Kendra James’ high school education started in the public school system. However, following a series of incidents that didn’t involve her specifically, her parents decided to move her to Taft, a private boarding school. In ADMISSIONS, Kendra writes about her three years of being a Black student there.

At first, Kendra’s notions about boarding school were very romantic, but she didn’t quite understand the racial dynamic. She dreamed of being BFFs with her white roommate, but unfortunately they didn’t see eye to eye on many things. So it didn’t take long for her to realize that the gap between the white students and the students of color was too wide and couldn’t be bridged.

"Although I live in Europe and may not fully grasp all of the issues that James raises here, I found it to be a fascinating read and have learned a lot from it."

Kendra’s memories are bittersweet. While she reminisces about the good times she had with her friends, she also recalls the racism and microaggressions that Taft did not want to address. She provides insight into particular events that were important to her and in some ways shaped her. For example, she writes honestly and passionately about the time she was suspended after being falsely accused of a theft. She reports that the school failed to take action when Black and Latino students were blamed for the segregation on campus. Still, it is worth emphasizing that Kendra is aware of her privileged status and the benefits of an excellent education that Taft offers.

In addition to writing about the racism that Taft never properly dealt with, not to mention the segregation and marginalization under the guise of inclusiveness, Kendra turns the focus on herself. As a teenager, she liked to read a lot, wrote fiction together with her virtual friends, and enjoyed watching movies, especially fantasy flicks. As a result, the book is full of pop-culture references to various TV shows and films from the early 2000s, which I got such a kick out of.

ADMISSIONS is an open and honest social critique of race in the US, as well as the coming-of-age story of a Black girl who is getting an education in a predominantly white boarding school. Taft tries hard to be seen as inclusive, but their administration does not comprehend the depth of injustice and inequality that exists on and outside their campus. Worse, they do not care to understand.

Although I live in Europe and may not fully grasp all of the issues that James raises here, I found it to be a fascinating read and have learned a lot from it.