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2001 young adult novel by Sharon M. Draper From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Darkness Before Dawn is a realistic young adult novel written by author Sharon M. Draper in 2001. The novel is the third and final installment in the Hazelwood High Trilogy. It depicts the story of an eighteen-year-old African American senior Keisha Montgomery, who is attracted to the twenty-three-year-old track coach Jonathan Hathaway.
First edition | |
| Author | Sharon M. Draper |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | Hazelwood High Trilogy |
| Subject | Date rape |
| Genre | Realistic fiction |
| Publisher | Atheneum Books |
Publication date | 1 Feb 2001 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print- |
| Pages | 272 pp |
| ISBN | 0-689-83080-7 |
| Preceded by | Forged by Fire |
Eighteen-year-old Keisha Montgomery is still recovering from the suicide of her ex-boyfriend, Andy, after she broke up with him. While having the support of her friends and family, she starts to go out. She joins the track team and there meets Jonathan Hathaway, the twenty-three-year-old coach, and principal's son. During a track meeting, a girl named Rita begins arguing with Jonathan. He denies what they were talking about and after shouting some choice curse words, she runs into the woods, never to return to school.
Over time, he begins to smooth talk her and they finally become a couple. Her parents disapprove of him being five years older and forbid her to see him. Against their wishes, she continues to see him discreetly. Her friends attempt to warn her about his true ways but she refuses to listen to them. Leon Hawkins, a friend with feelings for Keisha, also tries to warn her.
Ignoring everyone's warnings, she uses Leon to cover up her tracks when Jonathan asks her to the Valentine's dance. After the dance, Jonathan takes Keisha to his apartment and he attempts to engage in a sexual moment with her. After seeing her refusal to 'cooperate', Jonathan attempts to force her with a knife. Keisha cuts him and eventually manages to escape. She seeks the help of a homeless woman named Edna who sees her running in the snow. She takes Keisha in and gives Keisha a phone to call her parents.
Finally safe in her home, she tells her parents her experience and apologizes sincerely. She also notes her refusal to attend school, as she feels ashamed. After two weeks of absences, Rita comes back and tells her she has experienced some of the same things as Keisha but she did not escape. Mr. Hathaway resigns as the principal, and one of Jonathan's other victims presses charges, resulting in him getting a thirty-year prison sentence. Feeling relieved that Jonathan is in jail, she returns to school and Keisha graduates with the rest of her friends.
Kirkus Reviews wrote "This series appears to be an attempt to carve out a niche of the high-school problem-novel market for African-American teens; it’s a pity this offering only complements the banality so often found in this genre."[2]
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