Sam idolized his father, and can’t understand why he left.  Can’t understand why he remarries (to a younger white woman).  Why he has a child with her, why they move away.  His fury threatens to burn him up.  In parallel narration, the biblical Ishmael, the son of Abraham and the maidservant Hagar, is banished to wander in the desert after Abraham’s wife bears a child.  The entire novel is written in verse, with each poem reflecting either Sam or Ishmael’s perspective.

The dual narration is very effective, and paced well-I never found myself wanting to skip ahead to the next “Ishmael” section or to see what was happening to Sam-it flows very well.  One thing that might be an issue with this book is the religious content-Sam is deeply religious and the way his relationship with his father impacts on his faith is a big part of the story.  I felt it was handled well, but if another reader found it preachy, I wouldn’t be able to argue with them.

I’m a big fan of verse novels like Dark Sons. A lot of students (well, people) see poetry as inscrutable and old-fashioned, and authors like Nikki Grimes and Ellen Hopkins are doing a lot to counter act this view.  Also, it’s a great demonstration of how rich, sophisticated language doesn’t require a high reading level.

Grade Level:  5.2

Rating: ★★★★