Cover of Joseph

Joseph

by Shelia P. Moses · 2008

+ Want to read

For Joseph Flood, life is tough. Tough because of Mama's addiction to drugs and alcohol. Tough because Daddy is away with the army fighting in Iraq. Tough because it looks like there's no way out once you're living in a homeless shelter in a North Carolina ghetto neighborhood. And tough because Joseph is enrolled in yet another new school where he doesn't know anyone and has to keep what's going on in his life a secret.

Read more

Joseph struggles to keep Mama clean and to hold their broken family together while trying to make new friends and join the school tennis team. Can a boy who's only fifteen years old win his daily battle to survive?

Josephis a powerful and moving story from the author of National Book Award finalist The Legend of Buddy Bushthat looks at what it really takes for a boy to begin to become a man.

Genre
literary fictionliterary fictionMore like thisLess of this
Themes
African AmericanAfrican AmericanMore like thisLess of thisaddictionaddictionMore like thisLess of thisabuseabuseMore like thisLess of thisfamilyfamilyMore like thisLess of thisfriendshipfriendshipMore like thisLess of this
Setting
2000s2000sMore like thisLess of thisNorth CarolinaNorth CarolinaMore like thisLess of this
Audience
young adult
Length
short · 176 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

BuyAmazonGoogle Books

BorrowOpen LibraryA library near you

MoreCompare pricesHardcover

Liked Joseph? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Joseph. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Dope Sick Walter Dean Myers · 2000 Shares young adult, African American, realistic fiction
  2. Messed Up Janet Nichols Lynch · 2009 Shares young adult, realistic fiction, dysfunctional
  3. Gray Baby Scott Loring Sanders · 2009 Shares young adult, African American, realistic fiction
  4. So Not The Drama Paula Chase · 2007 Shares young adult, African American
See more recommendations →

“People who read Joseph tend to reach for these next.”

  1. You Don't Even Know Me: Stories and Poems About Boys Sharon G. Flake · 2010
  2. Feels Like Home E.E. Charlton-Trujillo · 2007
  3. Fakie Tony Varrato · 2008
  4. Follow the Model: Miss J's Guide to Unleashing Presence, Poise, and Power J. Alexander · 2009

“If you want more of the same (literary fiction about african american), start with these.”

  1. Patterson Heights Felicia Pride · 2009
  2. Chameleon Charles R. Smith Jr. · 2008
  3. Can't Stop The Shine Joyce E. Davis · 2007
  4. Holidaze L. Divine · 2009

“If it was the African American that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. A Street Girl Named Desire Treasure E. Blue · 2007
  2. Jason & Kyra Dana Davidson · 2004
  3. Money Hungry Sharon G. Flake · 2008
  4. The Dear One Jacqueline Woodson · 1991

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. This is Not a Love Story Suki Fleet · 2014
  2. The Lost Years: Surviving a Mother and Daughter's Worst Nightmare Kristina Wandzilak, Constance Curry · 2006
  3. Girls From da Hood 8 Treasure Hernandez, Natalie Weber · 2013
  4. Snow White: A Survival Story Anna J. · 2009

Report a problem