Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon M. Draper (English) Paperback Book

Description: Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon M. Draper Synopsis coming soon....... FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description Hope shines in the face of fear in this conclusion to Sharon M. Drapers award-winning Hazelwood High trilogy.In her senior year, things are finally looking a little brighter for Keisha. Still haunted by the suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Andy, she finds comfort in the attentions of the new track coach, twenty-three-year-old Jonathan Hathaway, the principals son. How can Keisha not be swept off her feet by a tall, dark, handsome "lemon drop wrapped in licorice" who treats her like a woman, not a girl? But suddenly this intoxicating relationship takes a frightening turn, and Keisha is once again plunged into the darkness shes fought so hard to escape. Will Keisha ever be able to find her way back into the light? Author Biography Sharon M. Draper is the New York Times bestselling author of Out of My Mind, Blended, and Out of My Heart. Shes won Coretta Scott King Awards for Copper Sun and Forged by Fire and multiple honors. Shes also the recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. Sharon taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. She lives in Florida. Visit her at SharonDraper.com. Review "Moving and triumphant." Review Quote "Moving and triumphant." Excerpt from Book Darkness Before Dawn 1 I think homeroom is a stupid waste of time. They take attendance, read announcements, then make you sit in a room watching the clock when you could be in a class, maybe even learning something. Dumb! Mr. Whitfield is OK as a teacher--hes probably too nice, so kids take advantage of him sometimes, like Im getting ready to do. "Grimes?" "Here." "Hawkins?" "Yeah." "Henderson?" "Here." "Immerman?" "Over here." "Jackson? . . . Jackson? . . . Is Andy absent again?" Everybody looked at me like Im supposed to know where Andy is at every single moment. Im not his mother. Im not even his girlfriend anymore. I ignored them all and dug in my book bag for a pencil. "Yeah, Mr. Whitfield. Hes got senioritis, a terrible disease." Leon thinks hes so funny. Everybody laughed but me. "Well, since hes only a junior, Id say that hes got a fatal disease. Juniors who catch senioritis have been known to develop serious complications and never graduate," Mr. Whitfield said jokingly. "Hell be here tomorrow. He has to. He owes me two dollars." "Good luck. OK, lets finish with attendance." "Johnson, Ranita?" "Here . . ." "Montgomery, Keisha?" "Im here. Mr. Whitfield? I dont feel good. Can I go to the nurse?" "OK, Keisha, but unless youre going home, try to get back in a hurry." I wasnt really sick. I shouldered my book bag and headed out of the room without looking at Mr. Whitfield. I was still upset about breaking up with Andy, and I just needed some space. I glanced down to the end of the hall where I saw my best friend Rhonda heading my way. She yelled down the hall, "Hey, Keisha, have you seen Andy this morning?" A couple of teachers stuck their heads out of their doors, but Rhonda ignored them as she hurried down the hall toward me. "No, and I hope I never do again." "Come on, girl, you dont really mean that. I know it hurts. You and Andy were together for so long. Its hard on me to see you two break up." "Yeah, Rhonda. It hurts. I really liked him, you know, but it just got too complicated. Hes better off without me. Hes got to get himself together before he can get seriously involved with someone else. Hows Tyrone?" "Oh, just fine--so fine!" Rhonda giggled. "Were going to the movies tomorrow. Do you want to come?" "No, Ill probably just catch a movie on cable. Its kinda nice just to relax for a change and not worry about how I look or what Ill wear or where were going. Im just going to chill and enjoy my freedom." I said the words, but Rhonda knew I didnt mean them. "OK, but call me if you change your mind. Say, Im going to drop off Andys chemistry homework at his house after school. Mr. Whitfield said hed fail unless he got this assignment in. You wouldnt want to go with me, would you?" "No way, girl. Actually, if I saw him, I might break down and do something stupid like cry, or make up with him. Im out of his life--at least for now." "OK. Ill call you later." When Rhonda had called me later that night, however, she was crying hysterically about Andy and blood and a gun. She wasnt making any sense at all. "Oh, Keisha! Its Andy!" "What about him?" "Blood everywhere!" "Where? What are you talking about?" "Monty. Poor little Monty. He found him." "Found who?" "He found Andy." "Is Andy OK?" "He had a gun! His fathers hunting rifle!" "Who did?" "Andy!" "Calm down and tell me whats goin on! Youre not making any sense!" "Andys dead, Keisha. He shot himself. Monty found him when he got home from school. I got there about the same time Andys mom got home. It was awful! Oh, Keisha!" Rhonda dropped the phone and all I could hear was heavy, choked sobs coming from her. I didnt cry right then. But it felt like a huge rock landed inside my chest and just sat there. I didnt want to believe her, but soon it was clear that it was all too true. Andy had taken his own life. I felt dead, too. Like living was stealing breath. I felt like it was my fault, even though I knew it wasnt. Andy had been really messed up inside since that terrible car crash last year after a basketball game. Andy had been driving the