"Teenage Love Affair" by Ni-Ni Simone

Not since Anne Schraff’s “Someone to Love Me” has teen dating violence been discussed as candidly as it has in “Teenage Love Affair” by Ni-Ni Simone. The story opens with a letter to the readers from the main character Zsa-Zsa, a Newark, New Jersey teen. She explains to the reader in her own words that 'love is good, easy and free but the most important love is for you'. Words spoken from a teen that has seemingly has everything: a closet full of designer clothing, envy of her classmates, her own vehicle and a fine boyfriend Ameen who has a serious swagger that is pure ‘fiyah.’

Zsa-Zsa and her widowed mother have a strained relationship. We learn that instead of her mother spending time with her and her little sister Hadiah, she instead begins to date again and spend time away from the home. To add to her unhappy home life, Zsa-Zsa’s annoying Cousin Shake and Ms Minnie come to live with her family to help ‘bring order in the house.’

When her childhood sweetheart Malachi moves back into her neighborhood and tries to re-kindle their relationship, things become rocky between Zsa-Zsa and Ameen. Ameen becomes jealous of the way Zsa-Zsa looks and feels about the good looking and charismatic Malachi and takes his insecurities out on her. The abuse first begins verbally, and then escalates to physical abuse. Like most teens, Zsa-Zsa’s doesn’t confide in her friends or family members about the abuse until it becomes painfully obvious. After a violent attack by Ameen that leaves her unconscious, both Zsa-Zsa and her mother are forced to face old demons and make changes that will affect their lives. Author Simone reveals that the mother endured years of abuse by her deceased husband and the abuse was witnessed by Zsa-Zsa, Hadiah and her older brother Derrick. The reader watches Zsa-Zsa as she painfully struggles to break free from Ameen’s abuse and influence and begin a loving relationship with Malachi.

New characters, ‘Asha the Diva’ and the ‘Tiny and Toi’ reality show TV lovin’ Courtney round up Zsa-Zsa’s ride-or-die friends. Family members Toi, Seven, a Cousin Shake and his new bride Ms Minnie and provide comic relief to this otherwise sensitive teenage story. This book would be a good choice for a book club because there is a discussion guide at the end of the story that encourages teens to discuss teen love, dating and relationships. The chapters that describe the sexual relations between Zsa-Zsa and Ameen and the sexual tension between Zsa-Zsa and Malachi are not graphic in description but would be more suited for high school library YA collection.

All of Ni-Ni Simone’s books currently appear on the 2010 Quick Pick List for Reluctant Young Adult Readers. I like Simone’s books because they are hip, tackle issues that affect young teens today and have crossover appeal to adult readers. Her latest book, “Teenage Love Affair” is sure to be a hit with teens and I’m sure many more will follow.