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Tyrell

(2006, Fiction - Contemporary Fiction, Written by Coe Booth)
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

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    Not age appropriate for kids under 15, age appropriate for kids over 99; suggested age 15.
  • Is it any good?

    4.0
  • Common Sense says

    Lauded debut is a gritty portrait of homelessness.

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 15–18

What to watch out for

  • Messages:

    Most of the characters engage in criminal activity of one kind or another, including stealing, selling drugs, bootleg CDs and DVDs, alcohol to minors, prostitution, welfare fraud, and criminal trespass. The main character, though skipping school and engaging in a variety of petty crime to survive, draws the line at drug dealing, despite pressure from his mother.
  • Violence:

    Some fights, spouse abuse, discussions of why women sometimes need to be beaten.
  • Sex:

    None described, but young teens (13 and up) have sex, oral sex, masturbate, make out, strip, do lap dances. Adults leer at teens and have sexual encounters with them. Prostitution and pimping.
  • Language:

    Use of four-letter words and other swearing (including the n-word) is near constant.
  • Consumerism:

    Several fast food restaurants mentioned repeatedly, electronics brands, video game consoles.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Characters, including teens, smoke tobacco and marijuana, drink and get drunk; references to harder drugs; a parent encourages her son to sell drugs (he refuses).
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Tyrell

Parents need to know that this book is strictly for older teens. It is loaded with sex, language, and drugs, all of which are engaged in by the main character, who is 15. Swearing (including the "N" word) is frequent, as are sexual encounters between teens and sometimes between teens and adults. Most of the characters, including the main character and his mother, use marijuana, tobacco, and alcohol, and some secondary characters use and sell harder drugs; adults (including parents) give alcohol and marijuana to minors.

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Families Can Talk About

  • Families can talk about Tyrell's situation. Are there any better ways out for him? What are his values and how does he hold on to them? Which of his decisions are just plain wrong, and which are the best he can do in his circumstances?

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Our Members Say

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  • What did you think about Tyrell?
  •  I think this book is

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See all 14 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    I rate this title off for age 10 and give it 3.0
    My concerns are:
    • Excessive violence
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language

    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    its oka for kids but they need to be in thier preteens

  2. Teen Reviewer Age 17
    I rate this title iffy for age 13 and give it 5.0

    many people can relate

    i love this book. im 13 but i relate to almost everything in this book. i would recomend this book to any age child that is in any type of situation as the characters in the book or me. to tell the truth this is my favorite and best book i have ever layed eyes on!!!!!! I LOVE THIS BOOK!i jus got done finishin readin it a week and a half ago and its like all i wanted to do was keep readin and readin and readin even in the tub.... it made me really upset win i had to stop........

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Nice book : )

    I absolutely love this book : ) I just got done reading it last week and was soo mad when I finished it because i did not want to put it down. I hope there is a sequel or something. I do not recommend 12 yr olds and under to read this book though.

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    I rate this title on for age 14 and give it 5.0
    • My highlights are:
    • Positive messages

    Perfect for teens

    I loved this book it showed me what sum ppl are going thur

  5. Adult Reviewer
    Lives in Virginia
    I rate this title on for age 15 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Negative message

    older kids

    I'm 17 and i think this book is good for older teens because the use of: drugs, drinking, Domestic violence,under age sex, stealing, runnaways, to many four letter words,and welfare fraud. the mom want him to sell drugs but he does not so there is NO positve message the father in jail for illegal drugs and giving them to minors along with beer but overall if your looking for a good book this is one!

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