Jason & Kyra [Paperback]

Dana Davidson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 8, 2005

Kyra Evans isn't popular, or a girl who you stare at when you are walking down the hall. So why can't Jason-basketball star and the hottest guy in school-get her out of his head?Under normal circumstances, Jason and Kyra would live in their separate worlds up until graduation. But fate intervenes and the unlikely duo is paired up for a class project. Preconceived notions abound on both sides…but Kyra soon realizes that Jason is not the dumb jock that she had assumed him to be. And Jason finds himself telling Kyra things he can't even tell his best friend. As the two become friends and eventually start to fall in love, no one in school can believe it-especially not Jason's ex, who is determined to break them up. Being together means navigating the obstacles that are coming their way-but staying apart may be impossible.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Davidson, a high school teacher, debuts with a tried-and-true teen romance, unusual chiefly for its setting in an affluent black suburb of Detroit. Jason, 16, is gorgeous, smart, graceful on the basketball court, and he dates popular, beautiful Lisa. But "fine-as-hell, super-jock, popular-as-Nikes-in-the-NBA, can-have-anybody-he-wants" Jason falls for "double-brained-nappy-headed-sweet-but-nobody" Kyra, his nonconformist, highly academic research partner from AP English class. Davidson describes the beginnings of their mutual attraction in spine-tinglingly prolonged detail, effectively camouflaging the staple elements of her plot: only Kyra understands that Jason, whose mother died when he was three and whose father leaves on frequent business trips, experiences his solitude as loneliness, not as freedom to do as he likes; Lisa, furious at being dumped by Jason, gets revenge in a manner that will be familiar to readers of middle-grade and YA fiction. But other story lines advance the narrative, too, such as Kyra's dedication to her project for a Westinghouse-like national science competition. Readers with an appetite for love stories are likely to follow Jason and Kyra's pas de deux from its beginning straight through to its satisfying end. Ages 12-up.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 10 Up–A predictable, sappy tale set at a large high school in the Detroit area with an African-American cast of characters. Jason, star basketball player and "damn fine," finds himself increasingly lonely and frustrated with his girlfriend, Lisa. She is beautiful, he knows, but shallow and he wants someone with whom he can really talk, especially when his father rages at him. In his AP English class, he is paired for an assignment with brainiac Kyra, who dresses and acts differently from the popular girls in school. He finds himself increasingly drawn to her because she is so easy to be with, and because he finds her stable family environment to be a safe haven from his stormy home. Kyra, on the other hand, senses the attraction but attempts to stave it off because of his tremendous popularity and "taken" status. After realizing their attraction to one another, Jason dumps Lisa and she vows to get him back. Beneath the typical high school romance story–flowers, dances, first times, home trouble–is a story that many teens will enjoy. Opposites attracting, preconceived notions, hallway conversations, and the intensity of first love are themes that always capture this audience. While seasoned readers will tire of the worn plot line, young adults looking for a light romance will find a quick read.–Karen Hoth, Marathon Middle/High School, FL
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion Book CH (November 8, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786836539
• ISBN-13: 978-0786836536
• Product Dimensions: 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (41 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,842 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #62 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Social Issues > Dating & Intimacy > Fiction
  • #86 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Teens > Literature & Fiction > General
  • #98 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Children's Books > People & Places > Multicultural Stories > African-American

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE AND LIFE, October 9, 2006

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jason & Kyra (Hardcover)

As he walks down the halls of Cross High School he feels like a star as the students act like paparazzi. Jason is the most popular guy at school and also the star athlete on the basketball team at Cross High School. Every girl wants to be his but the lucky one is Lisa. Lisa is the girl that every guy wants. In the first day of school Jason meets a girl named Kyra in his A.P English class. Kyra is not the typical popular type Jason is used to hanging out with. Kyra is nice and classy, but not at all hip. When Jason and Kyra are assigned partners for a class project their thoughts of one another quickly change. As they start hanging out more and more the tension get heated. They have lots of chemistry and Jason is really into her. He likes her so much he is willing to break up with Lisa to start a relationship with Kyra. After their first date they kiss. Kyra forces Jason to tell Lisa now. Meanwhile Kyra has to finish her big science project for a competition she's in. When Valentine's Day comes Jason is having a huge party. When Lisa's Jealousy kicks in she purposely make sure Kyra over hears a conversation she is having with her friends. She talks about how Jason said he wants her back which happens to be a big lie. When Kyra hears this she instantly is hurt and leaves Jason. Jason can't believe she trusted Lisa and is brought to tears when he finds out. While Kyra is finishing her project, Jason has to compete in the championship game. When Kyra's big day finally comes Jason rushes not to miss it. Kyra ends up winning and is happy when she sees Jason in the crowd. When they finally talk they decide to get back together. This book was amazing! I loved everything about it. I highly recommend this book to people who enjoy love stories. Its also a good book If you like books that talk about things that happen in your everyday life and informs you about teenage life this is a good book for you.

