Sellout

by Ebony Joy Wilkins

NaTasha has a wonderful life in affluent Park Adams: she's popular, wealthy, and being the only African American in her school has never even crossed her mind. So when she spends the summer with her spitfire grandmother, Tilly, volunteering at a teen crisis center for troubled girls in the Bronx, she's surprised to find that for the first time in her life she doubts herself.

The girls at Amber's Place are rough, streetwise, sure of themselves, and they wield their secrets like knives. They hate NaTasha. They call her a sellout. She could run back to Park Adams, and everything would go back to normal. But she doesn't. There are two boys in the neighborhood who like her and back home she's never had a boyfriend. And there a couple of girls at the center who have opened up to her, showing her a light at the end of the tunnel. So NaTasha stands her ground and discovers that friendship, love, and joyful self-discovery have been waiting for her all along.

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

272 pages, Hardcover

First published June 25, 2010

About the author

Ebony Joy Wilkins, Ph.D. is an English professor, writer, and Founder of Curriculum Cafe. She is the author of the Mathical Honor Book DK Life Stories Katherine Johnson, If You Traveled On The Underground Railroad, Claudette Colvin Refuses to Move, and more. When I don't have a book or pen in hand I like to visit family, play tennis, try new restaurants, travel to new cities, or relax on the beach. Ebony lives in Chicago, Illinois. Read more about her books and subscription service, Ebony Kids, at ebonyjoywilkins.com and follow her on Instagram at @drebonyjoy, @ebony_kids, and TikTok @ebonykids.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this. I think maybe it needed to be longer to really get the point across, but it was a nice little slice of life of a character figuring out who they are and how to be themselves!

I am 99% sure I bought this at a Borders closeout sell. BORDERS. *cries forever*

Owned physical book 1/2 for the month
Overall owned book 2/5 for the month

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times this story runs predictable and Tash started off as a hard character to like. I understood her desire to fit in at any costs since she stuck out so much, but I had a hard time dealing with her naive attitude towards people she meets in Harlem (like Rex). However, Tash does slowly change in a genuine way. It was obvious that the tough-girls who gave Tash such a hard time would have hard lives that she would never even consider. Tash's parents also annoyed me. I wanted a better explanation as to why they were so oblivious to the effects on Tash as a result of living in a mostly white neighborhood; I really didn't get how her mother changed. Her mom is Tilly's daughter, born and raised in Harlem and yet she's completely changed. I would have liked for Tash to discover why her mother went through such a drastic change. I was puzzled by Heather (Tash's best friend) sudden change of attitude towards the "mean girl" Stephanie, it came out of nowhere and it wasn't explained very well. Ultimately, I had a problem with the lack of explanation behind the character's actions.



The most shocking part was the story of Shauna and how the writer introduces bleaching. I don't want to give too much away but, I'm sure that many white readers won't know that so many young people of color consider or actually do bleach their skin. It touches on the saying that “if you’re light, you’re alright.” The whole story was heart wrenching to read about, but not a surprise
“They hated me. My hair, my skin, my body, my voice they hated everything I hated about myself. I was just like them after all, because I hated me too.” (Tash, pg. 101). When Tash is at such a low point that she utters that statement, I understood completely where she was coming from and I was angry (not angry at her) that she felt that way. I was surprised by how the romance played out, but I really liked how the author showed that seemingly nice guys can turn out to be real jerks. Initially I wanted to meet Amir and Khalik because they sounded like great guys. Tilly is a wonderful character, she's a spitfire grandmother and I love that she gives it to you straight. Watching Tash grow is a rewarding experience, sometimes I really doubted if she would make progress and I love that the author made me doubt that.


