Night Kites [Paperback]

M. E. Kerr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 25, 1987

What do you do when your best friend's girlfriend makes a pass at you?

Erick Rudd isn't sure how it happened –– he did nothing but look. It was Nicki who made the first move. And if that doesn't complicate things enough, Erick is about to get some news that will blow his safe world apart: Pete, his older brother and idol, has fullblown AIDS. I'm a night kite, Pete once told Erick. I go up in the dark, alone, on my own, and I'm not afraid to be different. Nicki is a night kite, too. Together, she and Pete will teach Erick that sometimes it's best to keep your feet on the ground.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

At 17, Erick Rudd finds that his relatively stable life is turned upside down by two nearly simultaneous events. His best friend Jack's girlfriend Nicki, who's beautiful and flirtatious, makes a play for him. To Nicki, Erick's a challenge; he falls hard for her, but loses his friendship with Jack and his own girlfriend in the process. He also finds out that his older brother Pete is dying of AIDS, which is how he learns that Pete is gay. Through Erick's eyes the reader sees the effect of this shocking news on the Rudd family. Even without having tackled the subject of AIDS, this would have been another fine novel by Kerr: her characterizations are strong and true, and the book's very contemporary references (MTV, Madonna, etc.) will appeal to teens. But it's her sensitive, compassionate treatment of AIDS, and how Erick and his family cope with it, that make this story exceptional, and one of Kerr's most moving yet.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From School Library Journal

Grade 7 Up Kerr's skill at characterization does not fail her in this love/family story. Erick is comfortable with his senior crowd, delighted with his girl Dill and his best friend Jack. But Jack falls for Nikki, an insecure fashion-plate who wants only what she can't have. Erick tries to steer Jack clear of such a troublemaker, so Nikki sets her sights on him next. Complicating his guilt for betraying Jack and Dill by seeing Nikki is Erick's misery over learning that his beloved older brother Pete has AIDS. Thus the horrified family finds out about Pete's imminent death at the same time they find out about his life style. The conflict between the Rudds' former feelings about homosexuality and their love for their son is clear, even in the face of the hostility that Pete's illness causes within their community. The book abounds with endings: the old dog that Pete had slyly named Oscar Wilde must be euthanized; Nikki dumps Erick, just as she discarded all the other boys she captivated. This is not up to the subtlety of Gentlehands (1978), but it does have the romantic complexity of Him She Loves? (1984, both Harper), and Kerr's fans will be passing this around among themselves. Anne Osborn, Riverside Public Library, Calif.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperTeen (September 25, 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064470350
• ISBN-13: 978-0064470353
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,103,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars NIGHT KITES, May 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Kites (Turtleback)

I thought Night Kites was a good book. I usually do not read books,but this book was good to read. I am glad I readed it. The book was about. Erick liked his best friend's girlfriend and she liked him back. But Erick had a girlfriend too. He broke up with his gf to go out with his friends gf Nikki. That would have made me mad. If a friend did that to me. Erick's brother Pete was gay and got AIDS but did not tell anyone at first. Pete told his mom. He trusted her not to tell anyone. At the end of the book. Erick lost his bestfriend Jack and his new girlfriend Nikki because her father find out that his brother had AIDS and he did not want her around him anymore. YOU SOULD READ THIS BOOK. YOU WOULD REALLY LIKE IT.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Well-written, serious teen drama, April 9, 2005

By 

Matt Hetling "Matt" (Bethel, ME USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Kites (Paperback)

This is a serious teen drama novel that weaves the very serious issues of hiv and sexual orientation in with a realistic quiltwork of the more typical issues that contribute to teen angst.

Erick is the main character of the book, and it seems like there is no end to his troubles. His perfect big brother, Pete, comes out of the closet as a gay man and then reveals that he's tested HIV positive. This horrifies his straight-laced and traditional parents, who are simultaneously disturbed by their son's sexuality and horrified at the disease that he faces.

In the meantime, Erick has other problems. His relationships with his girlfriend Dill and his best friend Jack are threatened when he and Jack's girlfriend, Nicki, develop romantic feelings for each other. Nicki is an strong, loner character who hides a secret vulnerability behind an aggressive brassiness and sexuality.

On the one hand, this book's plot seems like an after-school special tailor-made to deal with the issues that teens face. On the other hand, M.E. Kerr brings a strong, professional touch to the writing, and the characters are deeper and more realistic than you would find in a made-for-TV deal.

I think that the love triangle and the realism might make this an entertaining read that will be more digestible than a straight story about the more serious stuff would be.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book It is a have to read if you like sad books, September 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Kites (Turtleback)

I just starting reading it and i couldn't put it down! It is the best book for a teenager to read. My teacher told me to read it she said I should get into reading sad stories because thats what she likes. It is the best!