Dark Sons

by Nikki Grimes

A guy whose father ripped his heart out too. Me and you, Ishmael, we're brothers, two dark sons. Betrayed, lost, and isolated, the perspectives of two teenage boys---modern-day Sam and biblical Ishmael---unite over millennia to illustrate the power of forgiveness. 'Both lyrical and powerful, Grimes' unusual novel is a meditation on faith and father-son relationships . . . Grimes' commanding metaphors, authoritative style, and complex characterizations are uniquely compelling.' ---Publisher's Weekly, starred review 'The elemental connections and the hop ('You made it in the end and so will I') will speak to a wide audience.' ---Booklist, starred review

Genres: Poetry, Young Adult, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Novel In Verse, Realistic Fiction, African American

208 pages, Paperback

First published September 15, 2005

Reviews

[Taury · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Sons by Nikki Grimes is a thought provoking novel based on a dual timeline. The first timeline was ancient, the other one modern, but both deeply personal and emotional. The novel flips between the story of Ishmael, the first son of Abraham, and Sam, a modern Black teenager trying to cope with his father’s sudden departure and new life with a different family.

[Maureen Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dark Sons, by Nikki Grimes
Maureen Judith Shea
(2005). Dark Sons. (p. 216). New York: Hyperion Books for Children
Genre: Poetry
Awards
Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book
CNN.com Best Books for Kids 2005
NCTE Notable Book in the Language Arts
New York Public Library's Books for the TeenAge

TAYSHAS High School Reading List 2006/07
YALSA Best Book for Young Adults

“Nikki Grimes – The Poetry Zone
Retrieved from http://www.nikkigrimes.com/books/bkda...

Format: print
Selection process: Reviewed in textbook Literature for Today’s Young Adult by Allsen P. Nelsen .
Found ”Dark Sons” available in the Yong Adult section of the library.

Review:
Ishmael and Sam are two teenage boys who are centuries and worlds apart, but face very similar struggles. Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar of the Old Testament. Sam is a young man living with his divorced mother in the city in modern times. Both boys struggle with sharing their father’s affections with a second woman and her child. They love their fathers, but must come to terms that they are no longer the “apple of their father’s eye”. Conflict of who they are and how they “fit” in their parental family triangle is timeless as it was in the days of the Old Testament as it is now. Both boys wonder if the God who claims they love them, really does. In fact, they wonder if God is even listening. The poetry line reveals that through their struggles l, they come to know themselves and their worth . Love proves to be a very strong component.

Highly Recommend

Grimes, N. (2005). Dark Sons. (p.216)New York: Hyperion Books for Children.
(2013). In A. P. Nilsen, B. James, K. L. Donelson, & N. D. F., Literature for Today's Young Adults (p. 482). Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

[Claire F · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found the comparison of Ishmael to a modern day boy to be very thought provoking. I realize the people in the Bible are mostly just regular people, but seeing the comparison of thoughts of teenagers in any given time period, place, or status be potentially so similar really confirms the sameness in humanity of us all. This story quietly points to forgiveness, trust, and a need for hope outside of ourselves.

[Takina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Dark sons

Who can he turn too who can he trust?

Have you ever been lost, betrayed or isolated?

In the book dark sons by, Nikki Grimes, Sam’s dad leaves the family to marry another women, it hurts Sam so much to see someone that he looks up to and puts first leave just like that. Ishmael is worried when he hears that Abraham’s wife Sarah will be giving birth to a son. One of the arguments in dark sons is that when the family is eating at dinner, and mom gets a phone call from dad no body wants to talk to him because of what he did to the family, even though he did that Sam still has to treat him with respect so mom gives him the eye look as if you better talk to him like you have some sense [152].

In times of trust, if one does something wrong everyone has to deal with the outcomes of what happens next. “Dad’s as gone as ever, still remarried with a kid who’s half my brother; my mother’s still struggling on her on; and me? From this quote, you can infer that she can’t just do everything by herself that she needs another helping hand by her side each and everyday. Also that just because you started another family doesn’t mean that you should just forget about the family that you had first.

