Comfort [Hardcover]

Carolee Dean (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 25, 2002

Nothing ever happened here. Nothing ever would.

Fifteen-year-old Kenny Wilson wants nothing more than to get out of Comfort, Texas—fast. Only three things stand in his way: getting enough money together, convincing Cindy Blackwell to go with him, and escaping the clawlike grip of his mother.
Amidst these problems, Kenny must also contend with tumultuous feelings about his alcoholic father (newly released from prison) and his growing guilt over leaving his baby brother behind in a wake of dysfunction. But as life at home becomes even more unbearable and threatens to destroy his plans, he is determined not to lose his dreams to a lifetime of waiting tables in his mama’s rundown café. Propelled by desire and despair, Kenny discovers the power of words and how they can change lives in ways he never dared to hope for. He comes to realize that there’s a time to stop running and take a stand.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grades 7-10--Set in Comfort, TX, this tightly written coming-of-age story begins with Kenny Roy Willson applying for a hardship driver's license. He's only 14, but his mother has doctored his birth certificate to make him 15, the legal age. She needs Kenny to drive his daddy, soon to be home from the penitentiary, to AA meetings since he had 23 DWIs before he robbed the liquor store. Kenny is a good kid, talented in band and football, but his mother makes him give up both. He is also a gifted writer. Mama has plans for her son-to slave away at their 24-hour family caf‚, to quit school at 16, and to unconditionally support her dream for her husband to become a country-and-western singer. But the teen has his own dream-to leave home. As the bookkeeper, he collects the pay that Mama never gives him and adds it to his "Dallas Fund." Plus, he enters the poetry-interpretation and newswriting segments of the University Interscholastic League competition with the hope of adding to his stash. Kenny is a strong, insightful character who maintains his gentle sense of humor in the most desperate circumstances and gains some understanding of his parents' struggles. Even though he is dealt some hard blows, readers know that he is a survivor. Dean has superbly woven poets and poetry into the teen's story. Outstanding writing, strong characterization and plot development, and good background information make this title rise above many other recent genre entries.
Lynn Bryant, Great Bridge Middle School, Chesapeake, VA
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Dean has superbly woven poets and poetry into the teen's story. Outstanding writing, strong characterization and plot development, and good background information make this title rise above many other recent genre entries." School Library Journal, Starred

"Reminiscent of S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders, this novel poignantly portrays the life of a good kid with rotten parents who are so engrossed in their own problems that their children become emotional orphans." --VOYA VOYA (Voice of Youth Advocates)

"Readers who crave independence and a way to break destructive family cycles will take interest, as will fans of poetry and poetry slams." --Kirkus Reviews Kirkus Reviews

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children (March 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0618138463
• ISBN-13: 978-0618138463
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,716,073 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page Turner!, January 2, 2005

By 

Anna (Michigan, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Comfort (Hardcover)

There are no words to describe how good this book was. It's a page turner that you never want to put down. It's a emotional book that pulls you in. It's about a struggling 15 year old boy named Kenny. His mother trys to control his life, and his father is an ex-con. Kennny gets fed up with his mom and desides to do somthing with his life. This is a must read and i hope u like it as much as i did.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved This Book!, November 18, 2004

By 

Kimberley Little "Children's/YA Writer" (New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Comfort (Hardcover)

From the very first lines, I was hooked. The writing is compelling, it just pulls you right in, and the storyline heartwrenching and dramatic. Kenny has a tough life, a controlling wacky mom who runs his life, an ex-con for a dad, but he holds on to his hopes and dreams and finds a way to escape and make a new life for himself. This is an incredible first novel by an author who's going places. Get this book today and settle in for a great read!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A very emotional book!, May 28, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Comfort (Hardcover)

Comfort by Carolee Dean was a very emotional book! It felt like an emotional rollercoaster. I enjoyed reading this book for that reason. I was hooked from the beginning until the end! There are many tough decisions made throughout the novel which sets up all the emotional rollercoasters.
Kenny Willson must make many difficult choices for his age. With his dad getting out of prison after serving a long sentence for robbery and multiple DUI charges, everything turns for the worst. Kenny's mother being controlling and demanding doesn't make anything better either.
School and writing are Kenny's only outlets to being able to express him self in a way that he wants to. When a writing competition comes up, Kenny gets really happy because he will be able to leave his home town and to what he's good at. Even though he really wants to go, he knows in his head that his chances of going are slim, but he keeps hope alive.
Kenny desperately wants to escape Comfort, Texas and run away to Dallas where his grandpa lives. With all of his issues he's dealt with, Kenny has an extremely difficult time trying.
I really enjoyed reading this book, because just about every teenager goes through what Kenny went through in the book. Carolee Dean wrote this book in a way that allows anyone who reads it, feel what Kenny's going through. I would recommend this book to any teenager going thorough that phase in life, where you feel the need to escape and live life how you want to live it.