Born In Sin

by Evelyn Coleman

Despite serious obstacles and setbacks, fourteen-year-old Keisha pursues her dream of becoming an Olympic swimmer and medical doctor.

Genres: Sports, Young Adult, African American, Teen

265 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 2001

About the author

Evelyn Coleman is an Edgar Award finalist. She is best known for her many books with American Girl. She lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

Reviews

[Lorenia Arroyo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt as if the world judged you by a your ethnic background? Felt as if your dreams were there however far away at the same time?

In the story "Born in Sin" by Evelyn Coleman conveys her message of fighting for your dreams and not let anything or anyone take that from you.Betty a young beautiful dark brown colored girl who has big dreams for herself fights daily in the vulgar yet bias world she was born into. Betty shows off as the fighter in her family until everything and everyone seems to reveal to their true colors even her mom who she believed could put her full trust in. The author uses conflict to implicate that even though everyone might be pulling you down you should get pick yourself up and keep going towards the direction of your dreams.



"Born in Sin" tells the story of young girl, Keisha who had big dreams to attend her favorite college Avery however all those dreams are soon crushed when her teacher announces to her that all "unfortunate" young people would be attending the "Save the Children At-Risk Foundation" Keisha had high hopes for herself and desired to achieve them, however everyone who surrounded her pushed those dreams away. Her best friend Betty began to hang out with the "pimp" Keisha hated the most,Jeebie. Then her own mother betrayed her by speaking to him, making Keisha's whole life fall apart. Secrets were soon exposed to her, and she isolated herself from everyone and everything then she figures she was born in sin. However all the disappointments in life are soon switched around to make her enemies be prove wrong.

The overall impression of the story is that Keisha never gave in to voices that always put her down. Even after her own blood betrayed her, she had the guts to forgive them and fight for her own dreams. The conflict that the author uses to convey the message of fighting for your own dreams is clearly portrayed. I would recommend this book to those teenagers who are going through a bad time ,that no matter what obstacles come your way, push them aside and keep walking the direction you desire.

[Shoko Uchida]

This novel is so touching. I think this is the juvenile of the juveniles.
Love of mother who looks like given up but actually hasn’t given up. Love of father who has been seeing his daughter from a distance. Malik, who is gender-equitable and keeps dreaming a big dream. I’m so impressed.
It’s so important not to leave young women vulnerable, and education of adolescent reproductive health and rights.
It reminds me the “Push” written by Sapphire, the original of the movie “Precious”.
　I wish to recommend this novel to teenagers and parents of teen age children. Students might be aware of women's right.

[Kip · Rating 4 out of 5]

Keisha is on track to go to college, but because she is poor, from a single parent home (and black?) she is put into a summer program for at-risk students. Of course, she resents this, but through this and other tests, she remains her own advocate, and with the help of her strong mother, she overcomes. The ending of the novel feels a bit untrue to the tone of the rest of the novel, but overall Keisha stands up for Keisha, sometimes well and sometimes poorly. (12 to adult)

[Jacqueline Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a good book very riveting and political. I enjoyed it very much.

[Jasmine Grimes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Born in Sin by Evelyn Coleman, is a riveting story of a young African American girl growing up the the "ghetto", watching her mother break her back and scrape up change at times, to barely make a living for not only herself, but her three children Keisha, Punky, and Rhenda. At age 15, Keisha faces many trials and tribulations that most 30 years old never have to face. Shes had many tests of character as well as tries of her common sense. Keisha's mother is a good hearted christian woman with strong morals, values, and beliefs. She wants nothing but the best for her children, and to prove to the world that with strong love and support great things can come out of the "projects". However, it seems that all of her hard work doesn't go beyond the four walls of her small home, considering Punky dropped out of 10th grade and is now selling drugs and her daughter Rhenda got pregnant at age 15 and brought a daughter into this world without a father to be around. Keisha, on the other hand was an exception. She too had many important goals and values, this summer would be the one leading into her sophomore year and with the help of her counselor, she would be enrolling into and early nursing scholarship at the town hospital. Keisha had always been a school girl and didnt get into too much trouble because she dreamed of attending Avery university to get a medical degree and be the first in her family to get out of the ghetto and make something of her life. So far her plan had been going as followed, that is until she is instead enrolled in a cheap summer camp for children living in poverty, her mom is being suspected of stripping, her brother wont come home, her bestfriend starts dating the neighborhood "pimp" then is found shot in a hotel room and is told she isnt sure if shes going to survive. Crack open Evelyn Colemans "Born in Sin", and see just how long it takes Keisha to solve a puzzle when it comes to life.