One of the arguments in dark sons is that when the family is eating at dinner, and mom gets a phone call from dad no body wants to talk to him because of what he did to the family, even though he did that Sam still has to treat him with respect so mom gives him the eye look as if you better talk to him like you have some sense [152]. I cannot make a personal connection because this book doesn’t relate to me or my family, or my personal life. I’ve learned that mess up for one mess up for all because how Sam’s father left now the family was just struggling without him and Sam’s mother cant do work by herself.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this was a really creative premise. Grimes tells the story of two boys - modern day Sam and ancient history Ishmael, from the book of Genesis. I love her behind-the-scenes imagining of Ishmael's situation and what he might have been thinking and feeling. I love how she draws parallels to a modern-day situation, bringing this ancient story new life. For me, the most interesting part is how each boy navigates his relationship with God after his father betrays him. I was also fascinated with how each boy handles his conflicting emotions in his relationship with his two families. This is written in free verse, and it's a quick read, but very well worth it.

[Diamond Jones-Cox · Rating 3 out of 5]

When I received this book I didn't know what to expect. I had times when I just needed to step away and read something else. Dark Son's take you on a journey of two boys with issues about their father.

Overall, the story line was good but I felt the book had parts that were drawn out to make the book longer.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excuse me while I go read every book that Nikki Grimes has ever written...

[MikeLikesBooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audio book in less than 2 hours. It’s a quick read. The author does a great job in sharing Sam’s thoughts and experiences when his Dad leaves his mother for a white woman. As he tries to sort out the changes in his life he comes across the story of Ishmael in the Old Testament and sees a comparrison between the two. Both loved their father. They were the first born but then a younger half brother comes along and changes the relationship. This is a good book for young people experiencing parental divorce and split families. It’s a story of conflict, faith, struggle and resolve.

[Taneka · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Alternating poems compare and contrast the conflicted feelings of Ishmael, son of the Biblical patriarch Abraham, and Sam, a teenager in New York City, as they try to come to terms with being abandoned by their fathers and with the love they feel for their younger stepbrothers."

Really good read. Great for a boys book group. I like the fact that it connects current teen issues with the bible. Shows that no matter what year it is, GOD has a way to connect to your current situation to give spiritual guidance.

[Lola H]

This Book is written in a very interesting way. It is written like a poem and I really enjoyed reading it. The Book tells a story about two boys. One who lives in the present time in America and the other who is Abraham's son Ishmael and lives in the past. The book tells a story about both boys who both have issues with their fathers. Their religion and belief in god helps both boys to face their issues with their fathers. I thought the book was really good and I definitely recommend reading it.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

I’ll be honest and say I did not know what I was getting myself into when I picked up Dark Sons. I knew I had read things by Nikki Grimes before (and am embarrassed to say I could not remember what those things were) and that it looked like kind of interesting. I was pleasantly surprised both by the format and content of the book.

One thing to know (and again something I should have but didn’t know before I read the book) is that it is a collection of poems that tell the story of two sons dealing with a changing relationship with their father. The first is Ishmael and his relationship with his father Abraham (from Old Testament fame) and the second is a more modern distancing about a teenager named Sam. Through the course of the book the similarities and differences of these two interpretations are brought to the forefront through alternating sections of poetic cycles.

As someone who grew up in a fairly religious household (and as a result when I stopped being particularly interested in faith for religious reasons and more for academic ones), I really enjoyed the Ishmael side of the book. He has always been a fascinating character to me and the role he plays is one that I feel like is ripe for a lot of different interpretations. I felt like this interpretation of what his emotions and feelings must have been were incredibly well done and were interesting when compared to the Christian response in terms of how Sam was able to deal with his father’s new family in the modern part of the book. It set up an interesting parallel of having God take care of these people while still not making a great life for them or seeming to always have their best interest at heart.

I thought the portrayal of Sam was also incredibly well done. It felt incredibly real and is one of the few reasons I would potentially recommend this book to a student. The way that the character processes emotions and was able to separate his feelings for his father and his new wife from those for his step-brother was quite interesting and something I feel like most people have had to do even if not with this particular situation.

I do not think I would ever assign this book primarily because I think that religion is a bit too explicitly central. That said, I have several students that I am already thinking of who could relate and benefit immensely from this. I also think that there are students like me who might see the comparison of Ishmael as almost a “patron saint” of someone abandoned by their father to be compelling even without the religious overtones it produces. Overall, it was a good, quick read and the format was something different that I found quite refreshing (although, this should not be super surprising coming from me since my favorite format for books are short story cycles).

