Darkness Before Dawn Reviews

• Mallory

  
  By on 2005-12-11
  Keisha is the senior class president of her high school. She had been going through some really difficult times the past year when her ex-boyfriend unexpectedly kills himself. The principal's 23 year old son is the new trak coach and he has his eye on Keisha. Slowly Keisha begins to find comfort in 23 year old Johnatan. Her parents and friends think there is something strange about Keisha and Johnathans realationship. Keisha is happy and loves the way Johnathan treats her like a women and not a high schooler. So Keisha breaks her parents rules and continues to see him. Suddenly Keisha's relationship with Johnathan takes a turn for the worst. Johnathan takes Keisha to his appartment and when Keisha doesn't coperate with Johnathan's plans that's when the big trouble starts. He tries to rape Keisha and he attempts to kill her with his jack knife.
  
  I highly recommend this book. It may be a little boring in the begining but once your get a little further into it, your hooked. It also has a great moral/lesson to it. Another thing it shows how sexual preditors can be anywhere and it can happen to anyone. I enjoyed reading this book and think its a great book for teenage girls to read.
  
  

• Christian's Review

  
  By A2OH0LZ6IHNVX on 2006-01-17
  In the book a girl named Keisha has just lost her boyfriend. Andy killed himself because he and his best friends Rob, Tyrone, and B.J were in a car accident. Rob was the only one that didn't make it out of the car and he burned to death. Andy felt that it was his fault so he walked around with all this on his shoulders until he killed himself. Keisha had just broken up with Andy because of all his problems. That summer Keisha took Andy's little brother with her to the cookout. The cookout was something that the high school does every year and the students come and bring their little brothers and sisters. This summer, Keisha saw a guy that she thought was hot, so the summer passed and the new school year came. When she saw him, she acted as if she hadn't noticed him, but she did and she really liked him. At the same time, Leon liked her but she really had not paid any attion to that until one day she gave him a ride home and his dad started to say all this embracing stuff. So the conflict is she has to choose a boy (Leon) or a man (Jonathan).
  I chose this book because I read the first book and I liked it, so I just continued to read them. No one recommended it to me but when I first started everyone would say that's a good book. I chose the book because I read the back. I like the author cause she knows how to express her feelings.
  I would recommend this book to any one in high school and middle school. This book is really good but at first it is boring but it gets good in the middle I feel as though it gets good and you can relate to the emotion. It was easy to read cause she is just out in the open. She doesn't make things that are simple so confusing. The end was good. I was satisfied with the resolution.
  
  
  

• She saw the darkness before the light

  
  By A16IMXF42J1ME9 on 2005-02-27
  Keisha Montgomery, a senior at Hazelwood High School, has lurked in nothing but darkness since the death of her friend Robby, and boyfriend Andy. It seems like the whole world is crashing down on her and she will be next to be eliminated by the darkness. She can't get over the pain, hurt, and guilt that has subsided her and for a long time she hasn't seen any light, hope, or happiness.
  But then, Jonathan Hathaway, a twenty-year-old college student and son of Hazelwood High's principal, enters Keisha's life. Keisha is taken aback by this very handsome, sweet, poetic, and mature man who seems to charm her with every word. At first Keisha pays no mind to this man, thinking he is a mere college student who is too old for her anyway, but John seems truly interested in her. He is unlike the other high school boys-he's mature, writes poetry, and is interested in the same things Keisha is interested in. He looks at her a lot, always stops to speak with her, and is a gentleman to Keisha. Soon she realizes that Jonathan Hathaway is something different, something special, and something she can't afford to waste. Despite her parents' explicit disapproval, Keisha goes out to spend time with Jonathan. Her parents tell her that he is too old, and after the first time it is the last. But Keisha lies to her parents and goes out with him anyway. Keisha's parents truly love her, and she is precious and not quite grown yet although she's eighteen, but Keisha uses her age as an excuse to do whatever she wants. She is blind to what can happen when alone with an older man she doesn't know the truth about.
  What adds to the superbness of this book is how Keisha's friends and family all give warning signs about Jonathan. Leon, the boy with the crush on Keisha, doesn't like Jonathan because he's "too nice with younger girls". Jalani, Keisha's newest friend, constantly warns Keisha about Jonathan. Keisha's parents inform her that she's young and vulnerable and Jonathan may not be safe, but Keisha doesn't want to listen to anybody. The constant disapproval by Keisha's peers and family intimates that Jonathan is not what Keisha thinks he is and that soon Keisha will realize her peril.
  Once again, Keisha Montgomery plunges into darkness. She falls into a trap and doesn't realize how much danger she's in. She can't believe how stupid she must have been to trust Jonathan Hathaway's seemingly caring personality, which is totally fake and an act to get Keisha into the situations he has placed many young girls. Why does Keisha fall into darkness? Does she ever get out? Does she ever see the light? Find out by reading this exceptional novel, Darkness Before Dawn, by Sharon M. Draper.
  