[Tamika · Rating 2 out of 5]

Born in Sin, written by Evelyn Coleman, is a young adult novel that contains 234 pages. This novel is written in the first person from the perspective of the main character Keisha and the author uses biblical references to communicate some of her main points. Born in Sin chronicles the story of a group of teenagers from an impoverished neighborhood in Georgia, who after being selected to participate in an at risk youth program find a new passion for swimming. Throughout the novel Keisha experiences financial and personal obstacles that slow down the obtaining her dreams of getting out of poverty and becoming successful. In the end it is up to Keisha to decide if her life circumstances will determine her future. I liked the story as because of its relatable and inspirational themes. I must say that there were certain elements of the novel that I disliked, such as the random and fast paced nature of the story that caused me to give the novel two stars.

[Allison · Rating 3 out of 5]

synopsis: in this book the main character Kiesha is a highschool girl who has big dreams of becoming a doctor. but when her dreams are ruined becuase of where she lives and what the administators at shcool think of her. So she becomes a swimmer and dreams of going to the olympics. Kiesha has to overcome obstacles to get to her dream.




Audience:14 and up (young adults, teens)
purpose:teaching to go for your goals and not give up
medium:novel
genre-setting:fiction
genre-style:sports and real life
genre-plot:trying and working for something big


criticism:I thought the book was very interesting. It taught me to always go forth and try to reach my goals. It also talks about real-life situations and I enjoy rading about those.(Espicially if they deal with sports)

[Salsabrarian]

Booktalk: Keisha doesn't know how to swim, and her only motivation to learn is that she knows if she fell in the pool, the snotty white lifeguards wouldn't bother themselves to jump in and save her. Still... (read p. 60 from "One week later..." to p. 69 "he knew."). What Mr. Walt knows is that Keisha has real talent--big talent, the kind of talent that could make her an Olympic-caliber swimmer--if she devotes herself to it. Could this be the thing to get her out of the projects and into the rest of her life?

[Carey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great story of overcoming obstacles, finding hidden talents, taking advantage of situations offered vs. bemoaning those not offered, and self-fulfilling prophesy. I was surprised by the discrimination within the black community to its youngest members, and saddened by the ties that bind us to the roles others expect us to fill. Great lesson: It is never enough to just dream of more. You have to go and get it.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is about a black girl in a bad neihborhood who finds swimming, and she is very good. It shows dreams and that people can achieve them.

[Daniel Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the book

[Lanetta Dickens · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like the fact that the main character in the story was constantly hatin' on the white girl.

[Mayday Maddie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good- it talks real funny tho. Hard radin' after 'while.

[Patricia Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am still reading this book

[Janine Darragh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Felt like the ending was Waaaaaaaaay too unrealistic.

[Sky · Rating 5 out of 5]

it was off the bomb it was f ing good

[Makayla]

This book had a great realistic story that could be happening right now, explaining the struggles of everyday life for someone like the main character.

[Breezy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book it was

[Cws]

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[Myra M · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though this book has a great idea in mind, its execution was poor, to say the least. The story was engaging and I wish I could say I liked it, but I can’t. This is simply because the author’s writing style made it hard to read. It felt really forced.