Also posted on Purple People Readers.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book: Dark Sons
Author: Nikki Grimes
Rating: 3 Out of 5 Stars

I would like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with this galley.

Dark Sons gives the reader a look at two boys from two completely different time periods. Both boys have issues with their fathers. Sam lives in the modern world and has to deal with his father leaving his family. Ishmael is the son of Abraham and Hagar, who finds himself being pushed aside for his younger brother Isaac. Both of them feel as if their fathers have disappointed and are trying to overcome this great disappointment. This part I actually liked. To me, it was so realistic and I could just feel the pain of the two boys coming right off the page.


This book is written in verse, which is fine in some cases. However, I do really feel like I could have connected more with this story had it been written in traditional format. The usage of verse just made the entire book seen overly simplified. The subject matter of this book is not really simple, but the verse format makes it seem so. It just takes away from the beauty that this one could have had. It just leaves us with a very basic picture of the boys and we have to guess everything else. The book just needed to be a little bit longer in order for the verse format to work.

Like I have already pointed out, the writing is rather sparse, but it is full of emotion. I did feel a lot of pull toward the boys and they did deal with something that so many kids do have to deal with. I do like how Nikki used the two different stories as a mirror for each other. You could just feel everything.

This is a quick, easy read, but it was just lacking something for me. It is a solid three star rating that doesn't deserve anything higher or lower. I would say that most middle scholars would probably like it, especially those who want something simple.

[David · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am really torn with how I feel about this book. On one hand the poetry is very authentic and feels quite real- more "real" overall than "Bronx Masquerade" (a book with amazing, outstanding poetry combined with prose that was a mixed bag). I also admire the execution of such a creative idea- telling two stories about boys disappointed by their fathers. One story is about a modern-day teenage boy named Sam, and the other is about the biblical figure Ishmael- yes, that Ishmael, son of Abraham and Hagar. Also, a first child majorly screwed over by the birth of Isaac, son of Abraham and Sarah.

On the other hand...I really, really want to distance myself from the religious views presented in the book. The point seems to be that even though Ishmael and Sam were both treated as disposable by their fathers in the end, at least they have their "Heavenly Father", and that makes everything all better. I've kind of simplfied the handling of religion here, but essentially, Nikki Grimes is saying that 21st century American Jesus (the deity that Sam and his family choose to worship)is the same all-powerful being that Ishmael followed. It's been several years since I've believed in the Judeo-Christian God, and so this simplificatino of the boys' very real problems makes me uncomfortable.

That being said, I choose to give "Dark Sons" a 4-star rating because the poetry really is that strong. It is compelling, the feelings expressed by both boys feels real, and the "Biblical times" details are fascinating. (Sarah, Abrahams' wife, is portrayed in a particularly unflattering light. I have a lot of respect for that!)

This is certainly a polarizing book. But my aversion to the religious dogma the book plays with doesn't change the fact that it is full of strong poetry and impressive insight into the hearts of boys dealing with being crushed by their fathers.

[Alysia · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a beautiful novel! I come across this audiobook from the e-library recommendation list and I am happy the library recommended it to me.
This children's audiobook is written in verse. Yes a full story written in verse. Honestly, this is the first I have heard of this (not including nursery rhymes).
Sam's heartbreaking story starts off with his father moving out and leaving him as the man of the house. Sam's mother quickly falls into depression and is not there for Sam during this difficult time as he grows into become a real man. Dad's favorite son soon becomes the weekend big brother to a new half-baby brother.
Century before, a paralleling story played out with Ishmael and his father. Ishmael is the oldest and only son of Abraham until Isaac is born to Sarah in her extremely old age. Ishmael and his mother are abandoned and left out as Abraham's love and attention shifts.
The story is well written and the time period of each of the boys is clear and vivid. I really thought the author Nikki Grimes did a wonderful job of expressing the pain a young teenage boy would/could go through when his father leaves.
Both boys stories center around their believes and faith in God. It was nice to see a main male character of color actively involved in his church.
The narrator was excellent. Dion Graham changed his voice a bit and it came across clearly when the characters changed. I felt there were a few times when the accent he gave Ishmael was lost and it felt like he forgot to carry it all the way through. But overall I recommend this one. I am interested in seeing the book itself and seeing if there are any illustrations or artwork.

