November Blues

by Sharon M. Draper Narrated by J.D. Jackson

Overview

Sequel to Coretta Scott King Award winner The Battle of Jericho, November Blues is a Coretta Scott King Honor Book. November Nelson lost her boyfriend Josh when a high school hazing incident went horribly wrong. She thinks life can't get worse-then she learns she is carrying Josh's child. She seeks comfort from Josh's cousin and best friend Jericho, who himself is trying to hide the pain of his friend's death by diving into his sports and music. Listeners will get to hear November's story as well as Jericho's as they come to terms with Josh's death.

Editorial Reviews

School Library Journal

Gr 8 Up In The Battle of Jericho (S & S, 2003), Josh died as a result of a hazing ritual. Now, his girlfriend and his cousin Jericho are dealing with his sudden death. For November, it also means facing the consequences of having had sex with Josh the night before he died and learning that she is pregnant. Draper gives an accurate and sympathetic portrayal of urban teens at a crossroad. There are no false notes in these strong male and female characters. Readers will care about them and appreciate the straightforward way that the author presents the issues they face, from the everyday struggles of cafeteria confrontations to the dire situation of teenage pregnancy. Draper clearly shows, through November, the pros and cons of having a baby while still in school; the loss of freedom and a changing future; and, finally, acceptance and a deep love for a child. Another strong element of the story is the supportive adults who surround the teens. While still in the background, the parents and teachers can be counted on when they are needed. There are no easy answers and there's no pat ending; what comes through is that life plans can change in an instant and it is how we react to these changes that makes us who we are and who we become. Urban teens often ask, "Where are the books about us, Miss?" and with this novel Draper has once again given them something meaty and meaningful to read.-Anne Rouyer, New York Public Library

Kirkus Reviews

Sixteen-year-old Josh Prescott dies jumping from a second-story window in a high-school hazing ritual and leaves behind a mess. His girlfriend, November Nelson, is pregnant, his cousin Jericho has lost his best friend and his parents hire a lawyer to try to convince November that they ought to raise their grandchild. November is her mother's "perfect princess," the one who's going to make it, and it's this mother-daughter relationship that is the heart of the novel. With its effective depiction of the difficulties of having a baby-the health issues, the damaged relationship with her mother, the tricky dynamics of school life-this is clearly a cautionary tale about teen pregnancy. Though the dialogue sounds stilted at times, the story is well-plotted, realistic and matter-of-fact, and November and Jericho are well-drawn, likable characters. Though a companion to The Battle of Jericho (2003), this stands well on its own. (Fiction. YA)

Product Details

BN ID:	2940170671939
Publisher:	Recorded Books, LLC
Publication date:	09/19/2008
Edition description:	Unabridged

Read an Excerpt

November Blues

TUESDAY, MARCH 30

NOVEMBER NELSON LURCHED TO THE BATHROOM, feeling faint and not quite in control of her suddenly unsteady legs. She touched her forehead and found it warm and glazed with sweat. Sinking down on the soft blue rug in front of the toilet, she was grateful for the momentary stability of the floor. But her head continued to spin, and her stomach churned. She lifted the toilet lid, gazed into the water, and wished she could disappear into its depths. Her breath became more shallow, and her nausea more intense. Finally, uncontrollably, and forcefully, all her distress erupted and she lost her lunch in heaves and waves of vomiting. Pepperoni pizza.

She flushed the toilet several times as she sat on the floor waiting to feel normal again. Finally she stood up shakily, gargled with peppermint mouthwash, and peered at herself in the mirror.

“You look like a hot mess,” she whispered to her reflection. Her skin, instead of its usual coppery brown, looked gray and mottled. She hadn’t combed her hair all day, so it was a halo of tangles.

November knew her mother would be home soon and would be angry to find out she’d skipped school. She didn’t care. Her thoughts were focused on the package in her backpack. Even though she knew the house was empty, she made sure the bathroom door was locked. She dug the little purple and pink box out of her book bag and placed it on the sink. It seemed out of place in her mother’s perfectly coordinated powder blue bathroom.

With trembling hands she unwrapped the plastic and opened the box. She read the directions carefully. She looked out of the small bathroom window and watched the last of the early spring snow melting on the grass. Everything looked the same, but she knew in her heart that it was all different now.

November finally turned back to the little white tube in the box and followed the instructions, which were written, she noticed, in Spanish and French as well. Three minutes later the indicator silently screamed the news that she already suspected. She was pregnant.

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