  

• Reality...nuh uh

  
  By AQO0B36Z7YH4R on 2001-05-14
  I had heard about this book and thought it would be a good idea to buy it. I could relate to a lot of issues in the book, and when I read the jacket cover and learned what it was about, I thought I would be able to relate. Keisha deals with suicide in the book, and I lost my sister four months ago to self-inflicted gun wounds. Keisha also dates a 23 year old man, while she is only 17. Last summer, I had an extremely serious relationship with a 22 year old man when I was 16. When I read the book, I thought the characters were too underdevolped and the plot was too heavy. I thought it was terribly unrealistic and didn't have very much emotion in it. It had a good idea, and a good story to tell, but I felt there were so many different teen-issues in the book, and it was too much to deal with such as suicide, dating an older man, anorexia, etc. This is the kind of book I exected to read in one sitting and be entertained by it, not something I would read in a lit. class. I wasn't expecting it to be really emotional, but it was hardly entertaining. I am not picky..I typically like everything.
  
  

• Surprisingly unrealisitc

  
  By A2AUYBVY50DT0M on 2001-08-07
  I read Draper's first 2 books, Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire, and they were awesome. I was really happy to see that she had a new book out. But this book disappointed me. The characters seemed so unrealistic. Just the way they would speak made me think that Draper had had no experience with teenagers--even though she is a high school teacher. I also thought that the author tried to cram too many "issues" into one book. The plot was weak, too. I couldn't identify with any of the characters and I thought that they weren't developed enough. I was truly surprised and disappointed with this book.
  
  
• One teen's triumph over the darkness in her life
  By AE15N0H6YGFHJ on 2002-07-26
  This story is told from first person or from the main character Keisha. Keisha recollects the darkness that has happened in her life from her junior to senior year. She is trying to cope with the death of her ex-boyfiend Andy, while in the process trying to discover who she is. She finds herself attactive to the principal's son, Jonathan who is doing observations at her school.
  Keisha deceives her parents by going out with Jonathan against their wishes. She finds herself in a position in which she has to deal with. Jonathan wants more from her sexually than she wanted to give. Keisha manages to escape but is forced to overcome the fear. With help of her friends, Keisha manages to pull through by looking what the future entails for her.
  I think this is a great book to read!!! It is a good follow-up book for "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson. This book deals with typical issues that teens deal with today. There is no language nor nudity presented in this book. Nor is the moral in the book preached but simply presented. The characters are well developed and true-to-life. It is a "must to read" book!
  
  
• Darkness before Dawn
  By A2JZNNSB7ZVAU3 on 2003-07-04
  Keisha is a student in high school. Her ex-boyfriend has just committed suicide. She is trying to cope with this tragedy. Her friends are a great help. She really starts to come around when the principals son, Jonathon takes interest in her. She wants to go out with him but he is 21 and she is 18. Her parents are not to keen on the idea of Keisha dating someone three years older than her. They give in when Jonathon takes several students on a ski trip. Afterwards he calls her every night. The Valentine's Dance is coming up and Jonathon has something special planned. Keisha knows her parents will not allow her to go alone with Jonathon so she goes with a friend. Then she pretends she has a headache and he takes her home. Shortly after Jonathon picks her up to take her out to eat. Keisha is expecting a nice restaurant. Where she ends up and what happens next are not what she anticipated. To find out, read the book.

  This is the sequel to Tears of a Tiger and Forged by Fire. If you enjoyed these books, then Darkness before Dawn is a must read. This book is recommended for young adolescents due to issues that Keisha deal with.
  
  

• When You Think You Know It All
  By A5LCTLSQD64NC on 2005-05-27
  
  
  Do you think all teenagers act the same way and go through the same issues? I didn't think so until I read Darkness Before Dawn (2001) By Sharon M. Draper. This story is about a group of teenagers who are in their last year of high school. The main character is a young lady name Keisha who is a senior in high school. I can relate to her because I am a young lady in high school who faces many problems just like the ones Keisha faced. She stays with her mother and father, who love her very much. She has close friends that she has known for a long time. Some of their names are Angel, Gerald, and Jalani. Everything was good until she started to talk to an older man named Jonathan. She began to date him and they went out a few times. That is when things began to go wrong.
  I like this book because teenagers can relate to it and know they are not alone. The only problem with this book is that it is the last in a series of books. You will first need to read two of her books called Tears Of A Tiger and Forged By Fire, also by Sharon M. Draper, to get a good understanding of this story. This is not the best of the three, but it is the second best compared to the other to the other two books. This is a book for 7th through twelfth grader to read. I recommend this book to young ladies all around the world.
  I believe that there is a lot their for them to learn. This story can teach you to think about what you are doing and why sometimes you might think that it is right but it could be wrong. Keisha really thought that Jonathan was a nice young men and wasn't too old for her. She didn't care what no one said, the see seen that she should have listen to everyone. Overall this is a great story for teenagers' girls to read because I know that most teens don't like to read. Once you begin with Forged By Fire you will want to read the other two books non stop. This is a great story; all kids can relate to it in their own way. Everyone can relate to this book, because everyone would take it a different way. Some people might think that the problems happen because of one person- other people might think the problems happen were because of someone else. This book has more then one meaning. That is why it is a great book.
  By A.B
  
  
  
• this book hepled me alot
  By on 2003-10-17
  before i read this book, i didnt have a clue as to what type of things guys can do out there in the world. When Kiesha thought Jonathan was the cure for her problems, i thought she was right. but when i read on, i was obviously wrong. I took advice from this book such as me now listening to my parents and friends thoughts and feelings. a couple of weeks before i read this book, i had ran off with an 18 year old, and im only 12. my mom was hurt when she found out. i felt alful and now i know how keisha's mom and dad felt. when Edna showed up and saved Kiesha after she ran out of Jonathans apartment, i knew that if you helped someone, then they will show up and help you. i loved this book and sharon m. draper. i hope to one day be as good as a writer as her. r.i.p andy
  
  
• DARKNESS BEFORE DAWN
  By APVC4RJYC6F60 on 2004-06-03
  The book tath Iam reading is called Darkness Before Dawn and it's about a girl named Keisha and her friends.Keisha seems to be very confused because her old boyfriend Andy killed himself,and she starts to date a 23year o;d named Johnathan hathaway the principal's son.Keisha attendends Halzewood High in Cincinatti,Ohio and she's 18years old.The 23yearold that keisha's dating is a rapist but she dosen't know it.He tries to attack Keisha but she fights back. The reason why I like this book is because of the realism, things that happened in this book also happens everyday in real life.Ialso liked this book because of the characters.I can relate to some of them and they seem like people I would like to be my friends.Another reason thst I liked this book is because of the fast pace.It wasn't boring at all.This book made me express my anger when someone did something wrong and sad when Keisha got attacked.Irecommed this book to everybody to read.This was a good book especially for young people.
  
