Keesha's House

By Helen Frost

What an incredible treasure I found in this book.  Every youth in today’s world deserves a place

where they feel safe, a place to be home.  It is not a perfect world, life happens, but what is a teenager to do

when through their own doing or choices they are homeless?  Keesha’s House is a poetic book that

opens the door to a safe house and allows one to witness some of the unfortunate circumstances that

have set them on their own.  You will meet 7 interesting young adults during a very scary time of their

life.  

     First, you will meet Stephie.  A sixteen year old who has found out that she is expecting.  Her
boyfriend wants her to get rid of it, but she can’t fathom tossing this child aside.  She doesn't know
how to tell her parents that she is pregnant and she does not know where to go for help. 
Keesha tells her of a house where she would be safe.  

     Next you will meet Jason, Stephie’s boyfriend.  He has everything going for him, he is smart, good
looking and a star athlete.  Colleges are recruiting him, his future appears to be golden, that is until the
condom broke and Stephie became pregnant.  Should he throw away his future his chance of freedom
for a baby?  

     Third in our line-up of teens is Keesha.  Keesha found Joe’s house and is now always looking for
others that may need a sanctuary,  a safe space. She ran from a home filled with anger and violence,
but she is a great kid and wants to help others.  She is watching out for her troubled brother and the
other young people in the area.  

     Next you will meet Dontay.  He has had a tough life. His parents are in prison and he has been
kicked into child protective services.  He can’t seem to stop getting into trouble and hanging out with
the wrong kids. His social worker has found him a foster home away from his neighborhood, but he
does not get along with his foster family, who have way too many rules.  He needs someplace to be
safe.  

     Our fifth kiddo is Carmen.  Her mother left her with her grandmother.  Problem being Carmen has a
drinking problem and can’t seem to stop getting into trouble.  She has been busted several times for
dui and the courts are getting frustrated with seeing her.  This time,however, it was not her fault, she
was trying to help a friend. She is being placed in a facility for troubled youth.  She wants her
grandmother to help her out and be there for her when she is released.  

     Harris is a young man that can not seem to get along with his parents.  Especially, when they find
out that he is homosexual. His father can not accept Harris and he kicks him out of the house.  Harris
spends some time living in his car, looking for a job, and cleaning up in the library. Until he discovers
that the library has predators looking for young children.  Keesha offers him a spot in the house.  

     Finally, we have Katie. She has run away from home.  Her mom has remarried and the new step
dad is abusive and tries things when her mom works late.  She is not safe at home, but finds sanctuary
in the house on Jackson street. She likes living in the basement, with a lock on the door.  She likes
being able to lock the world out.  

     This motley group of teens become a family and have found friendship in Keesha’s house.  The
most salient point is near the end of the book. I quote from Harris, 

“If people we’re supposed to count on can’t (or don’t) support us, it’s up to us to find the
friends who can and do.  Of course we want to be with both our parents in the kind of
home where we’d be loved. But why rant on about all that?  Home is in your mind”.  

Although I totally enjoyed this quick read, I am giving it a four out of five stars.  The biggest downfall is
that it is kind of hard to follow. It is poetic in verse and very disjointed since it changes view point
frequently.  I do feel that this book would be enjoyable by all students and appropriate for kids in at
least 7th grade.  

Links

Author - Helen Frost

Abuse in foster care

Homeless Children

Foster Care Shortage

In the Shadow of the Sun

By Anne Sibley O'Brien 

     This book grabbed my attention from the very first sentence.  It is a very intriguing and thought provoking tale.  The author does a remarkable job of transporting the reader into a different time, culture and environment.  Really, makes one wonder what would they do if it was them, would you be able to survive and stay ahead of the soldiers.  Would you be a Mia, Simon or their father?  

     Mark Andrews takes his two children with him on a trip into North Korea.  They are forewarned and given a long list of rules.  Mr. Andrews has traveled here before as a food relief worker and somehow embroils himself in a faction power struggle.  Unknown to them they are about to embark on the journey of a lifetime.  Mark is arrested as Mia and Simon find incriminating images on a gifted cell phone.  They know that the only way to help their dad is to get the images out of the country.  They endeavor to allude the North Koreans on a harrowing escape across the country towards China.  This proves to be very difficult since Simon is a tall blond American while Mia, who is adopted, is from South Korea.  With little knowledge of the language, next to no money, no food how are they supposed to travel the distance to safety without being seen and captured?  It takes some luck, ingenuity and a lot of courage plus a little bit of help from surprise sources.  

     This was an excellent story, I loved the information given at the beginning of the book, very helpful in reading the tale.  Giving the background knowledge led to more understanding and a better appreciation of the dangers.  What I did not get 100% was some of the North Korean view point, it did not always connect to Simon and Mia.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5, just for the disconnect.  I did really enjoy this book, it made me question what happened to some of the supporting characters.  This book is good for 5th grade students and up and encourage anybody to buy their copy today.  

links

Author - Anne Sibley O'Brien

Current guidelines to travel into North Korea

History of North Korea

Irena's Children

By Tilar J. Mazzea

     This book touched me on several levels.  It is a very well written story about a time in history that I am sure many wish never happened.  With the uncertain times that we are currently embroiled, this book really opens ones eyes to the reality of racism, the danger of letting those in power go unchecked and how even the smallest defiance can make a world of change.  

