November Blues

In this second novel in Sharon M. Draper's Jericho Trilogy and Coretta Scott King Honor Book, Jericho and November are locked together in pain from the past and fear for the future, and it feels as though there's no way to escape either.

When November Nelson loses her boyfriend, Josh, to a pledge stunt gone horribly wrong, she thinks her life can't possibly get any worse. But Josh left something behind that will change November's life forever. She's pregnant and now she's faced with the biggest decision of her life. How in the world will she tell her mom? And how will Josh's parents take the news? She's never needed a friend more.

Jericho Prescott lost his best friend when he lost his cousin, Josh, and the pain is almost more than he can bear. His world becomes divided into "before" and "after" Josh's death. He finds the only way he can escape the emptiness he feels is to quit doing the things that made him happy when his cousin was alive, such as playing his beloved trumpet. At the same time, he begins playing football, where he hopes the physical pain will suppress the emotional agony. But will hiding behind shoulder pads really help? And will his gridiron obsession prevent him from being there for his cousin's girlfriend when she needs him most?

Author: Sharon M. Draper
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 10/23/2007
Pages: 320
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.90lbs
Size: 8.54h x 5.85w x 1.17d
ISBN: 9781416906988
Audience: Young Adult

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 4.6
Point Value: 11
Interest Level: Upper Grade
Quiz #/Name: 118496 / November Blues


Award: Coretta Scott King Award - Honor Book
Award: Black-Eyed Susan Award - Nominee
Award: Delaware Diamonds Award - Winner


Review Citation(s):
Voice of Youth Advocates 10/01/2007 pg. 327 - Recommended - Better Than Most
Kirkus Review - Children 10/01/2007 pg. 1047
School Library Journal 11/01/2007 pg. 120
Booklist 10/15/2007 pg. 44
Multicultural Review 03/01/2008 pg. 84
Ebony 09/01/2008 pg. 54

About the Author
Sharon M. Draper is a three-time New York Times bestselling author and a recipient of the Margaret A. Edwards Award honoring her significant and lasting contribution to writing for teens. She has received the Coretta Scott King Award for both Copper Sun and Forged by Fire, and was awarded the Charlotte Huck Award for Stella by Starlight. Her novel Out of My Mind has won multiple awards and was a New York Times bestseller for over three years, and Blended has also been a New York Times bestseller. She lives in Florida, where she taught high school English for twenty-five years and was named National Teacher of the Year. Visit her at SharonDraper.com.