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Coe Booth

コー・ブース

Coe Booth

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
New York City
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
The Bronx, New York → Basel, Switzerland

Career

Occupations
Writer, College professor, Social worker
Active Years
2006-
Affiliations
Bronx Community College (faculty), NAACP ACT-SO (volunteer mentor), Laurenz Haus (writer-in-residence, Basel)

Education

Unknown institution (undergraduate/graduate)
Psychology
Degree: BA; MA
Year of Graduation: 1996
Country: United States
Reported to have earned a BA and MA in psychology in 1996 (specific institution not cited in source summary).
The New School
Creative Writing (MFA)
Degree: MFA
Period: 2004-2005
Year of Graduation: 2005
Country: United States
Completed an MFA program in creative writing in 2005.

Awards

Los Angeles Times Book Prize (Young Adult Novel)
2006
Work: Tyrell
Category: Young Adult Novel
Organization: Los Angeles Times
Result: Winner
Junior Library Guild selection
2011
Work: Bronxwood
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selection
Junior Library Guild selection
2014
Work: Kinda Like Brothers
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selection
Junior Library Guild selection
2022
Work: Caprice
Organization: Junior Library Guild
Result: Selection
Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers (ALA)
2007
Work: Tyrell
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Included
Best Books for Young Adults (ALA)
2007
Work: Tyrell
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Included
ALSC Notable Children's Books
2015
Work: Kinda Like Brothers
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)
Result: Included
BCALA / Chicago Public Library Kids Best of the Best
2022
Work: Caprice
Organization: Black Caucus of the American Library Association / Chicago Public Library
Result: Included
Booklist top selections
2007
Work: Tyrell
Category: Top Ten/First Novels for Youth
Organization: Booklist
Result: Included

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Tyrell

2006 Young adult / Realistic fiction

A young-adult novel following Tyrell in New York, dealing with poverty, violence, and complex family relationships — a story of struggle and growth.

urban youthpovertyfamilyviolence and survival

Kendra

2010 Young adult / Realistic fiction

From the perspective of adolescent Kendra, this book explores family issues, friendship, and identity.

adolescencefamily issuesidentity

Bronxwood

2011 Young adult / Linked stories

Set in the Bronx, the novel presents multiple youths' perspectives to depict community, family, and coming of age.

communitycoming of agediverse youth voices

Kinda Like Brothers

2014 Young adult / Youth fiction

A story about two boys forming a bond within the foster-care system; themes include redefining family, friendship, and identity.

foster carefriendshipredefining family

Caprice

2022 Children's / Young adult-leaning

Follows young protagonist Caprice through growth and self-discovery; a recent work that has received critical attention.

growthself-discoveryfamily

Bibliography

  • Tyrell
  • Kendra
  • Bronxwood
  • Kinda Like Brothers
  • Caprice
  • Short story 'Gravity' (included in anthology 'Black Enough')
  • Contributor: This is Push: New Voices from The Edge (anthology)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
plain yet powerful narrative voicerealistic depictionraw portrayals from youth perspectives
Recurring Motifs
urban life (the Bronx)complex family dynamicsidentity and belongingimpact of systems (foster care, social services)

Legacy

Coe Booth is recognized for powerful portrayals of urban youth (notably the Bronx). Her debut Tyrell received critical acclaim and has been both widely collected and frequently challenged in library contexts. She has influence in educational circles and YA literature, with multiple selections on notable lists.

Academic Societies

  • American Library Association (appears in multiple ALA lists)
  • Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC)

In Popular Culture

  • Tyrell included in Time's '100 Best YA Books of All Time'
  • Repeated appearances on school and library recommended lists

Trivia

  • Her debut Tyrell won awards but has also been frequently challenged in U.S. libraries.
  • Raised in the Bronx; experience as a social worker in New York informed her early work.
  • Has served as a writer-in-residence at Laurenz Haus in Basel (noted in some sources).
  • Volunteers as a mentor for teenage writers in NAACP ACT-SO programs (reported).