     One is introduced to Irena, a student in Warsaw Poland at the beginning of World War II.  She has befriended many people at the University, including many Jews.  The encroaching German's have many concerned but no worried for their lives.  The small steps that the Gestapo utilized to immobilize the Jews, the ghetto and the erosion of their rights and humanity are frightening.  Many Jews planned on just making it through, never dreaming the depth of hatred that would fall upon their shoulders.  Irena is Christian, but since she works for the Welfare Department, she is enabled to enter the ghetto and move about freely.  She takes it upon herself to free as many children as possible from their German captors.  

     Irena manages a large network of resistance workers that help her move children to safety, whether it be orphanages, christian homes or into the countryside.  What is remarkable about her journey is that she maintained a very dangerous list, so that after the war, Jewish families may be reunited.  Irena did everything at great peril to herself and her loved ones, but she felt that she was not a hero, she was just doing what had to be done, for humanity.  Even when Irena is captured, she maintains her list and does everything she can to keep the children safely hidden.  She entrusts her list with a compatriot, and maintains silence through months of beating and threat of execution.  Zegota, another underground organization that helped Irena, finally manages to get free Irena and she goes into hiding.  Much of what she accomplished was through blatant disregard to the Germans, hiding in plain sight.  It is estimated that her network of helpers hid and saved over 2500 children.  This is incredible!  

     I know the aspect that really resonated in my heart is the constant lesson of doing what needs to be done, when a crime against humanity is occurring.  Not to sit idly and let something happen when you know it is not right.  To give a voice to those that can not speak or are afraid to speak.  All of the hatred that abounds in today's world, needs to be checked we need to be more accepting of each other, we do not want to relive another atrocity, let's learn from the past.  

     I love historical novels just for the lessons that be learned from the past, the are unapologetic and in your face.  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars, I loved it, but I know over time, some of the details have been forgotten, and I missed those.  I loved the harrowing tales of how some of the children escaped and wished for more!  I think that this book is appropriate for all students in fifth grade and up.  Happy reading! 

Links 

Warsaw Ghetto 

Pawiak Prison

Concentration Camps

Author Tilar Mazzeo

The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl

By Paige Mackenzie

     The third book in this series does not disappoint the reader, this is another fabulous page turner.  More secrets are revealed as Paige becomes stronger, she meets the council, and she is betrayed.  She begins to talk to her birth mother and father and learns more about her lineage.  To save humanity they have to understand what is happening, what and when Dubu plans on finalizing his Pentagram spell.  Since Sunshine is integral to the survival of the human race she must be kept safe.  She is surrounded by Luisearch and humans including her boyfriend Nolan.  

     Most of the town of Richmond is unaware of the nearing of the apocalypse, the high school is preparing for a dance, but there is an increase in crime and injuries as the demons begin to attack humanity.  Demon's are possessing humans, and making them do horrible things like:  Rebecca attacking her customers at the pizza restaurant.  Sunshine and the council are kept vigilant as they rush to protect their charges.  Time is of the essence, the reader knows that Dubu has a secret weapon close to Sunshine, but we don't know who it is.  Will the Markon leader Dubu reign supreme or can Sunshine come to the rescue.
     What is so interesting in these stories the reader is always aware of some of the antagonist's thoughts and plans, through short chapters that give their perspective of what is occurring.  The quality of the writing is high, therefore,  I am giving this book a 4.5 out of 5 stars.Even though the main character is a female, I do these books are appropriate for both genders and believe that they are for 6th grade and up.  Please forewarned I strongly suggest that you read the books in sequence, they do build on each other.

Links

Paige Mackenzie - Author

Other teen horror books

The Awakening of Sunshine Girl

By Paige Mackenzie

     This is the second book in the series, we continue in the story of 16 year old Sunshine and her transformation into a luisearch Her mentor/ father has finally approached her and whisks her off to his Mexican fortress to further her training.  She leaves behind her close friend Nolan and her Mother, Kat.  The damp humid jungle envelopes Sunshine as she is alone with her father and one other person on the campus.  

     The more time she spends with Aiden, her father, the more questions arise.  She knows that he is working on resolving the rift and that there was a disagreement between him and her mother, the depth of the dispute and the half truths abound as Sunshine slowly develops her undiscovered and unique powers.  She finally, discovers what caused the rift and how she is in the midst of a species extinction, namely hers.  When she discovers that her mother wanted to eliminate her and that Aiden was harboring spirits.  Sunshine finally breaks and runs from the fortress, trying to get back to Nolan, who is being tortured by her birth mother, Helena.  

     Sunshine is unaware how unique and powerful she is, she has untapped power and is very unique among her species.  She rushes back to Nolan to try to save him from the clutches of Helena.  Aiden shows up trying to dissuade Helena from eliminating Sunshine, trying to explain that Sunshine can be the answer, the solution to the rift.  

     This is another very entertaining book, another great read.  Although, there is no strong connections to the real world, I enjoyed this book a great deal.  I am giving this book a four out of five stars and can not wait to read the next book in the series The Sacrifice of Sunshine Girl.  

Links

Demons?

Mysterious Places?