Damaged [Paperback]

Kia DuPree (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2010

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.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dupree's debut offers readers an unvarnished look at the troubled, violence-filled lives of inner-city youth in Washington, D.C., frequently through the eyes and experiences of Camille Logan. Ten-year-old Camille is placed with the Brinkleys, yet another foster family, where she suffers extreme mental and sexual abuse for years, until she's rescued by Chu, a low-level drug dealer who actually loves and looks after her. But when Chu is murdered in a drug deal gone wrong, Camille makes a desperate choice to join a cruel pimp's stable, where she faces her situation and struggles to change her life. DuPree displays an excellent ear for the dialogue, thinking, music and worldviews of her young characters and a talent for setting: the grimy streets, rundown hotels, beatup houses, sweaty house parties and clubs feel real and far above standard street lit. But the ending falls short, as though the author has a sequel in mind. (Jan.)
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Review

"This was a great first novel... [I] hated to see the book come to an end." (Tracy Brown, Essence bestselling author of WHITE LINES on ROBBING PETER )

"Full of twists and turns and a heart wrenching surprise ending ROBBING PETER is definitely a book that needs to be read." (RAWSISTAZReviewers on ROBBING PETER )

"Kia DuPree hits the ground running with this one. Readers will be drawn into the drama of Camille's young life, anxious to see what happens next. A page turner and intense read, this dramatic story will keep you guessing." (J.D. Mason, national bestselling author )

"Kia DuPree enters the literary game with her pen blazing in this unforgettable tale of a woman's determination to overcome her obstacles and not become damaged." (Joy (Deja) King, national bestselling author )



"Kia DuPree's literary voice sings in this beautifully written story of a young lady's tumultuous life. Easily the best book I've read this year!" (Tracy Brown, Essence Bestselling author )

"Kia DuPree has created a page turner, with characters so real, so vivid, they literally jump off the page. As you read, you feel every struggle, every emotion, the joy, pain, happiness, and sorrow. I had to keep reminding myself that I was reading a work of fiction!" (Mari Walker, Essence Bestselling author )

"In Kia DuPree's sophomore novel Damaged, she really showed readers what she could do with a pen. I'm proud of you kid!" (K'wan, Essence #1 Bestselling author of Gangsta, Gutter & Section 8 )

"...knockout of a story...raw, gritty, uncompromising realism, telling like it is honestly and well. Dupree is an author to watch." (Library Journal )

"Dupree displays an excellent ear for the dialogue, thinking, music and world views of her young characters and a talent for setting...far above standard street lit..." (Publishers Weekly )

"[DAMAGED is a] riveting story from a new and talented author." (The Gazette )

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Grand Central Publishing; Original edition (January 26, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446547751
• ISBN-13: 978-0446547758
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.8 x 8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,132,971 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kia DuPree grew up in Southeast, Washington, D.C. in one of the poorest areas of the city with her mom, five of her six brothers and with one of her two sisters. Yes, she comes from a big family. But it is from this very background where Kia pulls many of her story ideas. This former college English instructor loves to explore the complex relationships between families in her writing. She received the Fiction Honor Book Award from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association for her debut novel Robbing Peter in 2005, a story whose theme centers around fatherless households. Kia's short story, "Lost One", was included in national bestselling author Shannon Holmes' anthology Hood 2 Hood, in 2008. She received a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, an M.A. in English from Old Dominion University and a Professional Studies Publishing Certificate from New York University. Kia lives in Washington, D.C. with her family.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars dark, gritty and profound, January 30, 2010

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Damaged (Paperback)

In Washington, D.C. ten years old Camille Logan is placed with her latest foster family as part of a swinging door system that ignores the welfare of the child once placed because the social services' workload is overwhelming. Over the next few years, she is abused and sexually molested. The system never bothers to take a look at Camille or her care providers as she is out of sight and therefore out of mind.

Drug dealer Chu is disgusted with what he sees happening to Camille and takes her into his home. He takes care of her until he is murdered in a drug deal. Camille desperately decides to become a hooker working for a nasty abusive pimp, which makes her wonder if she has other options to get off the mean streets of DC.

Damaged is a dark, gritty and profound look at life in DC when a poor youth is caught up in the foster care system and consequently the streets. The cycle seems inevitable though Camille hopes to break out. Although the climax fails to live up to a moving character driven story line that captures the essence of surviving in America's urban jungle, fans will appreciate Kia DuPree's powerful inner city hustle; the perfect capitalism system as anyone is for sale on the open market with no tax or surcharge; just supply and demand.

Harriet Klausner

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't Put It Down!!!, January 26, 2010

By 

DB_DIVA (Cheltenham, MD) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Damaged (Paperback)

Not only was this an enjoyable read but a definite page turner! The character developments were wonderful and the author gives enough information on the characters to feel emotions for/with them. Without giving away any of its plots -- Damaged isn't just about prostitution, drugs, guns, materialistic things and getting paid. It's a telling of how street life, in general, can change the lives of the most innocent. This book is the story of how life can throw you curve balls and how you can make the best (or worst) of them. This is the second book by Ms. Kia DuPree that I've enjoyed reading and I look for her to keep them coming!! ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 2010 Best Read, April 3, 2010

By 

Evelyn D. Lowe (Washington, DC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Damaged (Paperback)

I won't give the story away but all i can say is WOW. Certainly an easy read and a page turner. Ending was also good. Check it out for yourself.....