Keeping the Night Watch

Bibliography

Smith, Hope Anita. 2008. Illus.by E.B. Lewis. KEEPING THE NIGHT WATCH. New York, NY: Henry Holt and Company, LLC. ISBN: 9780805072020


Review:

In this emotionally charged story, C.J., a young boy, deals with the fact that his father, who once deserted the family, has now returned. His feelings of resentment, anger, and distrust are expressed expertly by Hope Anita Smith. In Keeping the Night Watch, C.J.'s family begins to accept their Dad's place in the family while C.J. avoid his father and struggles with feelings of betrayal and resentment. As time goes by, C.J. Begins to heal, he and his father resolve their issues and learn to embrace one another. Smith concludes the story by having the whole family dance away their anger and pain, “They dance to free themselves for their fears. They dance to exercise their sadness. They dance to celebrate the ties that bind.”


Excerpt: “Mountain Climbing:

It takes
all of Daddy's energy to
move his words across the chasm
that separate us.
When he speaks, he words echo
and have lost all meaning when
they finally reach my ear.
I hope, one day,
that my snowy mountain of anger will be
so weighed down with Daddy's apology,
I will be overwhelmed
by an avalanche of forgiveness.

Introducing the Poem:

Definitely targeted for older children in middle school or high school, this book deals with sensitive issues such as single parent household and serious emotions such as anger, fear, and resentment. This a great read that will open up young people's eyes to the many struggles that people face. For those that come from a two-parent household great understanding and empathy will be gained for those that come from single parent homes. For students that have actually dealt with these family issues, Hope Anita Smith's words offer support and show there's reason to hope and that there's joy in forgiving.