Keesha's House.KEESHA'S HOUSE. Helen Frost. 2003/2004. Various narrators. 2 tapes. 2.25 hrs. Recorded Books 1-4025-9930-7. $24.95. Vinyl; plot notes. JS* From the March 2003 KLIATT review of the book: "A new addition to the poetry novel genre, [this] is composed of sonnets and sestinas in both traditional and creative structures. Frost uses these forms to introduce us to teens who congregate con·gre·gate tr. & intr.v. con·gre·gat·ed, con·gre·gat·ing, con·gre·gates To bring or come together in a group, crowd, or assembly. See Synonyms at gather. adj. 1. Gathered; assembled. 2. in and around a safe haven 1. Designated area(s) to which noncombatants of the United States Government's responsibility and commercial vehicles and materiel may be evacuated during a domestic or other valid emergency. 2. , a house owned by a man named Joe who 'knows the value' of having a place to stay when your own home has become toxic. Keesha stays there, escaping her drunk, abusive father. Dontay finds his way there when his foster family turns him out. Katie sleeps in a basement room with a lock on the door, safe from the stepfather who doesn't respect boundaries. She brings Harris to the house after finding out he's been living in his car, alienated al·ien·ate tr.v. al·ien·at·ed, al·ien·at·ing, al·ien·ates 1. To cause to become unfriendly or hostile; estrange: alienate a friend; alienate potential supporters by taking extreme positions. from his parents because of his homosexuality ... Alternating voices in six 'verses' and two 'refrains' weave together stories that depict the harsh reality Harsh Reality are a little-known, proto-prog band born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire out of the remnants of the Freightliner Blues Band (formerly the Revolution) in the early sixties. of teenage life ..." Sixteen different readers are utilized in the audio presentation of this poem/novel. Each was selected for having a voice appropriate to one of the seven angry, desperate teens who tell their poignant story or one of the adults, who come across as indifferent, abusive, helpless, or, in a few cases, actually caring. Together they present their side of how they deal with the troubled, frightened teens. This technique of presenting various narrators proves effective as each creates a personality through the voicing of his or her character in the performance of this dramatic, personal first novel. Carol Kellerman, Santa Fe Santa Fe, city, Argentina Santa Fe, city (1991 pop. 341,000), capital of Santa Fe prov., NE Argentina, a river port near the Paraná, with which it is connected by canal. , NM J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescents and their teachers. S--Recommended for senior high school students. *--The asterisk (1) See Asterisk PBX. (2) In programming, the asterisk or "star" symbol (*) means multiplication. For example, 10 * 7 means 10 multiplied by 7. The * is also a key on computer keypads for entering expressions using multiplication. highlights exceptional books. |
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