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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
After watching so many students and classes read this throughout the years, I finally read this. It was wonderful. Sparse and simple, but pretty powerful.
Keesha's house tells the story of seven youth going through their own personal struggles. One by one, they find their way to keesha's house- a place of refuge that they can stay, as they have no where else to go.
I didn't love this book. While I applaud the author's use of poetry to tell each story, I found it a little boring, and over all depressing. The story is meant to allow us to view each character's story, but as there were so many in such a short book, the reader does not get to delve as deep into each story line as much as they would like to.
I didn't love this book. While I applaud the author's use of poetry to tell each story, I found it a little boring, and over all depressing. The story is meant to allow us to view each character's story, but as there were so many in such a short book, the reader does not get to delve as deep into each story line as much as they would like to.
Alternating narrators share their stories about how they came to Keesha's house when they needed a place to stay. Each narrator is a high school student with a different trouble. Stephie's pregnant, Harris was disowned when his father found out he's gay, Dontay is a foster kid whose foster family doesn't seem to care... The neat thing is that instead of free verse, the poems are written in two different traditional forms. Poems from the kids' points of view are written in sestina (a French form) and poems from the adults' point of view are written as sonnets. A note about the poetic forms used is included at the end of the book.
Keesha's House is a wonderful story told in poem form about the life and struggles of seven different teenagers that are all struggling with different aspects of their lives. Stephie finds herself pregnant and needing to make decisions that will affect her, and those close to her, forever. Jason is Stephie's boyfriend who struggles to choose between supporting and staying with Stephie and the baby, or going to college with his hard-earned basketball scholarship. Dontay's parents are in prison and he is in foster care, dealing with being passed from house to house. Carmen is in a juvenile detention facility, waiting to be judged for her DUI charge. Harris is living in his car and supporting himself after his father disowns him for coming out as gay. Katie chooses to live on her own, rather than live with her mother and abusive stepfather, splitting her time between work and school. Keesha has been kicked out of her home by her father and is struggling with taking care of herself and the responsibility she feels to protect her younger brother.
I really enjoyed this book simply because I have not read anything similar to it. Helen Frost covers topics that are not usually touched in popular YA literature. Their stories were not ones that I have heard over and over and over again. It was something new and something that someone can relate to. Although I have never experienced these circumstances in my life, I am sure that there are teenagers out there who have these situations as their reality. I believe that it is important for everyone to have books with characters they can relate to.
I really enjoyed this book simply because I have not read anything similar to it. Helen Frost covers topics that are not usually touched in popular YA literature. Their stories were not ones that I have heard over and over and over again. It was something new and something that someone can relate to. Although I have never experienced these circumstances in my life, I am sure that there are teenagers out there who have these situations as their reality. I believe that it is important for everyone to have books with characters they can relate to.
It was a little hard to follow the chronology of the story, but I'm giving this four stars because I'm supremely impressed with the poetry. It's incredible how she was able to create unique voices for each of the characters in sestinas, which is a hard form to follow (well, for me, anyway). I also like how she used both Italian and Shakespearean sonnets for the adults in the book, and how the final sets were a blend of both sestina and sonnet. An excellent book!
hopeful
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Teenage life is hard enough, but when adding parents who don't support you to the mix, it makes it almost impossible. Keesha's House is about several teenagers who are all trying to make it in this world. Written in the form of poetry, Helen Frost tugs on the heartstrings and makes the reader feel for the characters.
I really enjoyed this book! Normally I'm not a fan of poetry, but getting little glimpses of each character through a short poem was a different take of a book. I thought it was a very interesting way to share the stories of these kids.
I really enjoyed this book! Normally I'm not a fan of poetry, but getting little glimpses of each character through a short poem was a different take of a book. I thought it was a very interesting way to share the stories of these kids.
Told in verse by a half-dozen main characters (and also some of their family members), this is a look at homeless teens--yet stays hopeful. Quick read, good subject matter.
Such an interesting poetry book. I think it would be so useful to bring into classrooms to teach poetry's diversity, character traits, and modern issues for teens. Very worthwhile!
Keesha's House tells the stories of seven teenagers who are all going through something different in their lives. Each of their struggles leads them to a safe space in Keesha's house. The book is told through many different people's voices, including the adults in the teenagers' lives.
I thought this book was a little hard to read, only because I know that there are teenagers out there who are going through the same things as the characters in this book. It helped open my eyes to different perspectives.
I thought this book was a little hard to read, only because I know that there are teenagers out there who are going through the same things as the characters in this book. It helped open my eyes to different perspectives.