  
• Will Keisha be able to get out of the dark? by F. Mendoza
  By A178KEQRWVPXV2 on 2005-05-13
  Darkness Before Dawn by Sharon Draper is an estatic book with endless mysteries, and discoveries. Keisha Montgomery is a senior at Hazelwood High still trying to get over her ex-boyfriends death, that's when she meets twenty-three-year-old Jonathan Hathway, the principals son. But after all the sneaking around Keisha finds out something unexpecting about Jonathan that she never thought she would discover. Will Keisha be able to return back to reality? And will she be ever to get herself out of the dark? In this book Sharon Draper, is trying to say that no matter what happens, you can always make it through the worst, only Keisha finds out the hard way.
  
  
• Buy this book
  By on 2002-10-31
  THis was a really good book but I only gave it 4 stars cuz it didn't get really good till the middle and u have to read the book before Forged by Fire to really understand it.
  
  
• Enjoyable!
  By A21SKKQR7MPXLE on 2003-04-29
  I took one look at Darkness before dawn and thought, because it was unlike most books I read, wouldn't be much of a page-turner. But I was surprised when I was captured by the plot within only a few hours of reading.

  At times I was thrown off by the lingo, but Draper presents me a realistic character in Keisha. She's coping with the death of her ex-boyfriend Andy, as well as the new found feelings she has for Jonathan Hathaway,the principal's 23-year-old son.

  The book twists and turns, and even throws in some strategically placed sub-plots. Because of these subplots weaved throughout the story, the book became even more interesting.

  The interaction between the characters is similar to that of typical teens, who got through both the good times and bad times together. Keisha experiences pain and greif yet finds solace and wisdom in an unexpected places.

  This book really touched me. I finished reading and tears welled in my eyes because I felt like I'd gone through the character emotions myself. I was a little disappointed that Keisha's relationship with Leon wasn't explored a little deeper but I loved it anyhow. Darkness before Dawn is exceptional and recommend for teens looking for a good read.
  
  

• Tracaria Perry Bak msoa prd2
  By A1IY86RJN0LMDV on 2003-05-29
  I think darkness beforedawn was a very good book. Every page was a cliff hanging page and left my mind boggling inside and and supicious of what is gonna happen next . The part that had me running around the house screaming is when Johnathan Hathaway went crazy and tried ti rape Keisha. That really blew me away you would have never thought that the "lemon drop wrapped in licorice" Keisha quotes would ever be a sick person like that.
  All in all what made the story twisted and a story to talk aboutis when Keisha found out that that was not Johnathan's first time dis-respecting a girl but he has gotten out of control once two many times. Due to all the nights i cried for Keisha and clapped for her i learned that you have to watch out who you put your trust in even though the description of Johnathan sounded real i would not have gave my self up to him that easily. Darkness before dawn was a great book.
  
  
• Darkness Before Dawn
  By on 2003-10-08
  Darkness Before Dawn was the best book! Everyone should read it. It shows you that you can cope with things no matter how bad they get, and how hard it might seem. It shows you that you should be especially careful who you trust, and that you can always count on a friend and even the kindness of strangers. Keisha couldn't have survived her seinor year if she hadn't had both during her incredibly rough timne at Hazelwood High.
  
  
• Michele's
  By A2RMDNZLLMMVXD on 2005-04-28
  I think the book because the charcters were real. there was a guy named gerald who had a bad life he lost two of his best friends in a accident. they are all around my age which is 18 years old. everything that happpen in the book can happpen in the real wrold.the main charcter in the book was raped by a student teachter.That happens alot in the united states.I read the book in three days because there was always something happen that i could relate too. I have never read a book that fast. it was one of the best books i have read.
  
