Who Am I without Him?: A Short Story Collection about Girls and Boys in Their Lives

ANNOTATION

An Honor Book for the 2005 Coretta Scott King Author Award

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Teens Laugh, cry, scheme, and dream about the opposite sex in this fascinating short-story collection spanning the scope of adolescent love.

A girl seeks advice on how to steal her best friend's thug. A boy discovers what it means to be a man through his treatment of a woman. A teen's severe skin disorder makes her retreat inside her own room, inside her own head. These stories are often humorous, always on-point expositions of youth determined to find self-worth, any way they know how.

Confronted daily with tough issues that seem only to increase as the school day wears on, adolescents of all complexions struggle to make a place for themselves in society while defining their significance in terms of their allure to the other gender.

Sharon Flake's top-notch writing, delicate sensibility, and exceptional insight into the world of boys and girls turning into young men and women will keep readers riveted from beginning to end, consumed by the fast-paced, intelligent pages of Who Am I Without Him?

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly

Compilations of short stories and actual interviews lay bare teenage trials. Sharon G. Flake (The Skin I'm In) offers 10 portraits of teens and their romantic struggles in Who Am I Without Him? A girl gets a surprise response when she writes to a magazine advice column in "Wanted: A Thug," while a boy robs a house to be able to afford to take a girl to the prom in "Don't Be Disrespecting Me." The often-painful stories paint believable pictures of urban teens from a variety of backgrounds. Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Children's Literature - Heather Robertson

Adolescence is an extremely difficult time for girls. It is during this stage in life that boys begin to become the focus of many girls' lives. In this new story collection, Sharon Flake examines the emotional and sexual relationships between teenage girls and the boys that they like. More importantly she examines the issue of respect: respect for peers, respect for boys and respect for self. One story, "The Ugly One," follows a disfigured girl through her tortuous school day and her escape into a fantasy at home with her imaginary boyfriend. In another story, "Hunting for Boys," four girls from a religious family escape to meet the bad boys who play ball downtown and unwittingly end up in a street brawl with the boys' girlfriends. "A Letter to My Daughter" is a message from a father to a daughter warning her of men like him. The stories are true to life and most girls will relate to at least one of them. The characters are urban African-Americans, but the themes translate to all races and situations. Some of the stories contain bad language and mildly graphic descriptions; teachers and parents should read the book before recommending it. They should, however, recommend it. It is one of the best story collections, this reviewer has read in a long time. 2004, Hyperion, Ages 12 to 18.

VOYA - Brenda Moses-Allen

These ten stories, written in slang and hip-hop cadence, tell of the heartache, longing, and uncertainty that pervade the lives of many girls. All but two stories are written from the girls' perspective, and most are observations on the mating ritual as played out in urban high schools. The only lighthearted story is Mookie in Love, which shows the lengths to which a matriarchal family will go to protect the love-struck sole male offspring. Don't Be Disrespecting Me is a heart-wrenching tale about the good-looking poor boy who loves the girl from the well-to-do neighborhood. He becomes another sad statistic when the source of his recent wealth is exposed. The two stories with male voices are interesting and thought provoking. Jacob's Rules tells of an experiment by a teacher to teach boys and girls to understand and respect each other. In Letter to my Daughter, an absentee father gives his daughter ten guidelines to use when dealing with boys. This information alone is useful for any teenager who reads the book. Flake's stories are startling, realistic, and poignant. Appearances are everything; clothes and looks are of the utmost importance. Some girls wish they looked like someone other than themselves. They want to be skinny, have long hair, and lighter skin. Other girls will do anything a boy wants because having a boyfriend is a status symbol. The stories ring true for many teenagers, both boys and girls, who are trying to figure out what growing up really means. VOYA Codes 3Q 2P M J S (Readable without serious defects; For the YA with a special interest in the subject; Middle School, defined as grades 6 to 8; Junior High, defined as grades 7 to 9; Senior High, defined as grades 10to 12). 2004, Hyperion, 160p., Ages 11 to 18.

School Library Journal

Gr 7 Up-Written in the vernacular of urban African-American teens, which Flake captures flawlessly, these 10 stories have universal themes and situations. Some are funny and uplifting; others, disturbing and sad. In "So I Ain't No Good Girl," a teen wants to be with a good-looking popular boy, so much so that she tolerates his disrespect and abuse. In "Wanted: A Thug," Melody writes to a columnist for advice on how to steal a friend's boyfriend, unaware that the friend is the columnist's younger sister. Two of the stories are told from a boy's point of view. The concluding story, "A Letter to My Daughter," in which an absent father gives his daughter his advice about boys and men is sad, poignant, and loving. Flake has a way of teaching a lesson without seeming to do so. Addressing issues and situations that many girls face in today's often complex society, this book is provocative and thought-provoking.-Mary N. Oluonye, Shaker Heights Public Library, OH Copyright 2004 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews