"Reminiscent of Toni Morrison's The Bluest Eye." --The New York
Times
"One of the best books I have ever read...will live in the hearts of
readers for the rest of their lives." --Colby Sharp, founder of Nerdy
Book Club
"An emotional, painful, yet still hopeful adolescent journey...one
that needed telling." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"I really loved this." --Sharon M. Draper, author of the New York
Times bestseller Out of My Mind
This deeply sensitive and "compelling" (BCCB) debut novel tells the
story of a thirteen-year-old who must overcome internalized racism and a
verbally abusive family to finally learn to love herself.
There are ninety-six reasons why thirteen-year-old Genesis dislikes
herself. She knows the exact number because she keeps a list:
-Because her family is always being put out of their house.
-Because her dad has a gambling problem. And maybe a drinking problem
too.
-Because Genesis knows this is all her fault.
-Because she wasn't born looking like Mama.
-Because she is too black.
Genesis is determined to fix her family, and she's willing to try
anything to do so...even if it means harming herself in the process. But
when Genesis starts to find a thing or two she actually likes about
herself, she discovers that changing her own attitude is the first step
in helping change others.