Keisha's House

Reason Book Chosen

This book won the Michael I. Prince Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature. It was also appealing because it is written in poem format.

Author: Helen Frost

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux

ISBN: 0374340641

Copyright Date: 2003

Genre

Urban Fiction, Poetry

About the Author

Helen Frost is a young adult and children’s author. Other novels-in-poem format written by her include Spinning Through the Universe, The Braid, Diamond Willow in 2008. She has published poetry, children's books, anthologies, and a play, as well as a book about teaching writing.

Reader’s Annotation

Seven teens with seven different issues share only one address. An address that changes their lives.

Plot Summary

Seven teens, including Keesha, each struggling with their own issues- homelessness, pregnancy, homosexuality, imprisonment, death, and violence and abuse, among others - all end up at Keesha’s house, at one point in time or another. Some of their lives intersect, and some do not. Some of their parents are involved and around and concerned, while others are not. Some parents seem to actually be the root of the problem. These teens are all from different worlds but Keesha offers all of them the same roof to live under, to sort out their issues, to make connections, and to find support as their lives get turned upside down, and at times, right side up again.

Critical Analysis

The poetic prose and rhythm of this book work quite nicely to create a general mood and paint a picture of these seven teens’ lives. The book is short and an easy read, with short sections (poems) for each character. The novel, however, is a little bit ambitious. It seems to explore too many issues at once and skims the surface of all of them. The same is true of the characters, just the surface of each is skimmed. It is possible, though, that this was the author’s intent, that the issues are to be the forefront, and that Keesha’s house actually acts as a character. I did appreciate how there were teens of various backgrounds – race, age, sexual orientation, to name a few. It was also nice to hear the outside voices of community members, such as teachers, parents, and the judge, to name a few. This gives teen insight into how others might view a situation.

While some of these character’s do represent real teens dealing with real issues, a few of the situations that play out are actually a little big cliché. I had a feeling this book was written in the mid nineties, and was surprised to see that it was published in 2003. It doesn’t quite push the envelope or open up a new door or perspective on many of the issues presented. It does, however, give a good birds eye view of how many teens’ lives are different and hard in different ways. It would be good for a young teen that is trying to empathize or understand how others’ lives are different, yet similar on a lot of levels.

Themes/Issues/Tags

Foster parents, Homelessness, Pregnancy, Prison, Homosexuality, Relationships with Parents, Death, Community, Abuse, Justice, Responsibility, Diversity, Meaning of Home

Controversial Subject Matter

 Running away is a solution or is the best answer

Defense: The teens don’t have many options and this is a temporary solution for them

Homosexuality, Homelessness, Abuse, Pregnancy

Defense: The book looks at these issues through the eyes of the individuals experiencing them, in an objective way, without preaching or making judgments about any of these issues.

Booktalking Ideas

Format hook – Create booktalk that is also rhythmic/poetic

Topic hook- What is home? Is home just a house? A physical place? More than that? What is the importance of a physical space to call your own?

Curriculum Ties

Diversity

Homelessness

Acceptance 

Reading Level

12+

Interest Level

 14-17