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Trisha | 2/14/2014
" Short novel in poetry form. I really liked this one. Looks at the biblical story of Ishmael and pairs it with a contemporary character who is facing a parallel situation--losing a father to another woman and son. "
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Jeanne | 2/6/2014
" This book brought me to tears. It touched my soul. Abraham's son, Ishmael, and Sam, an African American living in modern day, take turns narrating the story. They have quite a bit in common. They are both rejected by their fathers, and then learn to continue with life. "
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Becca | 1/7/2014
" Dark Sons is the story of two young men, one during biblical times and one during modern times. They are both facing the fact that their father has chosen another family, another child, over them and how they feel about it. The relationship the two men have with God is tested as they try to come to terms with the direction their life is taking. "
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Danielle | 1/5/2014
" I enjoyed this book. It tells the story of two boys trying to make peace with both their god, as well as with the challenging circumstances they've been dealt. The poetic flow yields an easy read. Before using this in a classroom, I would have to supplement some background information of the relevant biblical story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar but it would still be an enjoyable read without it. "
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Marcia | 1/1/2014
" Poetic recounting of Sam (and Ishamel) whose fathers abandon their mothers. New insights can be gained on the Biblical story of Abraham's son Ishmael and the modern sons of divorce. "
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Jonathan Hiskes | 12/9/2013
" A novel of two intertwining stories told through verse -- Ishmael of Abraham's clan and another rejected first-born in modern-day Brooklyn. Grimes does a little too much telling for fiction, but the prose is readable and unpretentious. Cool experiment in format. "
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R | 11/16/2013
" I liked Ishmael's story more than Sam's. "
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Emily | 11/3/2013
" parallels between biblical and contemporary sons "
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Karen | 6/10/2013
" Fantastic book. I read it in one evening. It compares Ishmael (Abraham's son) to a present day son. Well written and though provoking. "
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Mr. Steve | 4/14/2013
" Written in alternating poems comparing and contrasting the conflicted feelings of Ishmael, son of the Biblical patriarch Abraham, and Sam, a modern teenager in New York City. Interesting concept and well-written, but it didn't totally come together for me. "
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Elizabeth | 12/6/2012
" I love this book because it feels like your in the book. He talks about his hardship about losing his mother and I find it awesome how he let's out his emotions, because alot of the guys I know really wouldn't do it. "
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Desiree | 7/10/2012
" This book parallels the story of ishmael from the bible and a teen in the present and how they both dealt with being castaway from their fathers. Powerful imagery loved the poem form. "
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Autumn | 4/6/2012
" I liked this better than A Girl Called Mister because the allegory was a little more subtle. And I like what she did to humanize the Bible story, which is an interesting one to start with. "
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April | 10/21/2011
" I really liked this story that weaves the story of Abraham and Ishmael together with a modern teen trying to deal with his divorced dad. "
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Candace | 10/13/2011
" I have no idea how someone can tell two coherent stories entirely in poetry form and have it read like a novel, but Nikki Grimes does it amazingly well. I'm in awe. Definitely recommend "
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Adji | 1/4/2011
" I THINK THAT THIS BOOK WAS REALLY GRAT. I COULD REALLY RELATE TO THIS BOOK BECAUSE I'M GOING THROUGH WHAT SAM IS GOING THROUGH. HE HAS A REALLY TOUGH TIME DEALING WITH HIS FATHER GONE AND MARRIED WITH ANOTHER WOMAN.
"
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Jeanne | 10/19/2010
" This book brought me to tears. It touched my soul. Abraham's son, Ishmael, and Sam, an African American living in modern day, take turns narrating the story. They have quite a bit in common. They are both rejected by their fathers, and then learn to continue with life.
"
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Mr. Steve | 5/5/2009
" Written in alternating poems comparing and contrasting the conflicted feelings of Ishmael, son of the Biblical patriarch Abraham, and Sam, a modern teenager in New York City. Interesting concept and well-written, but it didn't totally come together for me.
"
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Karen | 3/10/2009
" Fantastic book. I read it in one evening. It compares Ishmael (Abraham's son) to a present day son. Well written and though provoking.
"
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April | 10/15/2008
" I really liked this story that weaves the story of Abraham and Ishmael together with a modern teen trying to deal with his divorced dad.
"
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