Shattered

by Kia DuPree

Overview

From award-winning author Kia DuPree, hailed for her emotionally complex characters and breakneck pacing, comes a propulsive and compelling novel about a young girl navigating the dangerous underbelly of the foster care system. 

Kiki's world is turned upside down when her partially deaf mother loses custody of her children, sending Kiki and her siblings into foster care. After running away with a friend, the two run straight into the arms of a pedophile in disguise, who lures the two girls into a life far too mature for their twelve-year-old minds. Held in captivity for months, the girls are finally set free when a neighbor exposes them. But what should have been a happy moment for Kiki actually sends her on a life path that quickly spirals out of control.
 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780446547772
Publisher:	Grand Central Publishing
Publication date:	10/23/2012
Pages:	384
Sales rank:	1,122,302
Product dimensions:	5.25(w) x 8.00(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Kia DuPree, a native of Washington, D.C., holds a B.A. in Mass Media Arts from Hampton University, as well as an M.A. in English from Old Dominion University. She received a Professional Studies Publishing Certificate from New York University in 2006. She is currently teaching middle school and lives with her husband and son in the DC area.

Editorial Reviews

In this gritty follow up to 2010's Damaged, DuPree tells the story of Shakira, known as KiKi. Starting near the end of the story and working back, the author makes it clear that KiKi will eventually extricate herself from difficult circumstances before illustrating them in heartbreaking detail. The novel opens with an unexpected reunion between KiKi and fellow former foster child Nausynika, or Nausy, now working with at-risk youth. The two had landed in the same foster home when Washington, D.C., social workers split up KiKi's family after cops found drugs that were hidden in a sibling's diaper bag by her mom's boyfriend. But after the middle-school girls are caught exploring each other sexually, they run away rather than risk being separated. In no-holds-barred flashbacks, readers live the soul-shattering experiences that follow—including prostitution, drug use, incest, rape, and physical abuse. DuPree skillfully describes the after-effects while demonstrating KiKi's strength and courage and her simple desire for a normal life. A riveting book that should be required reading for understanding at-risk youth. Agent: Victoria Sanders & Associates. (Oct.)

Publishers Weekly

"In no-holds-barred flashbacks, readers live the soul-shattering experiences that follow—including prostitution, drug use, incest, rape, and physical abuse. DuPree skillfully describes the after-effects while demonstrating KiKi's strength and courage and her simple desire for a normal life. A riveting book that should be required reading for understanding at-risk youth."—Publishers Weekly on SHATTERED

"Every page of this novel is intriguing and entertaining. This is the type of book that should be read in high schools across the county. It has the ability to make us look at one another similarly, and maybe, even for a brief amount of time, allow us to see past cultural differences and try to understand and change the flaws that plague our society...together."—SUAVV Magazine on SILENCED

"DuPree's knack for dialogue and her insight and compassion for her characters inspire the reader's empathy-an outstanding achievement."—Publishers Weekly on SILENCED

"This novel is the real deal. Folks seeking a title for an urban book club need look no further. Its inner city realism compares favorably with Sister Souljah's The Coldest Winter Ever and Sapphire's Push. This is easily one of my top-five fiction books of 2011. Buy it...promote it."—LibraryJournal.com on SILENCED

"This is a powerful family drama as Kia Dupree provides profound insight into the other side of living in DC. The cast is fully developed especially the Hampton brood whose life in the projects comes across as perilous while also emotionally wringing. Rotating perspective between mother and daughter, Silenced is a raw deep look at surviving the mean streets of a Washington in which politicians prefer to pretend it does not exist."—Harriet Klausner on SILENCED

"Honest and heartbreakingly intense best describes Kia DuPree's new novel Silenced...DuPree scores another win in the urban realism department."—www.digg.com on SILENCED

"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 on DAMAGED

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

"[Damaged is a] riveting story from a new and talented author."—The Gazette on DAMAGED

"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 on DAMAGED

"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 on DAMAGED

"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 on DAMAGED

"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 on DAMAGED

"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 on DAMAGED

From the Publisher

"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

"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

"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

"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

"[Damaged is a] riveting story from a new and talented author."

The Gazette on DAMAGED

"Honest and heartbreakingly intense best describes Kia DuPree's new novel Silenced...DuPree scores another win in the urban realism department."

www.digg.com on SILENCED

"This is a powerful family drama as Kia Dupree provides profound insight into the other side of living in DC. The cast is fully developed especially the Hampton brood whose life in the projects comes across as perilous while also emotionally wringing. Rotating perspective between mother and daughter, Silenced is a raw deep look at surviving the mean streets of a Washington in which politicians prefer to pretend it does not exist."

Harriet Klausner on SILENCED

"Every page of this novel is intriguing and entertaining. This is the type of book that should be read in high schools across the county. It has the ability to make us look at one another similarly, and maybe, even for a brief amount of time, allow us to see past cultural differences and try to understand and change the flaws that plague our society...together."

SUAVV Magazine on SILENCED

"This novel is the real deal. Folks seeking a title for an urban book club need look no further. Its inner city realism compares favorably with Sister Souljah's The Coldest Winter Ever and Sapphire's Push. This is easily one of my top-five fiction books of 2011. Buy it...promote it."

LibraryJournal.com on SILENCED