Kendra
Coe Booth
About this book
"Kendra" by Coe Booth follows the story of a teenage girl grappling with both the challenges of adolescence and her family's struggles in a neighborhood rife with crime and hardship. As Kendra navigates issues of identity, friendship, and resilience, she confronts difficult choices that force her to reconcile her dreams with her reality. The novel is significant for its raw portrayal of urban life and its exploration of themes such as self-acceptance, empowerment, and the impact of environment on youth.
Why it was banned
Listed in PEN America's Index of School Book Bans as banned pending investigation in Escambia County Public Schools, Florida, in August 2023.
Censorship history
United States school ban context: Kendra was listed by PEN America among books banned pending investigation in Escambia County Public Schools in August 2023. Its inclusion is significant because the novel centers a Black teenage girl's interior life, sexuality, and family pressures. In a districtwide removal process already challenged by PEN America and others for disproportionately affecting books about race, sexuality, and LGBTQ+ identity, Kendra illustrates how realistic YA fiction about marginalized youth can be treated as suspect rather than educationally relevant.
Bans
| Country | Year | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 2024 | ViolenceRacialMoral |