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Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon M. Draper

Darkness Before Dawn

Sharon M. Draper

Atheneum Books for Young Readers · Print & ebook · February 1, 2001

A Young Adult pick for readers exploring Darkness Before Dawn.

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Who it’s for
A serious coming-of-age story follows the fragile work of finding hope after grief.
Themes
Grief after suicide, A relationship takes a frightening turn, Hope amid fear
Genres
African American YA, YA Romance

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For younger readers: A Good Kind of Trouble, The Skin I'm in

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About this book

Hope shines in the face of fear in this conclusion to Sharon M. Draper’s 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 principal’s son.

Continue reading

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 she’s fought so hard to escape. Will Keisha ever be able to find her way back into the light?

Hope Under Pressure

A serious coming-of-age story follows the fragile work of finding hope after grief.

Come here for

  • A tender look at grief and the search for hope
  • Coming-of-age drama with an unsettling turn

Expect

  • A sustained, emotionally serious narrative
  • A hard-won path back toward the light

Where it sits

YA Romance97%
African American YA55%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Adventure
  • African American YA
  • YA Romance
Authors
Sharon M. Draper
Publisher
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published
February 1, 2001
Format
Print & ebook
Theme
Grief after suicide · A relationship takes a frightening turn · Hope amid fear
Reading lane
YA Adventure