Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Purple Daze by Sherry Shahan

JFK Assassinated. Vietnam. Feminism. Drugs. Beatlemania. Looking for a different kind of historical fiction read? Look no further.  This novel is a unique blend of letters, prose, historical events, personal accounts and verse that poignantly portray the tumultuous lives of teens in time of political and social upheaval. 

Purple Daze is a young adult novel set in suburban Los Angeles in 1965. Six high school students share their experiences and feelings in interconnected free verse and traditional poems about war, feminism, riots, love, racism, rock 'n' roll, high school, and friendship.
Although there have been verse novels published recently, none explore the changing and volatile 1960's in America— a time when young people drove a cultural and political revolution. With themes like the costs and casualties of war, the consequences of sex, and the complex relationships between teens, their peers, and their parents, this story is still as relevant today as it was 45 years ago.

"Purple Daze is a cutting-edge novel, strategically written to keep you wanting more as you delve deeper into the love and conflict of the rocky 1960s. Eccentric yet tasteful, Purple Daze is uniquely and beautifully written, highlighting author Shahan’s one-of-a-kind writing style and technique. Whether the reader is looking for a blast from the past purposefully executed, or a rollercoaster ride of a novel, Purple Daze is sure to please both young adult and adult audiences."
~ Reviewed by New York Journal of Books, March 2011

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