The Ferndale Public Library’s teen patron population is largely made up by African Americans. There is not a dedicated teen librarian and the staff is eager to work this group of patrons. While at the library, most of time the teens use the public access computers, work on their homework, or goof off. It’s important for the reference staff at the library to reach out to the teens. The school they attend in the neighborhood is a feeder school to Lawrence Tech University. The curriculum doesn’t focuses on classic English classes and the students don’t really seem interested in reading much.
Frost, Helen. Keesha’s House. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2003. 116pp.
ISBN 978-0-374-40012-5
Keesha’s House by Helen Frost, a novel in verse, presents the view points of a group of high school students and the adults in their lives. Each of the seven students is faced with a difficult situation. Many of them have lost their homes, left them to protect themselves, or have been kicked out. This book is a quick read. However, the subjects it presents shouldn’t be disregarded.
Frost presents the stories of each teen with traditional forms of poetry: sestina or sonnet. In her notes at the back of the book she says, “The forms are something like houses that allow exploration within their kitchens, living rooms, attics, and basements” (p.113). This is true of each poem. The reader is granted entrance to the dark, hidden parts of each character. There the reader can truly know the characters and empathize with their situations.
Keesha’s house is really Joe’s house. It sits back a ways from the street and has a blue door. Joe lets kids stay there when they don’t have anywhere else to go. He’s returning the favor his aunt granted him when he came to live there as a young boy. Keesha’s father drinks too much. She lives at Joe’s house and tries to look out for her little brother as well as other teens that might need a place to sleep. Her story is sad and hopeful. She truly appreciates Joe’s kindness and hopes to carry on the tradition when she’s grown up.
Stephie comes from a loving family. Her boyfriend Jason is the star of the basketball team. He’s got a scholarship. Everything is perfect, that is, until Stephie learns she’s pregnant. She runs away from home and ends up at Keesha’s house. Dontay’s parents are in jail. He’s living with a foster family but doesn’t feel welcome in their home and runs away. All the teenagers in the novel eventually end up at Keesha’s house. Some stay and some find their way home again.
This novel fully develops the voice of each character. The perspectives of the care givers are also rich with human emotion. Some are concerned because they don’t know where their child is, some are angry with themselves for letting their children leave, and others are ready to fight to help them stay on track. While this novel may not represent every teenager the over arching themes of teen angst, sexual orientation, pregnancy, and abuse will strike a chord with many. The poems are rich with insights into the teen’s feelings and are not bogged down with fancy language or imagery. Reluctant readers will benefit from this books fast paced nature and interesting story lines. Teens will want to know how each character works through their problems and finds their way.
Williams-Garcia, Rita. Jumped. New York: Harper Teen, 2009. 168pp.
ISBN 978-0-06-076091-5
Leticia is a witness, Dominique is the instigator, and Trina is the victim. Over the course of one long school day these three teenagers give their voices to what is happening in their lives. Leticia failed math. This means she has to attend “zero hour”, make up classes which take place before school starts. Dominique is waiting in the parking lot. She has a message to deliver to Mr. Hershheiser. She needs him to raise her grade by five points so she can get off the bench. Coach won’t let her students play if they don’t have a 75 in class. Trina’s at school early so she can turn in her art work. Her artwork is being included in the gallery for Black History Month. She’s strutting through the halls, flying high with recognition, and not paying attention to where she’s going.
This is where the trouble begins. Students aren’t allowed in school before the bell without a pass. Leticia has a pass. Trina has a pass. Dominique and her friends don’t. They push their way past a janitor to get in. Dominique’s discussion with Mr. Hershheiser doesn’t go as well as she wanted. She’s got more to say. Dominique and her friends are walking through the hall, and Trina struts right in between them.
Dominique says, “Some stupid little flit comes skipping down B Corridor like the Easter bunny carrying some rolled-up paper…Cuts right in between us and is like, “Hey” or some shit. Cuts a knife right through my space” (p. 21). Dominique doesn’t like this. Trina will have to pay. Leticia is in the stairway. She see’s Dominique pointing to her friends and punching her fist into her palm. Trina is going to get jumped. Bea, Leticia’s friend tells her she should warn Trina.
The story rotates between the voices of the three girls as they make their way through the school day. Dominique’s anger, Leticia’s indecision, and Trina’s obliviousness pull the reader in. Will Leticia step in? Will Dominique change her mind and leave Trina alone? Will Trina bring her head down from the clouds and realize that something is up?
This quick novel will have teens turning the pages to find out what will happen. Each of the character’s voices is well developed. They each have different views on the world and high school and their opinions are interesting, if at times misguided. Teens can easily identify with these girls and their daily journey through high school.
Smith, Hope Anita. Keeping the Night Watch. New York: Henry Holt and Company, LLC, 2008.
74pp. ISBN 978-0-8050-7202-0
C.J. is the oldest son in the family in this novel in verse. His father left, abandoning the family without reason. Suddenly, he has returned and C.J. is not eager to welcome him back. He’s afraid his father might leave again. In crisp, heartfelt poems, Hope Anita Smith delivers the thoughts of C.J. to readers with care and concern. C.J.’s feelings are justified. His parents seem to recognize this as well and give him space to accept his father back.
