Upstate

Buckhanon, Kalisha.  Upstate.  New York: St. Martin’s Griffin, 2005.  Paperback.  ISBN:978-0-312-33269-3.  US $11.95.  247pgs.

Annotation:

       When Antonio is sent to prison for murdering his father the only way he has to communicate with his girlfriend is through letters. Upstate, told in letter form, follows the couple as they each grow up separately but fighting to stay together.  Recommended for ages 16+ due to sexual situations and language.


Cover from Goodreads.com

Booktalk:

       “Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father? I need to know if you believe what everybody is saying about me because I need to know if you got my back.” (pg1)

       Seventeen year old Antonio and sixteen year old Natasha are in love.  It seems like nothing can tear them apart until Antonio is convicted of stabbing his father to death.  He’s sentenced to ten years in jail, ten years where they’ll barely see each other.  So they write letters, lots of letters, trying to keep each other in their lives.  But are letters enough to keep their relationship going when Antonio is Upstate?

Book Review:

       Told complete in letters between Antonio and his girlfriend Natasha this is a beautiful, sad story of two teens growing up and apart due to bad circumstances.  Buckhanon does a wonderful job of showing the growth of each teen not just in age but also in their character development.  Parts of the story do seem too obvious but are easily forgivable since the book is more about the characters than the plotline.

       Both Antonio and Natasha have a strong voice making this book appealing to both guys and girls who are looking for books about relationships, growing up, or life in prison. Language and graphic references to sexual situations make this book more appropriate for older teens and adults.

Awards and honors:

2006- ALA Alex Award

         Audio Publishers Association Award in Literary Fiction

         nominated for the Hurston/Wright Foundation's Debut Fiction Award

         one of YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults

Want to find out more about this book or author?  Check these out:

Author website: http://kalishab.blogspot.com/

                  Follow the author on Twitter

Author interview:
        Interview in Mosaic magazine Fall 2008

Listen to an excerpt from the book: