "What happens when life isn't what you expected?"

[Brooke]

At seventeen Sheree’s world is hanging out with friends, chasing boys, and occasionally smoking pot with her mom, when she isn’t dodging her mom’s newest boyfriend. She spends a lot of her time with her white, wealthy best friend, Angela, running to Philadelphia, getting into trouble, and trying to constantly track down the whereabouts of her man. Sheree sees friends come and go, friends get pregnant, boyfriends cheat, and disappear, just like her own daddy did. In a heartfelt letter to her mom, Sheree reveals the details of her life, her feelings about her father not being around, concerns she is becoming just like her mother, and the big secret – her pregnancy- that has been weighing on her.

The main character, Sheree, feels realistic, as does the world she lives in. Sheree has a lot of emotional growth, especially towards the end of the novel. Her pregnancy, especially the labor itself, is written in a realistic way, without being glossy or preachy or dominating the story. Her lack of self-respect and low-self esteem, and her desire and obsession to connect with her baby’s father is heartbreaking to read, yet an important story to be hear. The style, written in the forms of letters (from Sheree to her mom, from mom to Sheree, and from Sheree to her baby) is interesting, adding emotion and familiarity. The plot, however, could use some work. There isn’t a whole lot happening in this book in the first half, and it is slow to unfold. It is not a quick action packed read, but spends its time crafting real, developed characters.

[Genise]

At age seventeen, Sheree is the product of a teen pregnancy, and finds herself in the same situation as others. Sheree clearly sees those around her, and almost sees her own flaws and weaknesses, but not quite. Sheree's love object who lost interest as soon as he knew Sheree was pregnant is no longer around. She is writing a letter speaking to all the girls out there who do not guard themselves from pregnancy, thinking that the love they feel for their "man" will be enough to make a family. Racial and class issues are explored in this story of a black girl and her white best friend who lives on the nicer side of the tracks. The issues are presented realistically, opening doors to discussions of self-esteem, the way we use our bodies, and race and class, as well as teen pregnancy. I have so many friends that are 15- 18 years of age with babies. Watching them try to take care of their baby is a struggle for them.

[Rosalee]

This book is about a girl who gets pregnant and she runs away to go to a home because her mom said if she ever got pregnant that she couldn't stay there. So the book is written in letter format about how she got to that place in her life. She writes the letter to her mom tell all of her feelings towards the things her mom did and how she was with boys. Then the other half of the book is about how her mom writes a letter to her about how she is sorry that she has screwed up and she wants things to be better between them. she ends up having the baby and the baby father isn't there but she learned a valueable lesson that you can't sit around and wait for people to change they have to change on their own.

[Tianna Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Baby Girl by Lenora Adams is a book about a teenage girl, Sheree, who is stuck in a situation that she can't handle. She runs away from home to a place called Milagro House to find answers for all her problems. Later on, she finds out shes pregnant and the babies father want nothing to do with the baby. She writes letter to her mom about her struggles when she was in the house and why she runs away. Her mom begs her to come back and when she does, she finds out that everything isn't about her anymore and its about her baby. She finds this out on Christmas when she notices that none of the presents are for her, but they are for her family. Then she finds out that to love anyone first, she has to love and respect herself. I liked the book and I recommend it to everyone.

[Pamela Hubbard · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a pretty gritty, raw story about a young girl with an unstable family who makes some mistakes and decisions that alter the rest of her life. Sheree has been raised by her mom in a rough neighbourhood. Her father has not been a part of her life, and her mother has had a steady stream of men in her life. Sheree feels unloved, unwanted and desperate for life to change, but she feels stuck and powerless. The book is in the form of a letter from Sheree to her mom explaining her decisions and giving background on what happened. The book was slightly hard to read because of the slang. It was an interesting read, but Sheree was tough to connect to and it was a bit too raw for my tastes.

[Meaghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can’t say I didn’t like the story -- I did -- but it’s obviously the voice of an educated adult trying to sound like an uneducated teenager. Furthermore, it's overly didactic, obviously a cautionary tale about what happens to girls who get involved with dirtbags and get pregnant. Perhaps Adams will get better with practice, but in the meantime, there are loads of other, better young adult novels on urban black girls and teen pregnancy.

[Laura]

Well I felt sad and bad because she went through alot in the book. And she ran away from home because her bf I think was trying to force her to do something with her that she didnt want to do at all. She felt that she never left home but she didnt know what to do with herself. Maybe she didnt want to be in a town thats small if her bf didnt force her to do anything in the first place she didnt want to do.

[Elissa]

Based near Philadelphia, Sheree chases after a guy who only wants her for one thing, but she's convinced he'll come around. When even the birth of his son doesn't change him, she finally learns that you must have respect for yourself before others can respect you and that you can't change people if they don't want to change.

[Karla · Rating 2 out of 5]

Although this book is set in Philadelphia (I love reading stories set in places I know), and it includes lots of underage drinking, drugging and sex, I didn't like it. Perhaps that's because told from the point of view of a teenager, it truly reads like a note written by a 15 year old.

I couldn't get past the third chapter...

[Tria Keys · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I like the fact that Sheree was writing to her mother instead of just telling the story like other books. The way it was presented was unique to me. I felt her pain in certain ways even though i never went through them. I think that is how a person is suppose to feel when they read a book, especially when its a book on teens that have a lot going on.

[Carrie Rolph · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sheree is young, pregnant, and after running away from home, writes her mother a letter explaining why. Kind of preachy in a couple spots, but overall there's enough drama to interest fans of Kimani Tru or Drama High.

[Sondrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading the book Baby Girl , I really had a very poignant feeling of remorse , sorrow and pain . This girl has been thru much as a child, only to grow up and go thru so much more . This book allows the readers to connect a few of the events with their own personal lives.

[Patrice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is hard to write about. It was a good book overall but it wasn't what I was expecting. It eventually touched upon the subjects that I thought it would. This is definitely a book that you can relate to the characters. I was surprised that it was in letter form but the book was fine.

[Raven Alexandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shocking book. You'd think the qirl wouldn't get pregnant. I thought that she would give away Damions baby.

[Jasmine Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very good. It has a lot of events that could occur in reality.

[Marline · Rating 5 out of 5]

its iight

[Reneka]

i loved reading this book although it was kind of sad.

[Jazmyne edwards]

its starting great

[Taina Rosario · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was eye-catching, relatable and always made you crave more. I never wanted to put it down.

[Ariel Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

good book

[Ann Pieri · Rating 4 out of 5]

A tossed-away teen girl has anger issues. Only a caring adult and an inadvertent positive event help her gain control of herself andstart to fix her life. Simple message: Kids need love and support.