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

Racing the Past

By Sis Deans 

     This is a fast moving and enjoyable book.  It does a good job of broaching a topic that is too often left ignored or pushed under the rug.  Meet Ricky Gordon he is constantly getting in trouble at school for fighting the school bully.  Ricky comes up with a plan to keep his mother out of knowing how bad school is for the troubled fifth grader.  He can not go down to Mr. Daniel's office for the rest of the year.  How is he going to avoid his nemesis?  Ricky decides to forgo recess and to walk home from school everyday, even in bad weather.  Bugsie is so mad and still tries to bait Ricky whenever he sees him.  Ricky is a math whiz and figures out that if he improves everyday he will be able to beat the bus.  He sets up a grueling training schedule and slowly improves his 3.5 mile run home.  

     Ricky has a hard road to travel he has to better his life and that of his family.  Ricky's father passed away New Years Eve, from drunk driving.  Ricky is actually glad that he is gone, since he spent most of his time drinking and abusing his family, both mentally and physically.  They are dirt poor and live in a small run down shack, but Ricky and Matt slowly begin to clean up their yard and move beyond their father's abuse.  Everyone is noticing the improvements in their small town.  Their lives slowly improve.  Finally, one day Ricky realizes that the running is making positive changes in his life.  It becomes apparent as the his classmates start cheering for him to beat the bus and as the high school coach comes to check out this fifth grader that could run.  Will Ricky's hard work pay off will he be able to run from his past? 
     This book is rather sad, but a necessary topic that needs to be talked about more often.  I am giving this book a 4 out of 5 stars, and feel that it will be enjoyed by readers in 6th grade and higher.  and even though the books main character is a young man, I feel that all students can learn something from this book. 

Links
Author - Sis Deans

Coping with an Alcoholic Parent

Child Abuse Help

Youth Runners