This is a short book complimented by beautiful illustrations by E.B. White; however it isn’t something to be skimmed over. The poems are well constructed and filled with anger, concern, longing, and hope. Each time C.J.’s words hit the page the reader can’t help but understand what he must be going through.
As the oldest of three the impact of his father leaving has left him the most hurt. He was able to comprehend how his father’s actions impacted the rest of the family. His younger brother and sister are quicker to welcome their father home. C.J. wants to stay mad. He says, “I am mad / I am the worst kind of mad / I don’t yell / I don’t slam doors / I don’t throw things / I’m a pot with the lid on, / I keep all my mad inside” (p. 16). He knows he’s mad and wants to keep it that way.
This novel presents an interesting aspect of family life. The father keeps his promise and a year passes. He doesn’t leave. C.J. beings to want to forgive his father but he doesn’t know how. His father makes small subtle attempts to reach out to C.J. He doesn’t give up the way the reader might imagine. There is a great message about keeping the line of communication open, even if there isn’t any communication. So often people just give up and harden after they’ve tried as much as they can.
C.J. and his family teach forgiveness. This is an important book to have in any collection. Tweens and teens can certainly find something to relate to in this family’s story. The poems are well written and will keep even the reluctant reader interested. The beautiful illustrations will also help reluctant readers move through this story. They’ll learn the importance of family, forgiveness, and how to step up when the time comes.
Grimes, Nikki. A Girl Named Mister. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2010. 223pp.
ISBN 978-0-310-72078-2
No one calls Mary Rudine by her first name. At first people just called her M.R. but that was quickly changed to Mister. Mister isn’t a typical name for a teenage girl. Nikki Grime’s novel in verse tells the story of Mister and her struggle with the love she finds in God and the love she finds with her boyfriend Trey. At the beginning of this novel the reader learns that Mister isn’t so sure about her relationship with God. She says, “Ankle deep, / my faith a thing / I wade into now and then. / Not like Sethany. / She’s mid-sea / and thinks I’m / right behind her” (p. 19). Something is missing and Mister isn’t sure what it is.
Then Trey comes along. Trey with the amazing eyes starts getting sweet on her. Their relationship develops and soon Trey becomes persistent that they take their relationship to the next level. Mister has promised to wait for marriage. She even has a promise ring to remind her of her vow. But Trey persists and Mister is forced to rethink the one decision she thought she was most clear on.
As a teen novel would have it, Mister becomes pregnant and Trey wants nothing to do with her or the baby. Mister is left alone and lost. She turns to a book of poems her mother loves called Mary, Mary. The book is also in verse and is the story of Mary and Jesus. Grimes combination of Mister’s poems and Mary’s forms an interesting juxtaposition. Mister went against the promise she made to God and feels like she has lost everything. Mary’s unrelenting faith was rewarded by God.
Grimes’ poems are not full of unreachable imagery. The poems are simple and clear. Mister and Mary’s stories are well developed and delivered in a matter that will make it easy for any reader, even the unreligious, to relate to. Reluctant readers will find the fast pace of the story inviting. Mister is struggling to deal with her new state of being and so is Mary. Both young women must navigate their new lives with little help.
Teens will relate to the story, whether they are a young mother or not. Many teens are faced with the same decisions Mister faces in this story. If they aren’t personally affected, many teens know someone who is. The interesting thing about this story is the element of God. Mister struggles with her faith as well as her choices.
Myers, Walter Dean. What they found: Love on 145th Street. New York: Wendy Lamb Books,
2007. 243pp. ISBN 978-0-385-32138-9
In this book of interconnected short stories Walter Dean Myers revisits the block of 145th street to show how love is manifested in many different ways. The groups of characters are family members, friends, acquaintances, and some are meeting for the first time. Their stories rang from the loss of love to finding new love and everywhere in between.
The Evan’s family is the subject of the first story. Noee and Abeni’s father is dying. Before he passes away he wants to ensure that his family will start the family business as planned. Later a young man asks at the corner restaurant about earning extra money to purchase a gun. John Collins offers to pay the young man to ride upstate with him on an errand. The young man agrees and goes along. Mr. Collins takes the young man to the correctional facility where he used to work to meet with one of the inmates.
One of the stories involving Mr. Collins’ son, Billy involves a young single mother in need of a self confidence boost. Abeni’s boyfriend is featured in a story called “Society for the Preservation of Sorry-butt Negroes”. He’s the kind of guy with big ideas but no follow through. Abeni’s friends and family aren’t too fond of him. Abeni has to decide if he’s worth it or not.
Each of the stories in this novel is about love in one way or another. They touch on the importance of family, friends, and standing up for what you believe. High school aged students will connect with the stories in this novel in many ways. They may find parts of their neighborhood represented here; they may find someone they know in these pages. The stories stand out independently but they also work together to make a full novel.
This novel has heart and also touches on the real life situations that many people are dealing with on a daily basis. Some of the characters struggle with joblessness, single parenthood, and loss of a loved one. Some are trying their best to keep their loved ones in love with them. Myer’s collection of short stories will appeal to older teens. However, the short story style can appeal to reluctant readers. These stories are a good mix of love concurred and love lost. Both are important messages that teens aren’t always presented in a realistic way.
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