Bronx native Coe Booth astonished readers with her powerful debut novel Tyrell, winner of the Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Young Adult Fiction. The New York Times called Tyrell a, “gritty and gripping first novel,” and in a starred review School Library Journal raved, “This is a thrilling, fast-paced novel whose strong plot and array of vivid, well-developed characters take readers on an unforgettable journey through the gritty streets of New York City's South Bronx.”
Coe Booth has been writing since she was in second grade. “Of course, back then my novels were just loose-leaf paper stapled together,” says Coe, “but the stories were mine and I was proud of them.” While she was in college, Coe held many jobs, among them teaching creative writing and video production to children and teens. “My favorite job at that time was teaching memoir writing to senior citizens,” she states. “I loved hearing all about their lives: growing up in the Bronx back in the 30s and 40s, their first loves, and all about how they had to fight to overcome racial discrimination back then. They had real powerful stories to write about.” After she graduated from college, Coe started working with teenagers and families in crisis. “A lot of the teens I worked with were homeless, involved with gangs, or addicted to drugs,” she says. “Some were victims of child abuse and neglect. It was a tough job, but I was always impressed by the teens’ survival skills.”
About her latest title Kendra, Coe says, “I wanted to write about the complicated choices one teenager makes—and the lengths she goes to just to feel wanted.” In a starred review, School Library Journal said, “From Bronx blocks to Harlem hangouts, Booth delivers dynamic characters and an engaging story.”
In fall 2011, Coe Booth will return readers to Tyrell’s world in her upcoming novel Bronxwood.
Coe Booth has been writing since she was in second grade. “Of course, back then my novels were just loose-leaf paper stapled together,” says Coe, “but the stories were mine and I was proud of them.” While she was in college, Coe held many jobs, among them teaching creative writing and video production to children and teens. “My favorite job at that time was teaching memoir writing to senior citizens,” she states. “I loved hearing all about their lives: growing up in the Bronx back in the 30s and 40s, their first loves, and all about how they had to fight to overcome racial discrimination back then. They had real powerful stories to write about.” After she graduated from college, Coe started working with teenagers and families in crisis. “A lot of the teens I worked with were homeless, involved with gangs, or addicted to drugs,” she says. “Some were victims of child abuse and neglect. It was a tough job, but I was always impressed by the teens’ survival skills.”
About her latest title Kendra, Coe says, “I wanted to write about the complicated choices one teenager makes—and the lengths she goes to just to feel wanted.” In a starred review, School Library Journal said, “From Bronx blocks to Harlem hangouts, Booth delivers dynamic characters and an engaging story.”
In fall 2011, Coe Booth will return readers to Tyrell’s world in her upcoming novel Bronxwood.
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