Awards and Honors2008 ALA Best Book for Young Adults | YALSA Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers 2008 | Booklist Top 10 Black History for Youth | Booklist Editor’s Choice 2007 | CCBC Choices 2008, Fiction for Young Adults | Kirkus Reviews – Best Young Adult Books 2007 | School Library Journal – Best Books 2007
"Ain't it funny how we understand each other?" a customer asks Mama Evans, owner of the Curl-E-Que hair salon in Harlem, New York. These moving, intertwined stories demonstrate the many ways that the neighbors on 145th Street truly do understand one another. From the story of a dying father's last loving gesture to that of a young girl who doesn't realize how beautiful she is until a neighbor paints her portrait, this collection, full of individuals searching for and finding love, is also the story of their community. Library edition with trade jacket added.
Filled with stimulating nonfiction and can't-put-it-down fiction, this category is perfect for bridging the gap between young adult and adult reading. Take note: these 14 selections often contain mature situations and language that could be considered controversial.