McDonald, Janet. Twists and turns.McDONALD, Janet Janet: see Clouet, Jean. JANET - Joint Academic NETwork . Twists and turns. Farrar Far·rar , Geraldine 1882-1967. American operatic soprano. A member of the Metropolitan Opera of New York (1906-1922), she was noted for her roles in Carmen and Madame Butterfly. , Straus Straus (strous), family of American merchants, public officials, and philanthropists. Isidor Straus, 1845–1912, b. Rhenish Bavaria, emigrated (1854) with his brothers to the United States in order to join their father, Lazarus and Giroux. 135p. c2003. 0-374-40006-7. $6.95. JS To quote the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, July 2003: This short YA novel is jam-packed with energy as two sisters get the courage to borrow money and begin a business doing people's hair (twists and turns, creating braids) in their Brooklyn neighborhood. Keeba and Teesha are graduating from high school--they have managed to avoid drugs and pregnancy, unlike so many of their classmates--but it takes a tremendous push to get them to believe in themselves enough to start their own business. A girlfriend who has some money through her singing (Aisha from Chill Wind) lends them thousands of dollars, enough for renting space and buying equipment for a beauty salon Salon, annual exhibition of art works chosen by jury and presented by the French Academy since 1737; it was originally held in the Salon d'Apollon of the Louvre. By the mid-19th cent. the Salon had become an expression of conservative, established tastes in art. . Instant success is not to be, however, and disaster follows--from unscrupulous landlords to destructive vandals--and the girls' hopes are blighted blight n. 1. a. Any of numerous plant diseases resulting in sudden conspicuous wilting and dying of affected parts, especially young, growing tissues. b. until their friends and neighbors help them continue. As McDonald has done in her other novels, here she keeps the energy going with her characters' fast retorts as the conversations fly along--"Right," said Skye, "and you're looking at the next Condoleezza." (This after Butter claims, "You're looking at the next NBA-draft free agent.) ... "whoa, diss diss v. Variant of dis. diss Verb Slang, chiefly US to treat (a person) with contempt [from disrespect] Verb 1. ! She dissin' me, right y'all?" The neighborhood seems real, as do the characters and their lives. (An ALA Quick Pick for Young Adults.) Claire Rosser, KLIATT 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. |
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