Sellout is an important story, it addresses a topic that most people of color have gone through (or sadly may go through in the future) but many white people don't know what being a sellout means. This story will open many reader’s eyes. If the author did more showing or telling when it comes to the character’s actions, it would be a more satisfactory read. While the story may seem like a depressing one about a girl with low self-esteem, it ends on a hopeful note. I wouldn’t mind seeing a sequel because I’m curious to see how Tash’s growth will affect her relationships with people back home in New Jersey.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I enjoyed the overall story, the characters made some choices here that just boggled my mind.

NaTasha is the only Black girl in her affluent suburb. She has silly contests with her friends she knows she can't win, like who will grow their hair out the longest in a year. During a ballet recital, NaTasha weaves scarves in her hair to mimic the look of a bun - and is mortified when the scarves come loose during the performance.

So in response to this...her grandmother decides NaTasha needs to spend a chunk of her summer in Harlem to find herself. And not just lazing about in Tilly's livingroom - NaTasha is going to work with her up in the Bronx at a center for troubled girls.

The desire for NaTasha to get in touch with her roots made total sense, but forcing her to work at Amber's Place just came out of nowhere. What is NaTasha supposed to learn from girls that have been abused and even continue to abuse themselves? And then making NaTasha take part in the activities like she was just another girl - of course she and the girls are going to clash. To them, NaTasha doesn't have a real problem in the world.

The girls at Amber's Place, however, are totally real, each with a story more heartbreaking than the last. Shaunda and Monique especially, but Quiana, NaTasha's primary tormentor, has a reason for acting the way she does, too.

In short: I really like the overall story, but the framing device in order to get NaTasha into Harlem and the Bronx was mystifying and could have been handled with much more depth.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have you ever been in a situation where you are an outcast, feel unaccepted, or wondering who you are? Natasha Jennings feels the same way when she has to spend quality time with her grandmother, Tilly, in Harlem. Tilly takes her away from a familiar summer filled with ballet, mani/pedis, and long afternoons at the mall to a world that is totally unfamiliar. Plus, she is expected to help out at Amber’s Place. Amber’s Place (a safe house in the Bronx that helps troubled girls straighten out their lives) is the last place that Natasha wants to be. The girls here are rough, tough, and each have a frightful story to tell. Natasha has to face the beatings, bullying, and cruelty from the other girls all in an effort not to disappoint Tilly. Sellout is woven with danger, tears, problems, and new chances for anyone who is trying to find themselves among a lot of confusion.

[DC · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like that this book tackles internalized racism. This isn't a subject that's typically dealt with in a sympathetic manner. We really need more books like this, that show different facets of the black experience. I thought the way in which Wilkins has NaTasha’s issues come to a head was quite creative, and I like how she portrayed NaTasha’s decision to cut her lowkey racist white “friends” off. I think most of us (poc who have been surrounded by white people) have to have a moment where we realize that some of our white “friends” are, despite choosing to hang out with us, racist and toxic and should be let go. The denouement of NaTasha’s journey of self-love was quite beautiful, and I feel like you really get to see her blossom.

That said, I had several issues with how NaTasha’s “re-entry” into black culture went. NaTasha is bullied horribly and her bullies are never “punished” by the narrative or disciplined by any adult. In other words Sellout makes it seem like their behavior is okay because NaTasha was a "sellout." With hindsight I can understand why NaTasha the character stuck with them, she'd up to this point dealt with subtle racism in just about all her non-family relationships and probably thought, subconsciously, that being treated like sh*t was just part of making friends. I am aware that the girls at the shelter have had it rough, but there’s no excuse for that level of cruelty. Also, I’m curious as to why NaTasha’s grandma, knowing, as she must, how cruel these girls can be, thought it was a good idea to stick her vulnerable, self-loathing, suburban-raised granddaughter with them.