[Cozy Beauty Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dark Son’s is told in two perspectives written in verse. There is the perspective of Ishmael who is having a hard time of having “two mom” after his dad has another child with a new woman. Ishmael doesn’t know how to truly feel about this, he does know that he is hurt because the time spent with his new wife has left him and mom alone.

The second perspective is of Sam who is basically going through the same thing. His dad remarries and soon after he has a new baby boy. Sam is hurt and confused as to why his dad would leave him for a women and have a new child. He questions God throughout the story asking questions like “if my Dad really loved me why did he leave me?”

Both Ishmael and Sam are trying to figure out ways to cope with this new change yet try to let this new change affect their relationship with God and their family. They both have anger towards their family and a feeling of not being loved or wanted.

In the end they both learn to accept the change and love their new brothers and take acceptance for the new families their fathers have created.

I always enjoyed Nikki Grimes writing. Books written in verse in my favorite type of writing style. I also liked that she used small pieces of the Bible to tell the story of Dark Son’s.

Rating: 4⭐

(Find all my reviews at mybeautymybooks.com)

[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Written in verse, this story alternates between the story of a boy from biblical times and one in modern times. Both are first sons who are then abandoned by their fathers when a second son comes along. Based on the story of Ishmael (Genesis 16) it’s an interesting contrast. The modern boy is emotionally shattered when his parents divorce and his father marries another woman and has a second son. I think that the reader is supposed to think that the modern boy gets strength from seeing the similarities between his situation and Ishmael’s, but I thought the contrast between how awful Ishmael is treated by his “step-mom” and the complete acceptance by the modern boy’s step-mother showed that the modern boy had it easy.

Ultimately each boy finds that although they cannot count on their birth fathers, they can turn to God for fatherly support.

The verse isn’t particularly beautiful writing and I wonder if the story really needed to be written in verse. The verse is effective in sketching a picture of these two boys lives and lets the reader fill in how to relate their own experience.

[Brianna Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not much really happened in this book. The whole novel was told in verse, but it seemed to me that only served to take up space. The two stories were interesting, but I felt as though the comparisons were a little too easy. It was way too quick of a read and I felt like I didn't really get a chance to experience anything.

However, I did enjoy Sam's story, David definitely got to me, although the lack of substance was a major bother. The theme and mood of the whole thing was a little boring, and I really do wish she would have gone with a traditional style instead of the verses.

Not terrible for an English festival book, but still left a lot to be desired.

[Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

An interesting structure for a parallel story told in prose. Great insights into the connection, relationship and love between father and son. Inheritance means little to the firstborn son who becomes overshadowed by a second son. The pain a son experiences when he yearns for his original place in his father's heart and life. I liked the parallel between Ishmael and Sam. It gives contemporary relevance to the old bible story of Abraham, Sarah, and Rachel. Well done by Grimes. I highly recommend this novel. It's a very short read.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this better than A Girl Called Mister because the allegory was a little more subtle. And I like what she did to humanize the Bible story, which is an interesting one to start with.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of two boys told in poetic verse.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed how Grimes weaved the tales together of two young men and their parental relationships. Traveling to the setting of the remote desert with Ishmael was definitely a high point in this novel for me. His story, coupled with Grimes’s detailed, picturesque description, just draws the reader in. The parallels of the two lives; one set in modern day NYC, the other in the faraway time of traveling caravans over the deserts of Africa, are pretty damn cool when you think about it. This book would be a good choice for readers who like to study religion or are religious. Both boys also struggle with internal conflict when it comes to God’s plan and their plans for themselves. Also, this would be a great book for literature circles due to the wide range of discussion topics that most young people have to deal with at some point in their lives. Topics like: divorce, parents, religion, family, siblings, and relationships are covered in this book. Cons are that it isn’t that suspenseful and a lot of biblical language that would be challenging for reluctant readers. I think it’s worth a shot, though.

