Cover

Praise for Conception

“The work of a gifted young novelist.”

—The Washington Post

“Readers … are richly rewarded.”

—Chicago Sun-Times

“A poignant, heart-wrenching novel.”

—Kirkus Reviews

“[H]eartfelt and affecting.”

—Booklist

“Much like her acclaimed debut novel Upstate, Buckhanon is again at her best.”

—Mosaic literary magazine

Praise for Upstate

“A moving and uplifting story of love and hope in the face of adversity.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Upstate starts out strong and never lets go.”

—Chicago Tribune

“A realistic love story that’s set against an urban backdrop as gritty as its characters are memorable.”

—People

“A sensitive portrayal of young lovers that moves beyond gritty urban fiction.”

—Essence

“Captures the faithfulness and tenacity of young love.”

—Entertainment Weekly

“Packs a swift, head-clearing emotional punch.”

—Elle magazine

“Filled with tragedy, despair, and hope.”

—Toronto Sun

“A gripping narrative and a thoroughly good cry … truly original.”

—Evening Standard (UK)

“A brilliantly raw debut novel.”

—Uptown magazine

“Wild and beautiful.”

—Sapphire, author of Push

“A literary gem.”

—E. Lynn Harris, author of
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted

Other Books by this Author

ALSO BY KALISHA BUCKHANON

UPSTATE

Title Page

KALISHA BUCKHANON

CONCEPTION

ST. MARTIN’S GRIFFIN NEW YORK

Copyright

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

CONCEPTION. Copyright © 2008 by Kalisha Buckhanon. All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. For information, address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.

Design by Dylan Rosal Greif

The Library of Congress has catalogued the hardcover edition as follows:

Buckhanon, Kalisha, 1977–
   Conception / Kalisha Buckhanon.—1st ed.
        p. cm.
   ISBN-13: 978-0-312-33270-9
   ISBN-10: 0-312-33270-X
   1. Teenage pregnancy—Fiction. 2. African American women—Fiction. I. Title.

PS3602.U264C66 2008
813′.6—dc22

2007040441

ISBN-13: 978-0-312-54514-7 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-312-54514-2 (pbk.)

First St. Martin’s Griffin Edition: February 2009

10  9  8  7  6  5  4  3  2  1

Dedication

For Brenae, Isaiah, and Jaylyn

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

My agent, Tracy Sherrod, I love you! Monique Patterson: I love you too, and thank you for being patient with me as I attempted to write this novel! Thank you to her assistant editor, Kia DuPree, for jumping on board and loving this book. I’d also like to thank the following for providing a quiet place to write: Andrea Holmes, in whose Bronx co-op I “accidentally” wrote the first chapter of this book; Robyn Gorbett, whose isolated Thawville, Illinois, trailer forced me to finally get into it; and the wonderful staff of the Orrington Hotel in Evanston, Illinois, in whose charming hotel I was able to achieve that first temporary ending. And a very special thanks to my manager, Felicia Pride, without whose assistance I may have never been able to get my life together in order to finish this book. I’d like to thank friends Erica Botts, Billie Burrell, Judith Trytten, Joseph DeLouise, Rob Walker, Erica McClendon, Ebony Madison, and Tara Betts for many reasons that they know of.