Hope Anita Smith

I really liked "Keeping the Night Watch" because it was incredibly powerful and unique in its approach to depicting the life of an African American boy, CJ and his estranged relationship with his father. The story is told from CJ’s perspective over the course of thirty-five poems that go from fall to spring and starts with CJ’s father returning home after abandoning CJ, his mother and his sister for an undisclosed amount of time. The fact that the story was told from CJ’s point of view show more and not from a third person perspective is what makes each poem that much more impactful for the reader. We are given the opportunity to hear the thoughts, fears, and arguments that CJ has with himself in his mind while he struggles to rekindle any sort of relationship with a man who abandoned him. In the first poem titled “We Are Family” CJ writes about the awkwardness of their first family dinner with his father back; CJ writes: “The house smells warm and safe—as if Daddy never left. We sit with pretend smiles on our faces. We are quiet and shy with each other.” The poem makes the reader feel the intensity and discomfort that CJ describes because it is CJ who is sharing it with the reader—if this was written in third person, the reader would feel a disconnect. In another poem titled “Sticks and Stones”, CJ writes: “Now Daddy’s home and my jaw is set…My words are burrowing deep down in my throat...my questions are brick heavy. I want to know: Who are you? What were you thinking? Why did you leave?”. When his father left, CJ became the man of the family and assumed the roles that his father left behind; in the time that he was gone CJ grew protective over his mother and sister, making it harder for him to forgive. His mother and sister don’t know these questions in his head, but the reader has the opportunity to hear them. In the poem “Family Tales” he says: “Every night it’s always the same. Twenty minutes of reading and then lights out. Zuri knows the routine…But tonight when I go to her room. Zuri’s not alone. Daddy’s there… ‘That’s okay, CJ., I want Daddy to read to me.’ My crown falls from my head and her words cut, each one a shard of glass.” CJ perspective differs from his sister Zuri’s and from his father, they do not know the pain he is feeling and how much harder it is for him to trust his dad again. By the end of the book CJ is able to begin the process of reintroducing himself to his father. The big idea of the poems is the effect an absence of a parent can have on the family, especially the person who is left to pick up the slack. CJ felt abandoned by his father and accepted that he wouldn’t come back—when his dad does return, CJ must hash over a multitude of emotions before he is able to move forward. It is okay to be sad, angry, confused and scared. show less

I was very excited to read this book when I found it because I enjoy reading stories told in narrative poems, and even though I wasn't completely aware of what it was about when I got it, I am not disappointed that I picked it up. The first half of The Way a Door Closes introduces and follows C.J. through life with his happy family as they start their day, have father-son outings, and take family pictures together. So it comes as a complete surprise when C.J.'s dad loses his job and walks show more out on the entire family, just devastating. C.J. being the oldest steps up at 13 and his emotions about it are on every page as he tries to be strong but only wants to crumble in despair. Winter Word, is my favorite poem of the entire story the last line giving me chills when his mother asks her son how she looks before going out again, angry that she's still married to his dad and pretending like she's single, he looks her dead in the eyes and say, "You look like you forgot." I'd never think someone so young would say that but it shows how fast someone can grow when times get hard. show less

The poems in this book tell the story of a family learning to trust again. CJ's dad left them, but now he's back and the family that once seemed to fit together so well is now having problems adjusting. CJ doesn't know if he can trust his dad to stick around this time. As the oldest child, CJ had to take on some responsibility when his dad left and he's not sure he's ready to give it up. I liked the poems, but I wonder about the format of the book. It's bigger than your typical novel and I show more worry that it looks too young and picture-book-ish to be appealing to the young teens it's meant for. show less

Written in poetic style, this is a story of a 13 year old boy whose father left the family after losing his job. Excellently told from the perspective of the young man who struggles with the father who was warm and loving, and now has abandoned his family. He shares he sense of self esteem, his disappointment, and disbelief.

A lot of emotion is covered in this small, but mighty book.