Frost, Helen., Keesha's House, Frances Foster Books/Farrar, Straus and Giroux, New York, 2003. ISBN-9780374400125
This well put together book shares the life seven teens struggling to make sense of the world and the circumstances the have been put into. Keesha a high school student who finds this house as safe shelter to escape her drunk abusive father. The house is not owned by Keesha but by Joe a young man that grew up there with his grandmother. After Joe's grandmothers death he wanted to honor her by helping others, Joe allowed his home to serve as a refuge for troubled teens. Keesha who is receiving help for Joe also reaches out the help others who need a place to go. These teens are experiencing abuse, pregnancy,drinking, homosexuality, addiction and more. Frost nicely presented this novel in a poetic style. The seven teens share their stories using sentinas and sonnets. Frost captured the readers attention and kept it. Frost uses good descriptive language in each poem that stirs the readers emotions, Sometimes I Wonder- by Carmen "sometimes it seem like it don't matter if you lie or tell the truth people pick what that want to believe" Carmen is in a bit of despair, and appears to have little or no fighting power. "Grandmama believes me, that I want to try. She says , Girl, no matter what you do, I keep believin' in you" these statements makes it easy for the reader to see Carmen and feel what she is going through. Frost brings each one of the characters to life by revealing real to life issues that teens face. This is a easy short read and may offer understanding or lesson about for other teens.
"Impressive" Kirkus Reviews
"Spare, eloquent, and elegantly concise." VOYA
"Frost has taken the poem- story to a new level with well crafted sestinas and sonnets leading readers into the souls and psyches of her teen protagonists" School Library Journal
Awards
Micheal L. Printz Award. 2004
White Ravens Award. 2004
Blue Hen Book Award. 2005
Garden State Teen Book. 2006
South Carolina Young Adult Award. 2006
Discussion Questions from Farrar Straus Giroux Discussion Guide
1. When reading the book, were you aware of the poetic forms being used? Whether or not you were conscious of it, how did the rhythm and line breaks affect your reading of the book?
2. Did you begin to recognize and differentiate between the individual voices?
3. The author has divided the book into eight parts. Why do you think she did that? How would you define the mood in each part? Describe how the mood changes as the book progresses.
4. You learn that the house is really Joe’s. Why does it become known as Keesha’s house?
5. Look for dynamic and static characters in the book (those who change as opposed to those who don’t). Select and compare three or four of the characters. What difficulty is each facing? How has it affected his/her life? Imagine what might become of the character in the future.
6. Choose a poem from the book that you enjoy, and explore it in depth. What is the poetic form? What is the rhyme scheme? Does the author use imagery, metaphor, simile, or dialect in the poem?
7. Select an excerpt to read as a monologue, or, with a group, act out a part of the book as a play.
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