Damaged

by Kia DuPree

Camille Logan feels trapped. After she is sexually and emotionally abused by her foster parents, she turns to the one person she knows she can trust--her boyfriend Chu, a mid-level drug dealer. But when life finally starts looking up for Camille, Chu is brutally murdered. Again feeling abandoned and helpless, and refusing to return to the system, Camille finds herself living with a stable of women in a tiny run-down apartment building in Washington, D.C., working for Nut, a deranged pimp. Fed up with her life, Camille is forced to right her wrongs, and slowly learns that her past does not necessarily determine her future.

Genres: Urban, Fiction, Dark, Drama, Contemporary, African American

290 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

Reviews

[OOSA · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same Song Yesterday,

Camille Logan, foster care child molested, turns pro after drug dealing boyfriend dies. She ends up finding herself attracted to boyfriend's best friend.

So much of the character selection and development is overdone. This was an expected host of characters. There is plot development, but there is no "moral to this story," which ends up being for entertainment purposes only. The brightest moment of creativity occurs when the author attempts to delve into abused women as an issue or the devastation of addiction on parenting, but so little time was spent on these themes and only expositorily that the storyline becomes trite.

The author fails to show how main character Camille is "damaged." If the premise is that foster care may put children at risk for molestation, then it is noted and accepted, but that the children are damaged without hope is a poor message. If the main character is damaged, then all children who find themselves in foster care are damaged. This is not a good message to release to this society since so many children are raised in foster care for a number of reasons. That children have to make adaptations that may lead to further problems for themselves is too generalized and that those choices may be limited by environmental associations is disconnected.

It also seems that the author is writing about things that are beyond her experiences, things that she may have heard about or empathized with.

Good people can come from negative, detrimental experiences. It could be that the author's hypothesis is that broken relations (parental) bred "damaged children." If this is the case, too little time was given to explaining how the parental circumstances bred the damage in the child.

The storyline is weak although the characters are interesting. Generally, "Damaged" is a story without benefit after having read it.


Reviewed by: Gail

[Meaghan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually go for urban fiction, but I quite enjoyed this. Although the protagonist, Camille, is only her teens, this is definitely an adult book (or maybe the later grades of high school) with VERY explicit sexual content and swears on almost every page.

Basically, it covers the teen years of Camille's life, beginning when she moves into a new foster home and the father rapes her every night while the mother looks away, following her descent into prostitution under the management of a smart but seriously psycho pimp, and then ending with her efforts to better herself. Along the way Camille meets a lot of other girls in situations like her own, and their lives and fates are also recorded in the story.

There aren't really any surprises in the story (I still can't figure out what was the "shocking truth" mentioned in the cover description), but I thought the characterization and dialogue were spot-on, and I enjoyed reading about a life and lifestyle much, much different from my own.

[Rise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good story. While reading this it felt as if you were going through it with each of them. Camille went through a lot, but I'm still wondering why he never told Jayson what his father did to her all those years staying with them. And then Nut's crazy ass got exactly what he deserved.

[Lisa Sunshine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this is one day. So good couldn’t put it down

[Elevate Difference · Rating 4 out of 5]

Damaged epitomizes a feeling of darkness and reeling loss with an utterly profound yet utterly hopeful ending. Continually faced with ongoing loss and disappointment, protagonist Camille Logan deals with a progression of horrifying moments, save for a small light of a boyfriend who seemingly will do anything for her. Once he is shot in an unexpected situation, Camille regains her lost feelings and chooses survival on the streets.

Depicting the story while by fully embracing the environment, author Kia DuPree brings a "realness of the streets" to the readers. Dialect and vocabulary clearly show her familiarity with the subject and environment where the characters dwell. The use of a southern dialect makes Damaged reading a bit like Toni Morrison's Beloved or Sula. DuPree provides the rawness of feeling lost without family, and she gives us the disappointments of lies and abuse, as well as illuminating moments of ambition and the determination of making a better life for oneself. Starting from the middle of the story, readers follow the book's chronology through the five years that lead to the book's end.

Damaged is dark and difficult. DuPree shows how poor youth struggle to survive abuse through the foster care system and then continue to suffer on the streets of an urban jungle. Exposing the inner city’s fast life, DuPree puts you on the train and takes you all the way to the end of the line. Everything is for sale and getting off the train isn't easy. In fact, sometimes there is no escape.

Well-written and clearly heartfelt, DuPree does justice to the perseverance and needs of all young people in cities who undergo change and need positive role models. Capturing the essence of power, control, and the people who abuse the two, she holds no brakes on exposing the very beliefs we have. A definite page turner, Damaged gives us hope.