I was further confused as to why the girls found NaTasha’s flat-ironed hair proof of her “sellout” status. I went to middle and high school with black kids from both the ‘hood and the suburbs and the girls rocked all kinds of styles. Girls with straightened hair or weave were just as “real” as girls with afros or braids. In fact back in my day, which is roughly NaTasha’s day, relaxed or flat-ironed hair on black girls was far more common than anything else. No one was a “sellout” until they opened their mouth and something sellout-esque came out. I mean I guess maybe the author wanted it to be readily apparent that NaTasha was a "sellout," but Imo the girls' reactions would have been more realistic if NaTasha had shown up the first day in a Coldplay t-shirt or otherwise displayed the "sellout" nature of her personality.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

I didn't like this book because most of it made no sense to me. First of all I don't understand why she couldn't wear her hair in a bun. And I guess that kind to set the tone for the whole book, just a bunch of stuff that didn't make sense. And then the end which was just more of the same confusing stuff, but woah they were all happy all of a sudden.
Thing I would have liked from this book, more about the main character's best friend, instead of her just being the ditzy white girl. I would have also liked more about Stephanie, who the mc hated on so much through the whole book.
All the characters felt so flat. That was my problem with this book. There was also no excitement, everything just dragged by. The writing felt off too.
The whole book left me feeling just sad and confused. And wondering why I wasted my time reading it.

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by John Jacobson, aka "R.J. Jacobs" for TeensReadToo.com

NaTasha is nearly the only girl of color in her mainly white, middle-class suburban school, but that isn't such a big deal to her. She has a best friend, Heather, and she does ballet with her, which is a weak attempt at trying to be popular. NaTasha would rather be on the volleyball court anyway, but Heather's such a good friend, and fitting in is something she wants to do. Everyone in her family - even her grandmother, Tilly - comes to her latest recital, where something as simple as trying to fit in turns into an event of pure humiliation for NaTasha.

If there's one thing Tilly's tired of, it's seeing her granddaughter trying to be something she's not. She proposes that NaTasha come and live with her for a few weeks in New York - to get a feel for where her family came from before they lived in the squeaky clean suburbs. NaTasha would also have to help out at the local help center for girls that Tilly volunteers at every day. It isn't the best thing - she'll have to leave behind Heather, the chances of impressing the local hottie, and deal with homesickness - but NaTasha feels like she needs some time away. Maybe it'll do her good.

What happens to NaTasha is reminiscent of the best stories about someone finding who they are and learning about their roots. She comes to understand that the girls at the home are different, but strong in their resolve. She doesn't fit in so well there, either. How's a girl from the suburbs supposed to compare to a group of girls who have been in and out of juvenile hall, fights, pregnancies, abusive relationships, and bleaching their skin to forget about the names they are called day after day? NaTasha realizes everyone has their problems - and that spending time at the home with these girls may be more helpful than she thought. Ebony Joy Wilkins has a wonderful debut novel in SELL-OUT that speaks to a tougher generation about their origins and about that equality we all share - whether we like it or not.

Before I started reading, I was worried I wouldn't like NaTasha. I mean, the spelling alone is a little odd. Usually weird spellings of names can be weird. The PoC cliche of being constantly abused because of one's color was also a worry - not that it doesn't happen or that it isn't serious, but that it happens constantly from every single source. SELL-OUT manages to avoid cliches and focus on a story that's modern yet timeless.

NaTasha's journey is different. She's not made fun of at her school in the suburbs. They don't torture her or make fun of her skin color, or even show much care for it. It's all about the underlying differences. NaTasha and her friend, Heather, try to make her like everyone else - and the fitting in suffocates who NaTasha really is. She tries to change her hair, and doesn't do the sport she likes just to be like the popular white girls. What's interesting is that NaTasha, on some level, knows that what she's doing isn't great from the beginning, which is realistic and perceptive. Usually, we are given a protagonist who is amazingly ignorant of themselves. NaTasha is smarter than that, shown by her agreement to go and help Tilly. Her narration shows that perceptiveness, and it made me really respect NaTasha as a character.

