Standing Against the Wind [Hardcover]

Traci L. Jones (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2006

Patrice Williams was happy living in Georgia with her grandmother, who called her “cocoa grandbaby.” Then her mother lured her to Chicago and ended up in jail. Now Patrice lives with her Auntie Mae, and her new nickname is “Puffy” – thanks to her giant poof of hair. But Patrice’s hair isn’t the only reason she sticks out: she cares about her grades and strives for the best. That’s why Monty Freeman, another eighth grader who lives in the building, asks Patrice to tutor his little brother. Even though Monty’s friends make Patrice uneasy, Monty himself is friendly, confident, and surprisingly smart. When he becomes her guardian angel, Patrice begins to think something stronger than friendship might be growing between them. Still, nothing will stop her from applying for a scholarship at prestigious Dogwood Academy – her ticket out of the project and a school populated by gangs and drug runners.
 
In her debut novel, Traci L. Jones presents a girl with grit she never knew she had, and a boy so inspired by her that he begins to take pride in his own abilities.

 

Standing Against the Wind is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year and the winner of the 2007 Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe New Talent Award.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 7-9–A housing project, an incarcerated parent, and other elements of inner-city life form the backdrop for this story about eighth-grader Patrice. She has been uprooted from Georgia and the beloved grandmother who raised her, and is struggling to accept her difficult life, handle the bitter Chicago winter, and stay ahead of the group of boys who taunt her when her principal asks her to apply for a scholarship to a prestigious African-American boarding school in Mississippi. Stories of hope, loyalty, and success such as this one are valuable for letting all kids see themselves in books and for fighting the endless stereotypes that surround them. It's unfortunate that the writing isn't more even and polished, rather than utilitarian with a tendency to tell, not show. Despite this, girls will appreciate the strength that underlies Patrice's quiet and unassuming exterior and will cheer for her and for Monty, the cool guy who is inspired by her willingness to be different. Decent characterization, together with a worthwhile topic, makes this a title to consider.–Faith Brautigam, Gail Borden Public Library, Elgin, IL
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From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. In the tradition of Janet McDonald, this moving first novel tells a hopeful story of Patrice, a shy, studious teen who beats the odds in her grim inner-city neighborhood. Patrice, who lives with her aunt, never knew her dad and barely met her mom, who is in jail. When she gets a chance to win a scholarship to a prestigious African American boarding school, pressures in her aunt's home and on the streets threaten to pull her down--until Monty, a gang leader, protects her and loves her. Monty is too saintly to be credible: tender with Patrice and with his little brother, totally supportive, and patient as he waits for her to kiss him. But the harshness of Patrice's daily life is always there--guys who try to fondle her, her promiscuous older sister, Monty's dad in jail, and so many classmates who are pregnant. Handled without obscenity, the lively street talk will draw readers to the gripping story of a contemporary kid who works to make her dreams come true. Link this to McDonald's Twists and Turns (2003) and to Rita Williams Garcia's Fast Talk on a Slow Track (1991). Hazel Rochman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR); First Edition edition (September 5, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374371741
• ISBN-13: 978-0374371746
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,412,138 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great!, February 17, 2008

By 

Emily Woodward "MLE" (Denver, CO USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Standing Against the Wind (Hardcover)

Being uprooted from the only home she's ever known, Patrice gets dumped at her aunt's house because her mama went to jail. Patrice, unused to the cruel street life of New York City has to work through difficulties so she can apply for a scholarship to an elite boarding school.

This encouraging book promotes determination, intelligence, and the goodness hidden in others. A wonderful book for late elementary and middle school students.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I see why this book received so many awards!, September 26, 2010

By 

INSPIREDMOMIE "You live, you laugh, you love,... (BLESSED) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Standing Against the Wind (Hardcover)

This was a great read for my daughter and I. It's a very well written story about deterimination. Patrice was not letting anything get in her way, she wanted more for herself than fancy clothes, nice hair do and having a boyfriend like the other girls. Although she lived in a harsh environment, she was going to achieve her dream despite all the forces that tried to knock her down. I love the fact that Patrice was focus, and nothing was going to get in her way, she wanted desperatly to get out of her situation. A great message to send out to all young readers.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoy a Modern, Urban Fairy Tale, September 11, 2008

By 

Ima Teach (Texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Standing Against the Wind (Hardcover)

Traci L. Jones earns a well-deserved Coretta Scott King Award for her first novel Standing Against the Wind. Weaving the theme of hope with finding strength and courage in oneself, Jones invites her reader to share an emotional chapter in the life of protagonist Patrice Williams. Chapter 1 finds Patrice having been uprooted from the warmth of her grandmother's Georgian home and deposited with her Auntie Mae in winter-blasted Chicago while her mother serves time in prison. In Jones' modernized and urbanized Cinderella tale, Patrice feels she must ease the additional financial burden her presence adds by cooking, cleaning, and watching her young cousins for her aunt. Although Auntie Mae is no evil stepmother, she is far from nurturing and expects Patrice to earn her keep. Patrice's dream of escape appears in the form of an opportunity to attend the academically elite Dogwood Academy--one of the nation's finest predominantly African American boarding schools--if she can win one of the three coveted scholarships. Patrice must find the strength and courage to face challenges that threaten to crush her spirit--feeling displaced, ugly, small, overwhelmed, fearful, let-down, and helpless. Help unexpectedly comes in the form of Monty, an eighth-grade gang member turned prince charming.

The plot is captivating, the setting realistic, and Traci L. Jones' language is rich and full of imagery. The metaphorical pictures Jones paints, ranging from mythical dragons to junkyard dogs, are treats for the reader's imagination (and an imagery wonderland for reading teachers). Some young readers (5th or 6th graders), however, may find one chapter of the book in which Patrice is sexually harassed unsettling. Another unsettling issue involves both Patrice and Monty. Although Patrice becomes stronger and more self-assured throughout the novel, the reader has to wonder if she could have achieved this new-found strength and courage without the help of Monty (a strong male presence) and his protection. Additionally, considering Monty's character, one might ask whether a young rogue needs a helpless maiden to protect in order to bring out the good in him.

These quandaries, however, do not detract from the appealing quality of Jones' Standing Against the Wind. It is sure to interest middle school and junior high students. The characters are real--peers any student might encounter regularly. The message is also very clear and relevant for students this age: teens are not helpless pawns in life with no choice or control over their own actions and destinies. I look forward to hearing more from Traci L. Jones.