Jason and Kyra was one of the best love stories I've read. It was a gret love story because it had emotional parts. It had parts that could make you cry. It had part that could make you sad. It had parts that made you laugh, and pats that made you angry. All theses emotions are emotions that Jason and Kyra felt through the entire story as they went through the good things and bad things in their relationship. As the experienced these emotions they fell in love with one another.

In this book it has event that happen in your typical every day life. In the real world you can't judge people by first impressions. In Jason and Kyra Jason and Kyra both judge each other by first impressions, but in the end they end up being in love with each other. Other thing that people do often is believe every thing someone tells them. In this book Kyra believed that Lisa was being truthful about Jason wanted her back, turns out she was lying.

This book has things about the typical teenage life. Teenagers are always experiencing love problems, judging each other, and doing cruel things to each over boys. In Jason and Kyra they both experienced lots of love and emotional problems with each other. Also in this book Kyra and Jason judge each other on first impressions. In this book Lisa decided to lie to Kyra because oh her jealousy.

This book was an overall enjoying book. I would love to read more books like this. Books like this may help teenagers when it comes to certain everyday issues. I recommend this book this book to teenagers who would enjoy reading things that would happen to them, also to people who enjoy love stories.
- T. Heckstall

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Heat and Cold, February 20, 2005

By 

Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jason & Kyra (Hardcover)

"He dresses like a GQ model. He is cool in all block letters, underline it and put it in bold!" No one can figure out why Jason, a popular Detroit high school boy, is seeing Kyra, the brainy frump without a lick of fashion sense. This book is sort of like the African American equivalent of a teen movie like SHE'S ALL THAT, but first time author Dana Davidson has the talent to give her characters real depth and to put them into situations which will bring out both the bad and the beautiful in them. Jason's father for example, is a lonely man who has lost his wife to death and who experiences daily challenges as the only black male at a systems analysis company, and so he withdraws from his son and shows Jason only the cold, callous back of his hand, where's the warmth? "Jay, do you hear me boy? Then dammit answer when I call your sorry ass!"

He just doesn't understand how much support and warmth a young high schooler needs to survive in a cold, cold world. No wonder Kyra's understated affection is like manna to poor Jason. The two of them then quarrel about having sex--should they or shoulddn't they? Well, my friends, even when they don't they get up to some pretty sexy hijinks, so bring a fan with you.

Good work, Dana Davidson, looking forward to more from your pen.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Jason & Kyra By: Dana Davidson, January 21, 2007

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Jason & Kyra (Paperback)

Jason & Kyra by: Dana Davidson

-Jason, the most popular and hottest boy at Cross High School going out with Kyra, the quiet nerd who's nickname is `nappy head.' That cannot even be possible. Well, in the book Jason & Kyra by Dana Davidson, she creates a teen love story that does just that. Jason and Kyra seem like two different types of people who would never get along, however, when their teacher assigns them a project together, they find out they have more in common then they've ever knew. Soon their relationship grows stronger and stronger for each other each day and they begin to go out. However, how will the rest of the school react to their relationship including Jason's ex-girlfriend Lisa who is the most popular girl at school? Jason & Kyra go through a rollercoaster of emotions as people try to pry through their relationship by jealousy and rumors. I loved this book for its characters, how Dana Davidson wrote the story, and the theme.

-The characters in the book are very interesting and funny.
Jason is a typical jock but he likes to show that he knows what going on in the basketball world, but also the political world. Kyra is a shy girl that is very smart and does not really care what people think about her. Greg is Jason's best friend who was skeptical about Jason being with Kyra but once he got to know her, he was very supportive. Finally, Lisa is Jason's ex-girlfriend that will do anything to get her man back. Not only did she think of a plot to end Kyra and Jason's relationship but also was very scandalous about how she tried to lure Jason back to her.

-Next, the way Dana Davidson wrote the book, it made me feel connected to the whole plot. When Jason and Kyra started to go out with each other, it seemed like a very unlikely couple that was totally fiction. However, as the book goes on, you see how Jason and Kyra struggle to stay together and trying to not to let the rumors keep them apart. I felt connected because every one has been a situation where no one really supported your decision and you felt you had to prove that your decision was the best. Nobody really supported Kyra and Jason's relationship and they had show people that no matter what happened that they were going to remain together.

-Finally, I loved the final theme of the whole book, simply follow your heart. No matter what people say about what you are doing or plan to do, follow your heart and do not let anyone in your way. Jason knew that everyone was going to be appalled that he was going with a `nerd,' but he did not see her that way, he saw what was inside of her instead of out. Kyra knew that many girls were going to be jealous and resentful of her relationship. However, she did not see Jason as just the hottest basketball player and best dress, she saw him as a versatile person who was as smart as he was cute.

-I really enjoyed this book and I would recommend this book for people who enjoy a hopeless romantic book. This book will not only leave you wanting for more, but to never put the book down.

A.Rush