Secondary-wise, SELL-OUT is populated with a lot of fun figures. Tilly is the classic God-Loving-Black-Woman-Who-Can-Fry-Anything character, but learning about her past makes her a lot deeper. The local hobo; the cute guy working at the bodega down the block; the beautiful girl troubled with her looks. In each instance, Wilkins takes a character we feel like we've seen before and gives them a new face; a mature and realistic one. I was surprised at how emotional I got over them. They also work well in helping NaTasha find herself, and each one of them is important, which is great.

The strength in NaTasha's character really showed throughout the first-person narrative. Plotting was handled really well throughout a majority of the book, and the writing style was great for a YA read; quick and to the point. I liked how each girl at the home had her share of troubles and strengths - each one was a different learning experience for NaTasha, and they all had their motives and reasons for being the way they were. It was also interesting to see the take on racism within the home - how the girls automatically separated themselves by race during a volleyball game, and how they acted like it was the right thing to do. Despite how interesting it was, it wasn't the center conflict. NaTasha's inexperience compared to the hardships the inner-city girls faced was. It was a refreshing change of pace. My only issue was the ending - it was cute, but the father-daughter relationship shown between two of the secondary characters was surprising. I would have liked it to have a bit more solidity to it. The relationship between a side character and one of NaTasha's crushes was also hinted at but never developed much, and I would have liked more fleshing out with that, as well.

SELL-OUT is an excellent debut novel that takes a deeper look into finding yourself and finding what your roots really mean. It's not your cliche PoC-Overcoming-Prejudice story, and is an excellent addition to the YA books of 2010. Aside from some lack of fleshing out on some parts, I really enjoyed NaTasha's voice, and found her to be a model character for readers of all ages. Ebony Joy Wilkins did a wonderful job with this book, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next.

[Brittani · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tasha has a pretty good life in Park Adams? Until her grandmother decides that she needs to see the roots of where her people are from. So she takes her to the Bronx of New York, where things are completely from her lifestyle. She faces challenges while staying in New York. I honestly like the book very much. You get to see how others live compare to you. This book is worth reading.

[Katrina Burchett · Rating 4 out of 5]

NaTasha Jennings is the only person of color in an entire school district and her grandmother, Tillithia Mae Evans (Tilly), doesn’t like it. She believes her granddaughter is isolated and she wants her to get out into the world and experience things for herself. NaTasha’s parents agree to let her spend the summer with Tilly in the Bronx. Will NaTasha be able to handle life in a place so different from what she’s used to or will she go back home before the summer is over?
I know this book is about NaTasha but I really have to start with Tilly: I liked this godly woman , who was full of wisdom and could cook up a storm. I enjoyed her humor and it was nice how everyone loved her and I really loved how much she loved NaTasha. For the most part she was a positive influence on her granddaughter, but I didn’t see why she thought that putting NaTasha amongst a bunch of angry, lost girls would help her to learn about who she is. With all the hurt Miss Tilly experienced in her life, I can’t understand why she felt it’d be beneficial to put NaTasha in a place where she could experience the same hurts. In the predominantly white world she lived in, NaTasha had no peers who looked like her. She made certain choices to try to fit in and to be liked by the guys. At Amber’s Place there may have been girls of color but she was bullied (verbally and physically abused) by those girls because they felt she was nothing like them. She seemed to be an outcast no matter where she was. It saddened me that she was placed in such a hostile environment to ‘find herself’. NaTasha’s dad and mom were concerned about her, as they should have been, and so was I.
NaTasha was a good girl with a good heart and lots of common sense. At one point, she had the opportunity to get back at one of the girl’s who had harmed her, but she took the high road and when a certain guy turned out to be totally different than what she thought, she didn’t allow herself to be pressured into doing something she knew she’d regret. She was placed in a hostile environment to ‘find herself’, which, again, I did not think was necessary, but she did find new friends, even though they’d probably never be best friends and she was able to get help styling her natural hair. She also learned a very important lesson from a rough summer in the Bronx: There’s always going to be someone who wouldn’t like her for whatever reason, so it was easier for her to just be herself.
Quiana: Trouble maker and instigator. I figured she was striking out because she was hurting. People who are hurting can be the cruelest people, always ready to project their anger and disappointment. She was the way she was for a reason; what happened to her was a shame. I didn’t like her in the beginning and I liked her just a bit in the end. She was hard on the outside, but the girl had a good heart.
Maria was in a situation that, unfortunately, many of today’s teenage girls end up in. Monique wasn’t very good at choosing her boyfriends. Or maybe she didn’t think she deserved better. And Shauna’s story was really a sad one. The choice she made because of a poor self-image was sad and shocking. I had to ask myself if fitting in is really that important to some young people. That’s a question I can’t answer, but I hope not.
This was an interesting read that brought back a few memories. (Thank God, I no longer have to sit in front of the stove so my mom can take a hot straightening comb through my hair) There was profanity, but not much and I liked that the author had no problem including a church service or having Miss Tilly talk about the Lord and give God praise.