Review by Carolyn Espe

[Torimac · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked how Ms DuPree wrote this story. It's not an easy story to write, but she made it pretty easy to read. Her use of dialect was great, and very consistent (until the wrap up). Her use of reflection and time jumps was pretty good. There was lots of action, enough suspense to really make it a 'page turner'. I sometimes wondered a little about the judgement of the main character, Camille, but the author would give us a timely reminder at how young and limited her context was. I felt the changes that led her to prostitution went a little too fast, and could have used some more detailing, but again, the context of her youth and her extreme experiences kept it feeling realistic. I loved it that she ran into her bio-mom but got no resolution out of it. I would have liked a tidier ending, but I thought it was realistic, and actually, quite optimistic. There is room for a sequel, of course, and I would be interested in reading it.

[Tisha London · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, Kia Dupree did an Amazinggg Job with this story. Camille was a foster child, and was being molested by her foster dad. His wife knew but didnt say anything. Once The wife knew Camille was old enough to tell, she put her out. Camille confided in her drug dealer boyfriend who chose to deal with the foster dad on his own. He eventually was killed and because he was Camilles source of income she began prostituting and was pimped by her boyfriends best friend. This is more than a urban story. It shows the trials & tribulations most foster children experience w/o any guidance or support. Camille eventually finds her way, after receiving a surprise lump sum of money. This book was very good, a true page turner, and I highly reccomend it, so many stories in this story. I salute thee author for her great writing skills! 4/5

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a is a very realistic look at an African American young person who is in a foster care home in D.C., and is being abused by the foster Father. That is just the beginning for her in this book. This is one gritty, raw, realistic read. It is heavy in strong language and sexual situations if you find that bothersome this is not the book for you.
I found it to have a strong story line, and had strong characters, the author did a great job on creating this read. The ending was a twist I didn't see coming, and I won't spoil it for you by mentioning it, but I did enjoy it.

[Lunden · Rating 3 out of 5]

So....I read this book in a day. I enjoyed that it was somewhat of a page turner and I like the characters. What I didn't like is the ending. It seemed very unfinished. What happened to Nut? The other girls? Did Camille and Rob end up together? Did she finish school? I was left with too many unanswered questions. Just felt that it wasn't finished. I have read Silenced and Shattered by Kia DuPree and they ended rather nicely. I wonder if this was the 1st of the three....Good read though. I really enjoy her writing style and character development.

[Shanae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually enjoyed this book. Like all urban lit books the characters are flat and the plot is very simple. However, DuPree discusses some pretty heavy topics in this novel including social services, foster care, child abuse, child molestation, prostitution, drug abuse, and drug distribution. I definitely recommend this book to anyone who appreciates urban lit - this one will definitely keep your interests.

[Terry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Yet another black expressions book. I'm trying to read a variety of books from different genres. When my wife got this from black expressions I picked it up to see. I was expecting a horrid story about someone being exactly what the cover said "Damaged". It began okay, but later it dragged on. It was life with all the dull parts added. No major bangs anywhere. In the end, I didn't care about the characters. They were one demensional and underdeveloped. I put it down. Maybe later.

[Marie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this book, but at the end it left a lot of unanswered questions for me like, What would Camille do next like would she go back to the life she was living or do more for herself and will her and Rob become more than friends. It seems like it just left a lot of things unsaid and abruptly ended.

[JazzyRacquel · Rating 4 out of 5]

♥ A Definite Page Turner ! ♥

[Lady · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotion voking read, that has me wondering how I would survive if I was in the same situation.

[Adrienna · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had the book version but kindly returned it back to the work library and found an eBook copy. I read "Shattered" first but think this book is a trilogy since in "Damaged" I see the same characters I read in the other novel. Shakira aka Kiki (seems harsh in this one to me), Peaches, Nut, are similar names I recall in the other novel I read by this author. Camille was also in foster care like Kiki was in "Shattered" yet was getting molested by the man in the family's home she resided in as well as Danica whom had a child by the man. I strongly dislike hearing or reading such stories like this happening to innocent women/girls.

This one keeps my interest, and I like it but do not love it like I did with Shattered. I still have a copy of the other novel "Silenced" that I hope to read and return back to work library.

It started off somewhat promising but midway to end fell short for me...it was okay overall.

[sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay. I normally don't go for Urban books because I feel like they hit a little too close to home. BUT. The second I picked up this book I could not put it down. I read the book within 4 days. The story is about a young girl named Camille and how she grew up a foster child and all the trials she had to endure. Not just as a child but as an adult as well. Situations that she couldn't control and situations that she could. And the outcome of them. The way the book was written made it so easy to read. The actor really embodied the mind of a young adolescent and a woman. I'm so glad I read it. And that I can add a new genre to my reading. 😊

[jazz · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF only a few chapters in. maybe the detailed molestation of a 10 (i think) year old was a bit much for me idk. i remember reading this book when i was super young, like somewhere between 13-15 (don’t ask) and i thought this book was GREAT. super intense, gripping, memorable characters, clearly memorable enough for me to pick it back up roughly a decade later. upon rereading, it was a hard NO for me. i had absolutely no business reading this at the age that i did and simply cannot understand how i enjoyed it even then

[Brown Girls Read Too · Rating 5 out of 5]

Over all this book was awesome! It kept me intrigued and intrested in the first few opening lines. This was a quick but very relatable read. My heart poured for the main character Camille but God blessed her in the end. I would recommend all young female teenagers to read this. This book is definitely a lesson in life we all should know.

[Michelle Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page Turner!!

I was really committed to knowing what happened to Camille. I really wanted her to win. It seemed like there was no end to the terrible things she had to endure but things turned around for her in the end.

[UndertheBooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn't aware this book was a trilogy. It's been sometime since I've read this, but I acknowledged it in my collection recently. Great book with a great premise.

[The Urban Book Source · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in Washington, D.C., Damaged transports us into the life of Camille Logan, a street prostitute who goes by the name Nectar. Damaged is an extended flashback explaining Camille's journey into prostitution starting with her being abandoned by her drug-addicted mother at the age of ten. After Camille's grandmother dies, Camille ends up in a foster family that, on the surface, seems like it “was just like The Cosby Show.” Unfortunately for Camille, the apparent fairy tale turns into the proverbial nightmare of sexual abuse at the hands of her foster father, Mr. Brinkley, and alternately indifference and aggression from her overly religious foster mother.

Camille does find moments of joy when she meets Chu, an aspiring drug dealer who wants to build a life with Camille. When she has one falling out too many with the Brinkleys, Camille moves in with Chu and thinks life is turning up for her. Sadly, her reliance on Chu leaves her vulnerable to his roommate, Nut, after Chu is gunned down in the street. Nut offers the empty promises of saving money for Camille and the other girls who work for him so they can each have their own homes in the suburbs but his unpredictable nature and violence overshadow any protection he offers the girls in his charge.

DuPree tells Camille’s tale engagingly despite the limitations of first-person narrative and the immature voice of a very young character. The flashback technique was clearly unnecessary, as virtually the entire story ends up being told in order to bring the reader up to the point where everything turns out okay. Okay is about all one can say about the ending of the book. It is clear that DuPree has all the best intentions of taking her protagonist out of her incredibly difficult situation but she seems confused about how to bring her character out of her situation in a way that enriches the reader's and Camille's lives.

We all want to see Camille do better; but, Camille's entirely too vague notions about what she wants to do with her life besides hook the reader with a sense that unless someone directs her life, she's a woman-child without a clue. Did DuPree mean to show us that these types of young women, have no idea how to move forward in their lives without a pimp or a John to direct them? If so, she does this admirably. If not, what does she mean to show us?

The other young women who worked for Nut find ways out of his employ; some were forced out by circumstance and others saw their opportunity and took it. Camille doesn't leave on her own volition, however, despite her repeated commentary about wanting to change her life and deserving more out of life. What can we conclude about such a wishy-washy character? We do not see Camille develop so much as listen to her whine about how life isn't fair. The reader's desire to see Camille grow into a strong, self-sufficient young woman is, unfortunately, never met. So we are left with an unsatisfied need at the end.

Naturally, in the fashion of the typical novel there's a sense that Camille will be alright in the end, but that's the problem. We sense she'll only be alright. We get no sense that Camille will grow and thrive and become the woman she always wanted to become, or the woman the reader wants her to become. Camille moves on, not through her own motivation and force, but move on she does and we are relieved for her.

DuPree makes excellent use of the streets to show the weaknesses and vulnerabilities young women have to deal with in certain situations. We will be pleased to see if she can also show how those very situations can strengthen and form an otherwise vulnerable girl into a forceful and determined woman who can save not only herself but also others. Love does prevail in the end to help Camille out of her situation but perhaps the story would have been better served if Camille's self-love helped her overcome.