  
• realistic
  By A2A475CD0C8MWB on 2005-04-28
  I liked this book because you can really relate to all the characters in this story. I could relate to the character of Kiesha and how she over came all the struggles that she went through in order to finally get through the year. This book made me feel as if it was happening right in front of my eyes. I would tell other readers of all ages to read this book, because it is a great book and everyone could possibly relate to this book
  
  
• Touching
  By on 2005-07-02
  This is a story about an 18 year old named Keisha. Keisha is still hurting over her boyfriend's suicide. When the principal's shows intrest in her, she feels loved and we all want to be loved. Johnathan turns out to be a different man than she thought he was.
  
  
• one of the best books i have ever read!!!! tjmill91
  By on 2005-07-02
  this book is fantastic. i love it so much. if you liked this book. i sugest forged by fire and tears of a tiger. they are all exellent!!!!!!!
  
  
• My daughter liked it
  By A2NUPSBXV734MN on 2005-12-15
  My teenage daughter liked the book. Some of the dialogue was a little difficult to follow in certain places, but all in all she said she could really identify with the setting and situations. She liked it so much she wanted to read other books by her - so we ordered "Julio and Romiette". She really loved that one and shared it with her girlfriends who are still passing it around!
  
  
  
• Fantastic!!!
  By AXIKH5B3ZPBKN on 2006-05-29
  This book is continuation of Tears of a Tiger. Keisha was Andy's girlfriend and now left with rest of her friends Ronda, Tyrone, BJ, Gerald, and Leon to survive without out their two friends Andy and Rob, who both died. Now in her senior year Keisha is selected class president and is having the best year. The principal's 23-year-old son is the new track coach and he has his eye on Keisha. Slowly Keisha begins to find comfort in 23-year-old Jonathan and starts going out with him. Soon the relationship takes a wrong turns when Jonathan takes Keisha to his apartment and tries to rape and kill her with his jack knife.
  Sharon M. Draper is the greatest well-known writer that I know. I love his style of writing and how she brings her characters to live. Every book she ever made is great and I can't wait til she makes more.
  
  
  
• One mother's opinion
  By A21A2551HL420T on 2007-08-27
  My teenager and I just finished reading this book as a summer reading requirement for school. We both agreed that it was one of the worst books we had ever read. The conversations were silly, the word "dude" was said at least 3 dozen times (who says "dude" anymore anyway?) and the situations were melodramatic to say the least. We both agree there are much better options out there for high school students and our hope is that the English teacher who chose this for class won't require any more from this author.
  
  
• Darkness before Dawn, a winning book
  By A114QBKD7NGC4S on 2001-02-18
  This book should be read by all people. The content relates to teenagers of all ages.The book mainly has African- American characters. like Tyrone, Rhonda and Leon.Keisha the main character is having trouble dealing with issues in her life. Until she meets Jonathan, the principal's son and new cross-country track coach. He watchs Keisha for a while then makes his move. Calls her house, send her gift boxes wrapped with silver ribbon. Then Keisha starts to change, Acting more mature and dressing grown-up than usually.But Jonathan is the one who has the dark secret.His past is terrible. The book is suspenseful and humorous throughout. I recommed this book to anyone.it's just great. Check it out at your nearest library or bookstore.This is Alyssa signing out. ;~)
  