[Kaila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever felt like an outcast, feel unaccepted, or wondered who you are? Natasha Jennings knows that feeling all too well. As a African-American girl living in a rich suburban area, its really difficult to fit in, especially if you are curvy and have nappy hair. All her life, she has been trying to fit in with the white girls in her school by participating in the same sports and activities they did, dress the same way, and wear the same clothes. Although her best friend Heather doesn't see color, the others do. She convinces her to do ballet with her so they could be together more.
At first, Natasha is excited to be doing ballet, but then as she starts, Stephanie, her frenemy starts to bring her down more often because of the way she looks and how she dances. Natasha feels less confident and tries to overcome her fears of performing in front of everyone while the season is winding down. As the final performance is coming closer, her grandmother Tilly has noticed that her granddaughter is oblivious of what a hard life is really like in the real world. So in order to educate her more, she offers to have Natasha visit her house in Harlem, New York and help work at Amber's Place, a safe house where troubled teen girls go to hangout and stay out of trouble. Natasha isn't looking forward to the trip at all and wants to stay home.
As she spends time in Harlem, she realizes that she's not in Kansas anymore. She finds out that the girls here there rough, tough, and every one of them have a frightful sob story to tell. Natasha has to face the beatings, bullying, and cruelty from the other girls all in an effort not to disappoint Tilly. Sellout is a story woven with emotions, tears, problems, and new chances for anyone who is trying to find out who they really are and who they should be.
I give this book 5 stars because I can relate to finding out who I am and feel the emotions Wilkins expresses in the story she potrays.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sellout deals with the desire in all of us to find a place where we belong. NaTasha is the only black girl at her suburban, affluent high school. For the most part this fact doesn’t bother her. She has a tight group of friends and is part of the ballet and volleyball team at her school. Although NaTasha fits in, she still faces many awkward and noticeably uncomfortable situations including feeling the need to straighten her hair to look the same as the other girls in her ballet recital. Her parents seem oblivious to the tension she faces at school, but her grandmother Tilly worries that living in the suburbs as sheltered her from reality. When NaTasha embarrasses herself at one of her ballet performances she decides to take her grandmother’s up on her offer to stay with her in Harlem for the summer. The rest of the book tells of Nataha’s journey of self discovery and acceptance. She begins volunteering at an all girl’s shelter and through the relationships she builds with the other women there NaTasha learns to love herself, her race and her heritage. The novel talks frankly about race using realistic characters to show the effects of prejudice on young girls. Many of the girls at the shelter are struggling with internalized racism and this is manifested in situations such as self mutilation, low self esteem and abusive relationships. Although the writing is not top notch and the story drags in parts, the overall message is positive and one not written about often in YA literature.

