Kissing Tennessee: And Other Stories from the Stardust Dance

by Kathi Appelt

Book Overview

Mason and Carrie Marie can't get up the courage to ask each other to dance. Russ's girlfriend has died, and now he's just trying to live without her. Peggy Lee has grown up with Tennessee--how can she... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152051279
• ISBN13: 9780152051273
• Release Date: April 2004
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 118 Pages
• Weight: 0.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 7.1"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Young adult romance - and realism

A collection of short stories, both bitter and sweet, that touch the most vulnerable of times - our teen years. As a young adult librarian who works with teen girls from disordered and abusive situations I was thrilled to have this special collection of short stories to share with them. Kissing Tennessee contained stories many of the girls relate to, with situations very similar to their own experiences. "Rachel's Sister" and "The Right Word" are two of the most powerful stories that communicate to readers in similar situations that "you are not alone." Though the book focuses on a junior high dance, I have found it just as appealing to high school readers. I am so thankful that more authors like Appelt who are writing for teens are addressing their real issues, experiences, and concerns. Yes, there are the tender, romantic stories here, too. But Appelt is in tune with the rest of the world that teens live in. It is not all fantasy. There is bitter right along with the sweet. A stellar collection highly recommended.

Kissing Tennessee

Do you remember what it was like to be in the 8th grade? Kathi Appelt helps us to remember what a wonderful and sometimes confusing time adolescence is. Written in a true Southern voice, this selection of individual stories chronicles one night to remember in several middle school student's lives. This isn't an idealized account of what we would perceive a 1950's youth would experience. With sometimes brutal honesty and an eye to detail, the book give us a window into the lives of these young students as they cross the threshold into adulthood in the late 20th Century.

Powerful, heart-rending stories

What a powerful collection of stories, full of teenage drama and lyrical language and plot moves that left me breathless. Many of the stories are sad, but many adolescent lives are sad. Mine was full of angst, and I would have loved this book when I was that age. For that matter, I loved it now.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG

I would have loved reading this book. The word is out; there is no 'typical' junior high. I was raised in the 50's, lived in a nice neighborhood, was a fairly ordinary teen. But guess what? One of my friends was indeed beaten by her father. And one was in fact abandoned by a religious-fanatic father. And yes, there were rapes. And boys who reminisced about first loves. There were also those who did their homework, cooked suppers, played the cello and on and on. But, where's the story. Teenagers today face issues that many people refuse to admit. Or want to hear. Or know. That is sad. Because it is tough. Hallways are places that are filled with contagious laughter and horrible sadnesses. Dances too. Dances especially. And let's don't overlook what wonders the stories have to offer; the stolen kisses, the kisses dreamed of, the tender moment of dancing itself. These characters have heartache. And courage. It's the kids who aren't ordinary who encounterthe world in a not so safe place, but learn to live in it anyway. I, for one, will recommend all teens read this book. I have two words for this book; evocative, magical.

Best Book for Teens Touches the Heartstrings

It's no wonder that this much anticipated short-story collection by noted author Kathi Appelt was recognized as a Best Book for Young Adults by the American Library Association or that it is so eagerly devoured by young teens looking for stories that connect with their real lives. The school dance in these tales holds all the perils and delights of those memorable moments, the ones that young people use to define themselves and will forever look back upon. This is a book that can be enjoyed on many levels. Real, romantic, gritty, and touching, KISSING TENNESSEE will leave thoughtful readers with much to ponder and all of us still swaying to the music.