Kissing Tennessee: And Other Stories from the Stardust Dance

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Summary: Portraits of Bittersweet teen lives
Review: Kathi Appelt has taken a bold step from her picture books into these realistic short stories sporting a cross-section of teens from Anywhere, USA. Tho she sets her stories in the south at a Jr. High school dance, the experiences her characters face are real and often universal situations that most people can relate to. Each character has a fresh and unique voice. Kathi isn't afraid to include the tougher issues that some teens experience, but also handles the everyday struggles of things like a first kiss with insight and heart. This is an exellent book for peaking interest in reading in our young people who find whole novels too forboding to attempt.

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Summary: teens will love this book!
Review: Kathi Appelt is my favorite writer for young adults! Yes, I've said it. I love her even more than Chris Crutcher or Lois Lowry, more than Chris Lynch or Paul Zindel. Why is Appelt #1 on my list? Because there is a vulnerability in her writing, a willingness to examine the dichotomy of life--the beauty and pain of a single moment. She takes you to the places we live -- especially teenagers -- where life just makes you want to ask "What's going on here?" You see that throughout the stories of Kissing Tennessee. My favorite of them all is "Star Bears." It tells the story of Cub Tanner -- a boy who is struggling with his sexual orientation. Yes, I know, some of you may think that is too controversial a topic for young adult fiction, but don't be alarmed. Appelt gives the topic of teens struggling with sexuality the most tasteful and insightful treatment I have read since that ground-breaking collection Am I Blue? Cub Tanner spends much of the story sitting on the rooftop of his school during a dance, waiting for a friend he has a secret crush on. Through various flashbacks, you see the development of this crush and the fear that accompanies it. This is the epitome of Appelt's honesty -- the fear with which Cub begins to embrace his awakening identity. As an English teacher, I have used this book with 10th - 12th grade students, and I will always view her work as essential to any classroom library.

Rating:
Summary: teens will love this book!
Review: Kathi Appelt is my favorite writer for young adults! Yes, I've said it. I love her even more than Chris Crutcher or Lois Lowry, more than Chris Lynch or Paul Zindel. Why is Appelt #1 on my list? Because there is a vulnerability in her writing, a willingness to examine the dichotomy of life--the beauty and pain of a single moment. She takes you to the places we live -- especially teenagers -- where life just makes you want to ask "What's going on here?" You see that throughout the stories of Kissing Tennessee. My favorite of them all is "Star Bears." It tells the story of Cub Tanner -- a boy who is struggling with his sexual orientation. Yes, I know, some of you may think that is too controversial a topic for young adult fiction, but don't be alarmed. Appelt gives the topic of teens struggling with sexuality the most tasteful and insightful treatment I have read since that ground-breaking collection Am I Blue? Cub Tanner spends much of the story sitting on the rooftop of his school during a dance, waiting for a friend he has a secret crush on. Through various flashbacks, you see the development of this crush and the fear that accompanies it. This is the epitome of Appelt's honesty -- the fear with which Cub begins to embrace his awakening identity. As an English teacher, I have used this book with 10th - 12th grade students, and I will always view her work as essential to any classroom library.

Rating:
Summary: A reader of children's literature
Review: Kathi Appelt pulls you into the Stardust Dance so that you feel as if you are watching the strobe light reflect across the faces of real Jr. High students. Her sense of real-life characters and the types of situations they might face is not only interesting but thought provoking as well. Kathi writes about the students at the Stardust Dance with a poetic style that not only keeps the pace of the book moving quickly but also leaves you with a sense of 'fairy tale' at the end of each short story. I highly recommend reading KISSING TENNESSEE.

Rating:
Summary: A fine book for teens!
Review: Kathi Appelt touches areas that are of concern to today's teens with a finely-crafted novel. The characters reflect kids we all know or are and the situations are identifiable to almost everyone going through these years.

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Summary: Kissing Tennessee, a book all teenagers should read
Review: Kathi Appelt touches on serious teen issues ranging from abuse, and rape, to discovering you're gay. In Dance With Me you really feel the anticipation as the character works up the nerve to ask Lucy White to dance. You really feel as if you are one of eighth graders at the Dogwood Junior High dance. This is easily one of my favorite books. You can read and reread the stories unlike the recycled teen trash that has become much to common. You can hunker down for a moving tale that will bring you to tears, or you can pick a light cheery story if your feeling down.

Rating:
Summary: Kissing Tennessee: Stories for real teens
Review: Kissing Tennessee addresses the real-life challenges teenagers today are dealing with; with emotion-charged stories that let teenagers know they are not alone on their journey through life. Kathi Appelt writes for young adults, as young adults. Ms. Appelt does not sugar coat any bitterness of the conflicting feelings of puberty. As a youth leader, working with middle and high school age teens on a daily basis, I highly recommend "Kissing Tennessee." Many young people will be able to identify with the characters in the stories in "Kissing Tennessee." It will affirm young readers own feelings and realities, letting them know they are worthy human beings; regardless of the tragedies they have encountered, and like the characters at the Stardust Dance, they too are capable of overcoming, succeeding and dancing as they slip and slide on the waltz to adulthood.

Rating:
Summary: Utterly Fantastic
Review: Kissing Tennessee has definitely become one of my favorite books ever. Not only were the stories light-hearted, moving, touching, realistic, and humorous, the whole theme of the book was brilliant -- the people at the Stardust Dance all having wonderful stories to tell. (I just loved the invitation at the front.) But the best reason was that this is young-adult realistic fiction book about 8th graders. You see plenty of these type of books about high schoolers but never about 8th graders. And having been in middle school once myself, I really appreciated these stories about 8th graders dealing with serious issues as an abusive parent, rape, homosexuality, love, poverty, etc... And aside from the serious issues I also appreciated the light-hearted stories about getting the courage to admit to your crush you like him/her. This book was utterly fantastic, and I look forward to more of Kathi Appelt's books for young adults.

Rating:
Summary: Kissing Tennessee
Review: Kissing Tennessee is a book about teenage issues and experiences that really touch you. Each story interconects and fits together like putting a puzzle together. At the end of the story you will understand how and why they are related. You will see the big picture! I really enjoy reading this book because it touch my heart.

Rating:
Summary: Kissing Tennesse
Review: Kissing Tennessee, is a book about teenage issues and experiences that really touch you. Each story interconects and fits together like putting a puzzle together. At the end of the story you will understand how each of the stories relate. You will see the big picture! I really enjoy reading this book because it touch my heart.