[JilliAnne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fitting in isn’t easy when you’re the only black girl in your all white high school, but NaTasha really tries until her efforts to fit in end up embarrassing her in front of everyone at her last ballet recital. Recognizing that NaTasha is struggling with her identity, Grandma Tilly steps in. Soon NaTasha finds herself surrounded by girls who couldn’t be more different from her when she beings volunteering at Amber’s Place, a crisis center for troubled girls in the Bronx.. Even with a rough start involving a theft, cat fights, and abusive boyfriends, NaTasha eventually accepts and befriends the girls, and is able to find herself.

Inspired by her personal experience while in middle school, Wilkins does an excellent job in her debut novel dealing with the theme of finding and accepting oneself. This book is packed with lessons on growing up with integrity and virtue in an increasingly complex world, Addressing a wide variety of subjects, from racism, self-worth, and even chastity, this book gets the message across even if it is slightly didactic. Because the book does contain a scene containing some sexual content, which Wilkins handles very tastefully, the audience for this book will be slightly older teen readers.

[Imani ♥ ☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I liked this.

I guess, if I hadn't been reading another, more interesting book while also reading this, I would've given this book 5 stars. But this book, for its length, took me too long to read and so this gets a 4.

So, NaTasha(hate her name by the way) is kind of a 'snobby' black girl living in suburban New York City. I feel for her, even though I'm not a snob or anything and unlike this NaTasha chick I'm not surrounded by white people and feel like I have to act a certain way. This is NaTasha's problem. And then she does something stupid at her recital and her aunt Tilly(at least I think she's her aunt) decides when she takes NaTasha to take her to Harlem for the summer, that she can work with her at this place for "problem kids". And...that's all I feel like summarizing. I could have done without this ending. It kinda sucked, and I have a thing about sucky endings. It really ruins a book for me if the book ends badly. Maybe that's also why I gave this book 4 stars instead if 5. HAHAHA :/

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

NaTasha is the only African American student in a suburban highschool. She is well adjusted for the most part, but her spitfire Grandmother Tilly feels she needs to learn more about her own roots. NaTasha travels with Tilly to Harlem to spend several weeks helping out at Amber's Place; a crisis center in the Bronx that helps troubled girls get their lives on track. She finds that she is completely out her element with her pressed hair, pearls and polished veneer that hide her own issues and complexities. Initially teased and attacked by the girls who resent her even being their she gradually learns how to share her own confusions, hold her own and establish relationships with the girls including having her hair braided. This fast moving, bold and gritty novel illustrates how middle class African Americans struggle with identity because of lack of acceptance from both whites and blacks who see them as "sell outs" for their achievements. I loved this book as it mirrored by younger years! An important title to be read and discussed in a group setting.

[Nandi Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

NaTasha is the only girl of color in her affluent neighborhood. she hates ballet, but is in the class and during a performance, the scarf that was used to tie her head in a bun comes off embarrassing her. Her grandma, Tilly feels that she should come and spend time in the city and visit her center for at risk girls are. So, off she goes, and her first days in the center are not good. She is labeled as a sell out, she is picked and teased and even though some of the folks here didn't get what this girl was going through, I certainly did. I remember the slights, trying to fit in and I felt for her and all the other young ladies that felt they needed to push up on somebody. that is life. good reading.good book.

[Jessica RiffeKincaid · Rating 5 out of 5]

NaTasha was used to living in the suburbs with her mother and her daily routine, aside from school, was ballet. In her community she was the only person with dark-colored skin and her best friend was as white as snow. Her grandmother, whom volunteered at a young teens shelter, offered her grand-daughter to come and spend the summer with her, living her recent life behind her. She chose to come and help at the youth center for girls and that is where she finally discovered who she really was. Where her roots came from and how to live the life of helping others reach their dreams and to also help find the answer of who she really is. I loved this book based on the fact of how you live your life doesnt always show who you really are down deep inside.