[Kyler · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Dark Sons,” by Nikki Grimes is a well written piece about trusting in the Lord, even in the darkest times of our existence. I love Ishmael’s and Sam’s stories because it’s from their point of view. You can see how they relate and walk through the process of grief and neglect.
The similarity between the two stories is what really kept me hooked. The purpose being that a powerful biblical story could relate to a common issue in the world. How many more biblical lessons could the Bible teach to us if we just try and let ourselves? How many problems could be lifted by GOD if we put in the effort? This book showed me that times aren’t so different now than they were hundreds of years ago.
Another aspect of the novel that really caught my eye was the style. The author incorporated a poetry type story. In my opinion, it made the story more interesting and heartfelt. And in the end, everything panned out well. This book is definitely a good one to read!

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The biblical story of Ishmael and the story of a contemporary young man dealing with his father's remarriage and birth of a half brother are told in alternating poems. The themes, such as father son relationships, betrayal, and faith are well presented in their universality and their specificity for each boy. The faith of each young man makes this a particularly unique story as struggles with faith or the embrace of faith aren't often portrayed in literature in such a realistic way. Their faith is an important part of their life without being their only, defining trait, or something each young man needs to break free of. However, some slang makes the story dated, as does the contemporary Sam's job at a video store. This one is worth keeping around for young adults interested in themes of faith, biblical history, or fans of Kwame Alexander looking for more novels in verse.

[LeAnne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories told in parallel free verse, one of Abraham's firstborn son, Ishmael, and the other of a modern boy whose father similarly abandoned him and his mother. The pain is clear in both. In both there is a little brother by another woman, a child who is not to blame for the father's choices, but nevertheless, cause for jealousy. Both boys conclude that whatever the failings of their earthly father, their heavenly Father can be counted on. Cultural references show the modern boy to be African American, but I think any child of divorce will identify. He is deeply involved in church and youth group, which may make it harder for an unchurched kid to identify.

I got this from an elementary school library although I think middle school would be more appropriate. The poetry is compelling and made me think more deeply about Ishmael. Because it is poetry, it is easily read in a sitting.

[Laura Beam · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short and beautiful story parallels the biblical story of Ishmael with that of a boy who's father left his family to create a new one. The story alternates between the perspective of Ishmael who's father (Abraham) abandoned him and his mother for Sarah's first born child Isaac. The main character is going through a similar experience when his father leaves his mother for a young Italian American woman and has a second child. It is about the conflicting feelings of love for both boys's half brothers and their sadness about their abandonment by their fathers. It is really beautifully written and for how short it is, it has a lot to say.

[Debs Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t believe I hadn’t heard of Nikki Grimes before reading this book. I loved this beautiful, poetic rendering of sad realities. Grimes splits the book between Ishmael - from the Bible, and Sam - from today. They each have to work through the betrayal of their dads, and where God is in the midst of it. It’s unusual to have God involved in narratives so that was an added bonus for me. It didn’t try to make it better than it was, just captured the daily struggle of faith in the midst of bad choices. I will be recommending this to my students and reading her other work.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grimes does a great job building the parallels between the stories. Both Ishmael and Sam have special relationships with their fathers during their respective childhoods; Abraham teaches Ishmael to hunt, and Sam’s father plays basketball with him, showing him how to make the perfect free throw. Both fathers are deeply religious, praying and insisting God speaks to them. The boys have rocky relationships with their stepmothers, and they love their younger brothers even as jealousy gnaws at them seeing bonds grow between them and their fathers.

[Sierra Wishard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copyright: 2007

Genre: Poetry

Comment: A book about two sons from different worlds who are suffering from similar situations, their relationship with their father. How will they handle the situation and who will help guide them?

Used: Great recommendation for a student who might be going through the same issues Ishmael and Sam went through. This might lead the student into putting his faith into God to help him through this rough patch and change in his life.

[EmmaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

This made me want to know more of the story of Ishmael. I read this as an audio book heard/ read while walking. I loved hearing the poetry. And the emotions.
A pattern repeats - a story as old as time of father choosing new family and leaving the old behind.
And of new acceptance at least. I'm glad he was given the choice to accept his father (and his little brother, and maybe even someday his stepmother) and that acceptance is a choice.
And I need to know more of Ishmael.

[Natasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two stories weave together, one reflecting and inspiring the other: the Biblical tale of Ishmael, the oldest son of Abraham, pushed aside by a younger, legitimate son and heir, and Sam, dealing with his father's abandonment, remarriage, and new family.

Beautiful, heart-wrenching, and ultimately hopeful.