" When Feni learns that- who is fifteen and pregnant- is coming to live with them, all kinds of thoughts run through her head. How could her mother agree to such a thing? What kind of girl would let herself get into such trouble? And how is Feni supposed to live with someone like that? Feni decides to have nothing to do with Rebecca; but as time goes on, she finds that it's hard not to be curious about someone so close to her own age who seems so different...."
- Jacqueline Woodson (the dear one)
This book had been sitting on my shelf for a while and kept wanting me to read it. Eventually I followed through with it's request and picked it up. It's a short book, but I thought in my mind. "Oh that seems interesting, a story about a teen pregnancy." This made me want to read it. The book itself took me only 2 days to read....since I am a slower reader. Feni narrated the story with some of her introverted personality. She started the story being a very likeable character to me. I myself am very introverted, so I understood how she felt. The family mentioned was described in way that was loving and a family I would like to be around. Soon Feni gets told by her Mom on her birthday of all days, that a person was coming to stay at their house. Feni soon figures out that this person is what she thought was her lifelong enemy....Rebecca. This was where the book got worse for me. Feni begins complaining A LOT, that she doesn't want this person to come. Her parents ignore her wishes and still let this girl stay at the house. Feni and her friend Caeser discussed the situation at home along with the cotillion for Caeser's apparent coming out party. The book really irritated me when Rebecca came to the house. I wanted to stop reading then and there. But I told myself to finish the book. Basically a whole part of the book was Feni and Rebecca fighting. Towards the end, Rebecca opens herself up more. She tells Feni how she got pregnant. (SPOILER)
At the end Rebecca has her baby and gives her up for adoption to a family. She names the baby Afeni (named after her new friend Feni) meaning dear one. Feni doesn't want Rebecca to leave and is sad when she does.
I give this book 3 out of 5 stars. The story started out interesting and engaging, Then it got worse for me with the constant arguing. I would recommend this book to people who enjoy creative insults, but can tolerate the bickering.