[Alexis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was very good. It was written in a way that speaks to young female readers. This book brought up some topics that I think all african american girls, full or half, struggle with. One of the lessons Sellout teaches is to stop compairing yourself to other girls. How can you look at a tall, skinny, long haired super model and say you could never compete with her? Of course you couldn't! but its not because she is pretier then you, or smarter than you. Its because you two are completely different people and that is the biggest thing I took away from this book. I suggest Sellout to any girl, or guy, that is feeling unsure of themselves. Sellout is an unlifting, memerable book that I think needs to be read by everyone.

[Tianna Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sellout by Ebony Joy Wilkins is a good book. Its about a girl named NaTasha who lives in the suburbs. She feels out of place because shes the only African-American in her school. Her grandma, Tilly, takes her to Harlem over the summer to remember her roots. She volunteers at Ambers Place, A place for troubled girls in The Bronx. She meets her group, who doesn't like her. She tries to win their friendship, but nothing works. She stays the whole summer, still not fitting in. The leader of the group, Quiana, calls her "sellout" and tells a girl to beat her up. After opening up, Natasha finds that she is the same and the group finally likes her. She hosts a ceremony at the end of her prograam, and keeps in touch with her group. This is a good book and i recommend it to everyone.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tash is the only African-American in her middle class suburb and school. Though she thinks she's fine, she doesn't really feel that she fits in and she hates the color of her skin. Her tough Grandmother, Tilly, convinces her to spend some time in the city (NY) and volunteer with her at Amber's Place, a place for young women who have difficulties Tash can only imagine. The girls at the shelter make Tash feel even more of a misfit, but ultimately she sticks it out and learns to stand up for herself. Some language and mature situations.

[Miranda Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I loved all of the character's character if you know what I mean. The way NaTasha had to find out who she was to fit into the life of everyone else. And that being herself isnt a bad thing but may take others getting some used to. I felt bad for NaTasha when she got into fights but I thought it might make some of the girls in Amber's Place start to like her, but of course it didnt. When bad things happened NaTasha made it good by solving the problem. These are some of the reasons why I liked Sellout.

[Autumn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad. A reversal of the "city girl goes to the country to find herself" story. I did keep wondering how such a boring and sheltered protagonist could have such a vivacious granny. Also, what drew her parents to the suburbs?

[Juniper · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the main character - she was a good person trying to find her way and she was written as a real person with flaws but no real serious issues.

Outside of that the reasons certain things happened were not really explained and I thought the premise of the conflict a little forced.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the end, NaTasha realized who and what she was. It may have taken her going & staying with Tilly & helping out at Amber's Place but she figured it out. I loved that Shaundra was able to tell her story, and that Monique got away from L.B. They all helped each other in some way or another. ❤

[Beth Kakuma-Depew · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bit too didatic to be really good, but a fine addition to the urban teen fiction genre.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid book on a seldom-written about topic. This book is definitely geared towards middle school - high school students will find the rosy outlook and predictable characters a bit hard to swallow.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book, i absolutely LOVED it. Seriously inspiring and totally unpredictable, wish it had never ending and wished since it did end there was a 2nd one!!(:

[Jasmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started as a slow read. As I went on it got better.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book Sellout is by Ebony Joy Williams. Natasha is the only African American in her in her ballet group and her school district so she's not like the others. She's a freshman in high school that was in dance recital that went terribly wrong. She wants to turn her life around and not ever think of that moment again. She goes to Harlem with her grandmother Tilly. Her life is completely different over there but does it change for the better or the worse. I gave this book a 8 out of 10 because it describes a lot and is somewhat relatable to teens. If you like realistic fiction books about teens then you'll like Sellout.

[Joe Holman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful book that should be read by all guidance counselors and shrink type people who work with teens. Every library should carry this book. This book describes the pressure of trying to fit in, of worrying that you are different, of wanting to be liked. How harmful that pressure, worry and want can be. The dangers of compromising your principles to fit someone else's image.

And what a struggle it can be to be yourself; to be true to yourself.

It's quite a journey of self-discovery.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like this book, however, I feel like I didn't get a proper closure with some of the characters in the book.