car and had been drinking. His best friend Rob Washington had died. I guess he just couldnt get over his feeling of guilt for Robbies death. I also knew that part of the mess in Andys head had to do with us breaking up, but I wasnt gonna be caught up in that same guilt trip. I felt like I was going to explode. I heard the door open downstairs; my mom had just come in from work. I ran to her and screamed, "Mom, oh Mommy, Andys dead!" I let her hug me like she used to do when I was little. My nose was all stopped up and all I could do was gulp and sniff and cry some more. "Its all my fault!" I moaned. "How could he do this? Why didnt he call me? Andy cant be dead! Oh, Mommy, it hurts so bad!" I couldnt stop crying. I never knew a person had so many tears inside. As she heard the news, my mom gasped and held me real close. I think she cried, too. She let me sob like a baby; I could feel her strength and love. She stroked my hair and soothed me with the same whispers and mother tones that had calmed me since I was a little girl. When my sobbing had slowed down a little, she gave me a couple of tissues and said quietly, "Tell me what happened, Keisha." "Im not sure. They just found him." I sat on the sofa next to my mother with my head in my hands. I just couldnt stop crying. "Why didnt he call me? Even though we broke up, he knew I still loved him. He knew Id talk him through any problem." "He did call," my mother said quietly. She was really crying now. I looked up at her in disbelief. "When?" I asked suddenly. "Last night, well after midnight. You were asleep, and I didnt want to wake you, and I thought it could wait until morning. Im so sorry, Keisha." "Mom!" I shouted. "How could you be so cold?" I jumped up and glared at her. My eyes, which were already red and burning from all the crying, felt like hot swords as I glared at her. "I couldnt possibly have known, Keisha," Mom said gently. "I couldnt possibly have known," she repeated, weeping quietly into her hands. "Im so sorry." I looked at my mother with a mixture of disgust and rage. I had to get out of there. "I have to get to Andys house," I said suddenly. "I have to see for myself. And I have to see Monty. Hes going to need somebody. Can I use your car, Mom? Ill be careful." "Let me drive you, Keisha. Youre too upset and shaken to drive. Besides, Andys parents are going to need some support, too." "I guess youre right. Lets hurry." My voice was tight and I avoided the offer of a final hug from my mother. I pretended not to notice my mothers outstretched arms as I looked for the car keys, and I refused to look her in the eye as we walked out the door. I was silent as we rode to Andys house. When we got there, at least six police cars crowded Andys little street and a bright red ambulance sat in the driveway, red lights blinking in the dusk. Crowds of kids from school huddled together. Even boys were crying without embarrassment on the front lawn, and girls sobbed together, using each other for support. Rhonda sat on the damp lawn with Tyrone, pulling blades of grass from the earth, one at a time, unable to cry anymore, I guess. Her eyes were red and swollen like mine. Tyrone sat very close to her, his arm resting on her leg, looking like he was barely holding in his own tears and anger. He and Andy had played together on the Hazelwood High School basketball team, and had been friends since seventh grade. I sat down next to Rhonda and hugged her. "I feel so helpless!" I sobbed. "Why did he do this to me?" "He didnt do it to you, Keisha," Tyrone said quietly. "He did it to himself." "No, Tyrone," I flashed back at him. "He did it to all of us!" I couldnt look at Tyrone anymore. I hated that Rhonda had Tyrone there to hold and comfort her, while I had no one. Gerald, another friend and basketball teammate, arrived with his fourteen-year-old sister, Angel. His face was twisted with confusion; Angel was sobbing and sniffling. I walked over to Angel, hugged her, and let her cry. Poor kid. Angel and Gerald had already been through more than their share of unhappiness and death. I glanced over at Gerald, whose face thanked me silently for trying to comfort his sister. "I aint got over Robbie bein dead," Gerald told me quietly. "High school boys aint supposed to die. Theyre supposed to act stupid, and flunk tests, and chase girls, and get out of school, and live. Not die. And now Andy is dead, too? I cant deal with this!" He clenched his fists. I couldnt say anything. He was right. Just then another car pulled up and Robs fourteen-year-old sister, Kiara, rushed out of the car and over to A Details ISBN1442489154 Author Sharon M. Draper Short Title DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN Language English ISBN-10 1442489154 ISBN-13 9781442489158 Media Book Format Paperback DEWEY FIC Series Hazelwood High Trilogy Year 2013 Country of Publication United States Place of Publication New York Imprint Atheneum Illustrations f-c cvr (fx: none); digital Series Number 3 Publication Date 2013-07-23 NZ Release Date 2013-07-23 US Release Date 2013-07-23 UK Release Date 2013-07-23 AU Release Date 2013-08-18 Pages 256 Audience Age 12-99 Publisher Simon & Schuster Edition Description Reprint Audience Teenage / Young adult Alternative 9780689830808 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. With fast shipping, low prices, friendly service and well over a million items - you're bound to find what you want, at a price you'll love! TheNile_Item_ID:137688920;

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