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Tutored | LitPick Book Reviews
Tutored
Tutored
Tutored
Allison Whittenberg
Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell are at opposite ends of the spectrum—the social spectrum, the financial spectrum, the opportunity spectrum, you name it. Wendy lives in an all-white suburb of Philadelphia, where she’s always felt like the only chip in the cookie. Her dad, who fought his way out of the ghetto, doesn’t want her mingling with “those people.” In fact, all Wendy’s life, her father has told her how terrible “those people” are. He even objects to Wendy’s plan to attend a historically black college. But Wendy feels that her race is more than just the color of her skin, and she takes a job tutoring at an inner-city community center to get a more diverse perspective on life. Hakiam has never lived in one place for more than a couple of years. When he aged out of foster care in Ohio, he hopped a bus to Philly to start over, but now he’s broke, stuck taking care of his cousin’s premature baby for no pay, and finding it harder than ever to stay out of trouble. When he meets Wendy at the tutoring center, he thinks she’s an uppity snob—she can’t possibly understand his life. But as he gets to know her better, he sees a softer side. And eventually—much to the chagrin of Wendy’s father and Hakiam’s cousin—they begin a rocky, but ultimately enlightening, romance. This edgy story about a star-crossed couple features strong African American characters and sparkles with smart, quirky dialogue and fresh observations on social pressures and black-on-black prejudice.

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Romance

Age Level: 

  • 12 and up
Profile Picture

Tutored by Allison Whittenberg is about the relationship between Wendy Anderson and Hakiam Powell. Wendy is an African-American girl who grew up in an all white suburb in Philadelphia. She has always felt as if she was the "only chip in the cookie." Hakiam is an African-American boy who is from the "ghetto," as Wendys father would say. He grew up living rough in Cincinnati and has come to Philadelphia to make a fresh start. He lives with his cousin and helps take care of her premature daughter. Wendy meets Hakiam when she volunteers at a community center, tutoring.

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