What did you like about the book?
DuPree does an excellent job of drawing the reader into Camille's life. DuPree has excellent command of the English language and uses that command to clearly create a voice for Camille who, despite her challenges, is clearly very bright and capable.

What did you dislike about the book?
I disliked the extended flashback not because it was intrusive in any way but because it was unnecessary. Telling Camille's story as it occurred would have worked just as well, possibly better.

What could the author do to improve the book?
The author could have developed her lead character more fully so that we could see her shift from a confused young girl into a young woman who obtained her freedom and self-respect through her own efforts.

[Letesa Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

great book!!!!

[Patrice · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't care what anyone says, Kia DuPree is one of the best authors out. I have read her three books and am impatiently waiting for another. This book, just as the other two, definitely did not disappoint. I will say, this was the saddest and more emotional book by her, in my opinion.

[Heather Bode · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a novel I randomly pulled off of a library shelf, and all in all I'm glad I did. The protagonist, Camille, was a riveting young character to follow. Kia DuPree did an excellent job crafting an broken, lost yet also intelligent young woman in a rough environment. Despite everything Camille goes through in the novel, things that would age anyone several years, you are constantly reminded that this girl is a teenager living in a dark adult world.
My only complaint with the novel is that the plot felt anti-climatic. The death of Camille's boyfriend Chu is the sharpest point in the plot, and that happens about halfway through the novel. Before and after that happens, the storyline gradually progresses, one thing after the other, and then it just kind of ends. On a good note, but you're still left thinking, "Oh, okay. Guess I'm done with this book."
However, although it was a short novel, it still felt like a complete story without being rushed. It was an interesting urban fiction novel, and worth it if you have a few hours to spare.

[Joanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Camille Logan is a girl who has been abandoned by her mother and is being put into foster care because her grandmother just can't take care of her any more. Camille is a young, African American growing up in the ghetto in Washington, DC.
She lives with a foster family whose appearance is very church-going and solid, but what is taking place in the home is nothing like that. There are a lot of dirty secrets in the house.
Life continues like this until Camille meets a young man who cares for her and essentially takes her in, at the ripe age of about 15.
Drugs, sex, gang life are what we learn about and this author makes you believe that it is all very normal.
Kia DuPree has written a book very believable. The language is so grounded and the scenario seems to true to life. My only qualm about this book is that it doesn't really end. There is really no conclusion. We don't know if Camille makes it or not. Book should have gone a little further to finish the story.

[Cryssy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twist and Turns.

Damaged is an Urban Novel that tells the story of the main character Camille and other young girls who have been manipulated by those around them. Camille has been through so much from being abused by her foster father while others in the home turned a blind eye to it, finding true love and having it all taken from her, and then having to deal with sexual abuse again just to survive. In this novel Camille faces friendship and deception from those she least expect . This was a good read even though I expected more from the ending. I was left with unanswered questions about her relationship with her mother, and other thing. I do recommend this book to other readers of urban fiction.

[Flashette · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Damaged" by Kia Dupree is one of the best books I have read in a while. It follows the life of a young girl, Camille, who is in the foster care system. Her foster parents are supposed to love and protect her but that is very far from reality. Camille meets a young man, Chu, who provides the love and protection that she craves but at a price. When Camille is forced to take care of herself, she turns to a life that she feels is all she can do.

Written from Camille's point of view, the story takes us into this young girl's life. We feel what she feels and hope when she hopes. Definitely a must read from this new author.

[Shakeisha Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book had a slow start, but I was soon captured! I can't explain the emotions that I had for the character Camille, as she went through hell and back at such a young age. I kept wanting her to wake up n get herself out of her situation almost through the whole book, and I am glad she did. The twist of how everything went down was cold, but I am amazed at how the author put things together. Great read!

[Karen H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this book up beacause wanted to read some urban lit.....wow all i can say is Kia dupree has a good hold on the realities of a tough system. She had me so engrossed in the camille ( main character) i almost forgot she wasn't a real person . I felt her pain as if it were my own. thank you Kia for bringing to light the many bad things suffered in the dark. Would love a sequel.

[Yvette · Rating 5 out of 5]

I REALLY enjoyed this book! Kia Dupree is a wonderful story teller. I was captured from the first chapter to the last. Her writing style reminds me a bit of Noire, just not as raw. I will definitely be reading more of Ms. Dupree's work! I can almost see a sequel happening with this one! HINT HINT Ms. Dupree! Loved It!