Customer Reviews

Tyrell

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this book for my son. He read the first page and wouldn't put it down. He finished it in two days and even read it while snacking at the table. Clearly an absorbing story, I highly recommend this book for your teenaged boy, especially those who have trouble finding an engaging read.
Slightly adult content but okay for older teens.

Coe Booth's first novel, TYRELL, is a masterfully written, gritty reality check of urban life through the eyes of a heavily burdened fifteen-year-old. After his father is sentenced to prison (for the third time), it is up to Tyrell Green to take care of both his deranged mother and his seven-year-old brother, Troy. But Tyrell is only fifteen! Not only is he living in a completely run-down shelter, but he is broke, out of school, and struggling for some way to earn money to get his mom and brother out of shelter care and into an apartment of their own.

In a place like the Bronx, it is easy for young adults to get caught up in a life of crime. Tyrell knows this, but is also a man of principle (for the most part, at least). Refusing to earn his quick buck through such shady sources as drug dealing, he originates a plan to get the money he needs to get things back to the way they were. The question of whether it will work, or whether it will blow up in his face....you'll have to read TYRELL to find out (but it's worth it!)

The great thing about TYRELL is that Coe Booth keeps the pressure on at all times. Real life drama is quilted into the novel until the very end, and it is both humbling and very entertaining to read. She also incorporates real urban vernacular (e.g. "slang") to create an extremely real and convincing narrative.

Coe Booth creates an atmosphere so believable it's impossible not to walk away after reading the novel and not have taken something with you. The characters experience the lowest of lows, the highest of highs, and everything in-between throughout the course of the story--and it doesn't stop until the very end. Dripping from head to toe with sharp turns and very surprising climaxes, it's sure to keep you consumed until the last page.

It's a lot to pack into a story, but Booth does it gracefully and with extraordinary skill. I praise Ms. Booth's first novel and am waiting anxiously for the next.

Plus, she's a PUSH novelist, and it doesn't get much better than PUSH!

Reviewed by: Long Nguyen

THE BOOK TYRELL IS ABOUT HIM,HIS MOTHER, HIS LITTLE BROTHER TROY, HIS FATHER, AND HIS GIRLFRIEND NOVISHA.TYRELL LIVES IN A SHELTER WITH HIS MOTHER AND HIS FATHER IS IN JAIL. TYRELL IS TRYING TO GET HIS FAMILY OUT THE SHELTER, SO HIM AND HIS BEST FRIEND CAL IS PLANING TO THROW PARTIES SO HE CAN MAKE MONEY.HIM AND HIS BROTHER DON'T HAVE ANY CLOTHES AND THEY BE COLD DURING THE WINTER.SOMETIMES NOVISHA MOTHER BE TAKING CARE OF TYRELL AND HIS FAMILY BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE MONEY OR FOOD TO EAT EACH NIGHT.TYRELL DOESN'T GO TO SCHOOL AND HES TRYING TO TAKE CARE IF HIS FAMILY AND ALSO NOVISHA AT THE SAME TIME.TYRELL MOTHER PUT TROY IN SPECIAL ED SO HE CAN GET AN SSI CHECK EVERY MONTH.THERES NOTHING WRONG WITH TROY BUT SHE WANTS THE SCHOOL TO THINK THAT SOMETHING WRONG WITH HIM SO HE CAN STILL GET HIS CHECK.TYRELL BECOMES REALLY CLOSE TO THIS GIRL NAME JASMINE THAT HE MET AT THE SHELTER BENNETT WHERE THEY BOTH LIVE AT.JASMINE HAD LIKE TYRELL SINCE THE FIRST DAY SHE SEEN HIM.THEY BE HANGING OUT SOMETIMES AND SHES BEEN TAKING CARE OF TROY WHEN HIS MOTHER WOULD LEAVE HIM IN THE HOUSE BY HISSELF. STARASIA

I read Tyrell in one day--I couldn't stop reading. This book accurately reflects culture, language, history, and values of an African American family living in a homeless shelter in NY. Some of my favorite issues in the book include: adolescence, relationships with family and friends, foster care system, homeless/poverty, keeping secrets, and struggling to stay in school.

On p. 127 Tyrell shares what teachers and school did for him. This was heartbreaking but true for many students across America.

I will definitely share this book with high school students (Grades 9-12) and encourage them to read it.

Tyrell is basically a good kid, but at 15 years old has to deal with some adult responsibilities. His father is in jail and his mother is completely worthless, so Tyrell is the only hope his younger brother has for a decent life. When they get evicted, the family is placed in a roach-infested motel until more suitable housing becomes available. Tyrell's mother takes no responsibility for her own children, and even goes so far as to expect Tyrell to deal drugs in order to make enough money to support the family. Tyrell is determined not to end up in jail like his dad, and comes up with his own money making scheme. Meanwhile, his girlfriend, Novisha, and another homeless teen, Jasmine, send a few more challenges his way.

I didn't love this book, but it was extremely popular in my classroom, even with reluctant readers.

Drug use, language, and sexual situations make it more appropriate for mature readers.

Character authentic dialogue and youthful voices that you can hear, Tyrell is a realistic, contemporary first novel. Kids will love that the characters sound "right" while adults might struggle reading the dialect. The book has been very popular and well read by my older students...a little racy for those under 13-14 if not really mature.

wow, just wow i was blown away by this book, u must buy this, and im VERY serious. so realistic iv read this book so many times and every person i have recommended it to loved it as much as i did.

Tyrell is a wonderful book and it takes place in the New York City's South Bronx. Tyrell is one of the main characters in the book. He is just a young boy not even over 17 years old, who has taken a break off of school to get his family back together. As Tyrell tries to get his little brother, mother, and himself back into a place to stay, he faces many problems. His family has to stay in a hotel where the shelter placed them because they don't have enough room for them. The hotel is a dirty place where roaches run free and people pee in the elevator. The weather doesn't make it no better, as he struggles with the falling apart of his family he fights the weather to go outside each day to make enough money so they can eat. He also tries to raise money for them to get they own apartment but he refused to sell drugs to get the money, even through his lazy selfish mom try to drive him in that direction so she can got out of the shelter. She blames him for letting them get put in the shelter; she also blames him that they have to stay in that hotel. She refuses to take responsibly for any of it herself. Tyrell also has a girlfriend who helps him to stay on the right path but as the story unfolds he becomes more and more unfaithful to her, he tries his hardest but he is slowly pulled apart from her as the book goes on. He comes up with a plan to throw a party like his dad used to do before he was locked up. His dad through the best parties and made great money from it, when his dad wasn't in jail he kept them together and kept them living nice and he wish he can do the same. He hopes that his party will help him get the money he needs to get his family out of that hotel safely and into a nice apartment.
I enjoyed reading this book. Even through I don't read a lot I found myself on the edge of my seat waiting and wanting to see what happens next. The story line is so easy to follow and the moral be hide the story is easily understood and is reflected in the book. I would rate this book four stars and if you like young adult fiction I think you would actually happen to enjoy this is a great book. It's a fiction book with a little family saga thrown in the mix I would say. This book also gives you great insight on how kids think and how they react to certain situations. It might not be the exact situation but it's easy to relate to. I would say Coe aimed this book to young adult males but I recommend both genders to read it. In this book it does have rated R moments at time but it's not graphic. Coe uses young adult slag to show how we younger kids talk. Tyrell is very well written and the climax of the story would leave you speechless (in a great way). I enjoyed reading this book and I hope you will too. This book was worth every penny. I hope this review was a great brief summary that will help you get a basic look on the book and after, if you chose to read it you can come back and rate this review. If you feel I left out something that a reader would like to know you can comment and leave what you feel I am missing or you can create your own review but thanks for reading and I hope you have a wonderful day.

I'm a high school teacher who teaches reluctant readers. This book, along with Paranoid Park by Blake Nelson, is one of the first books a lot of my students have ever read.

I have read this book about five times, and I am very attached to the character of Tyrell. I feel like he's a real person, and when you feel that a character is real, for me that's one of the indicators that the book is excellent.

I won't rehash the plot, but I'll just mention what I loved about the book:

--Language and situations were completely realistic. More conservative parents and teachers may want to avoid this book, but for me, this is one of the things that makes this book so incredible and special.

--The descriptions of the settings were unbelievable (in a good way.) Whether I was at Tyrell's homeless shelter, his girlfriend's house, or at a party he was DJing, I could imagine myself there.

--Tyrell was a very well developed character. Booth is not afraid to make him sweet and vulnerable, yet tough and dark at the same time.

--As an aspiring YA Urban author myself, this book was a real inspiration to me. It is obvious that it was a true labor of love for Booth. No YA book has affected me in the way that Tyrell has.

I said to myself I was going to stop reading these "young adult" books as a few of the others I had read - I just didn't enjoy them that much, but I'm happy, I picked up this book. It's a story about a 15 year old boy who basically has to become an adult by force, he had no choice. He had responsibilities that a "normal" 15 year old boy shouldn't even have to worry about at that age. For a first novel, I think Coe Booth did a great job. The pace of the story was just right and at times you would feel like you are a part of the story. I think this is another one of these stories that make you grateful for being in fortunate situations, unlike the protagonist. Towards the end of the story, that is when it hit me. This story is really ending, I was like "There better be a sequel!" and to my knowledge, there will be , so I am definitely going to be getting it. I think this is like my 3rd favorite book so far, for real, it's a really good book.