  
• Which path to choose
  By A1CBTP78GBN5QP on 2002-05-09
  Darkness Before Dawn
  

  How would you feel if the one person you truly loved killed themself's? Well if you want to come close to knowing how that feels i think you should read Darkness Before Dawn By: Walter dean Myers. Once you start reading this book you will not want to put it down. This book will leave everyone sad and emotional. This is one of the best books of the decade in my opinion.
  When 18 year old Keisha Montgomery first found out that her ex-boyfriend Andy had committed suicide she couldn't believe it. Keisha didn't think that she could even go on with her life because the love she had for Andy was so strong. Keisha thinks that she can never get over Andy until she meets Jonathan the good looking son of her school principal. And that is when things start going downhill for keisha. All of the things that she had ever feared will slowly creep up on her.
  Once you read this book it will leave you wondering who you can and can't trust. Some will find out the easy way and some like Keisha will have to find out the hard way. Even though teens have a hard time listening to what their parents say they should try once i a while because just when you least think it they might have the answers to all the questions you have. Like when Keisha"s parents told her not to go out with Jonathan because he was 5 years older then her she didn't listen. The only thing she got out of it was heartache and misery.
  Just because you are 18 years old does not mean that you know everything in life. Even if you want to be the kind of person that doesn't want to live by your parents words at least try. Never Keisha thinks just because Jonathan looks nice that he is a gentlemen but all that is about to change when she gets a little closer to him. Keisha's Parents tell her " we don't think that you should be out with someone who is 5 years older then you." Even hey friend tell's her " Girl there is something about that boy that i just cant get." But keisha is very hard headed and doesn't listen.
  After reading this book I found out that you can never trust someone just because of the way that they look. First you need to get to know them on the inside then you can judge them. I think that listening to your friends and parents once in a while is not so bad. They can save you from a lot of harm. So if you want to know all the things I know now I think you should read this book.
  
  

• An AWSOME teen drama
  By on 2002-07-20
  This was an awesome book. Out of all of Sharon M Draper's books, I think that this was the best written. Draper writes on some subjects that you really don't see many writers write about.
  This book kept me on the edge of my seat as I read chapter after chapter. I was very eager to continue to read this book.
  Darkness Before Dawn is a book that I think most teens will enjoy.
  
  
• A Great BooK!
  By on 2002-09-03
  I have read Forged By Fire and Tears of a Tiger and this book is the best out that series.... It goes more in dept about Andy's girlfriend Keisha Montgomery... She is trying to cope with Andy's death (After he killed himself). This left her life in complete horror. This led her to look for love in the worng places when it right in here face. I think all high school girls that may be in this situation should read this book. It is very good and I think that many people can relate to it.
  
  
• Darkness Before Dawn
  By A2O7WN7JXP3U3L on 2003-03-03
  When I started reading this book it sucked me in right away, because it started talking aboutwhat a girl named Keisha was going throgh. I really like the book Darkness Befroe Dawn.

  Meet Keisha and Andy--- Keisha is the girl that was going out with Andy and then one day Andy broke up with her. She was kind of upset, but she got over it. Then the next day one of Andy's friends went it his house and found Andy laying on the floor dead, blood all over and a gun in his hand.

  I really like this book because it was realistic and I can't wait to read some more of Sharon. M.Draper books. This book is kind of a love story, so it's definetely for a romantic person.
  
  

• I really liked this book
  By A3IYSM9PKJGRIA on 2003-05-14
  This is a book that inspires a person to not want to snike around when someone trys to help them.It let's you know that you can never trust anybody that you meet. do a backround check on that person. So I really thoght this wass a book for those who went through her prombles are who and gettin into it
  
  
• Love
  By A3FZIBRP799KQS on 2004-02-20
  I really enjoyed this book i would actually read it over and over. I think that what happen to Keisha can happen to a female everyday i feel that forJonthan to be so sweet how could he be so cruel I think that he acts the way he acts because he has a mental problem or he's suffering from something that occured in his childhood. He really didn't learn his leason about Keisha or his past victum because he went out and prayed on another female. I think he should be looked away and they should through away the key. I don't know how anybody could commite such a crime. I pray that all men like him get looked up forever, they should have to suffer mentally and physically let all those women did.
  
  
• nice
  By A2VW5EHM6OS1PF on 2005-02-13
  this was a nice book too read. and the author really did put alot of effort writting this book.
  
  

• Forged By Fire
• Tears Of A Tiger
• Romiette and Julio
• The Battle of Jericho
• Copper Sun