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Upstate
UPSTATE is an absolutely stunning, powerful coming of age novel filled with tragedy, struggle, love and triumph—a modern The Color Purple
Set in New York in the 80s and 90s, UPSTATE tells the story of two young lovers, Antonio and Natasha, torn apart by tragedy and struggling to survive against all odds. When a horrific tragedy sends Antonio to jail, their worlds turn upside down.
Antonio struggles to stay alive on the inside; Natasha battles society on the outside. Over the course of 10 years, they share an intimate correspondence as their lives change dramatically and they often have only each other to turn to. Will fate bring them back together, or will they remain forever apart? Ripe with unforgettable characters and two haunting voices, UPSTATE is an audio program not to be missed.
Set in New York in the 80s and 90s, UPSTATE tells the story of two young lovers, Antonio and Natasha, torn apart by tragedy and struggling to survive against all odds. When a horrific tragedy sends Antonio to jail, their worlds turn upside down.
Antonio struggles to stay alive on the inside; Natasha battles society on the outside. Over the course of 10 years, they share an intimate correspondence as their lives change dramatically and they often have only each other to turn to. Will fate bring them back together, or will they remain forever apart? Ripe with unforgettable characters and two haunting voices, UPSTATE is an audio program not to be missed.
Audio CD
First published December 23, 2004
111 people are currently reading
2783 people want to read
About the author
Kalisha Buckhanon
12 books373 followersKalisha is the author of the novels UPSTATE, CONCEPTION, SOLEMN and SPEAKING OF SUMMER: a book pick of Essence, O Magazine, TIME, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, Cosmo, Buzzfeed, Lit Hub and more. Her stories and essays are published in Fiction, CrimeReads, Fiction International, Oxford American, Black Renaissance Noire, Michigan Quarterly Review, pluck! and more. She is also seen on ID, BET and TV-One true crime shows as an expert. Her work is honored by the American Library Association, National Book Foundation, Audie Awards, Hurston-Wright Foundation, Illinois Arts Council, Friends of American Writers and more. She has English degrees from University of Chicago and an M.F.A. in Creative Writing from The New School in New York City.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 443 reviews
June 4, 2015
I didn't want it to end. LOL. I kept saying...one more letter...one more letter. I really enjoyed this one!
May 9, 2016
Upstate: A Novel
262 pages
Author: Kalisha Buckhanon
Published: January 10, 2006
There are a few novels that are lyrical, filled with an indescribable level of musical magic that leaves the reader, and ultimately, the listener, wanting more. It has the ability to feed that lingering, unfulfilled, and longing hunger; a hunger unwilling to accept just 'any' flavor. I found myself searching for that flavor, searching for that music, looking for a specific orchestral novel created by the distant rhythm of bass guitars, and crashing cymbals. I wanted a symphony of simplistically complex narrative, complicated love and a universal story line that would linger in my psyche until I became so absorbed that I couldn't tell where I ended and it began. I wanted a butterfly in Harlem.
Upstate, the debut novel by Kalisha Buckhanon, was a completely accidental find; a novel that literally fell from the shelf and into my lap. Perhaps this magical phenomenon was the first sign that I should give the book a sincere look.I purchased Upstate, thinking that it was, quite likely, another novel calling attention to the deleterious plight of African-American youth, filled with drugs, sex, poverty, and death, despite the glaring fact that the description read differently. I relegated this book to another addition to my collection of “come down” novels-- the ones I secretly stash in my backpack or in the archives of my Kindle, to read as cerebral relief from more complex works. Then I read Upstate’s first line:
Dear Natasha,
Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father?
There it was. A single profoundly engaging line. The lure that snagged me, and I was dangling from Buckhanon's hook, in Buckhanon’s pond; ravenous, famished, longing to be fed more and more. The sky opened. UPSTATE! That one line was my butterfly. What I discovered (or, perhaps Kalisha Buckhanon uncovered) was magnificence in a literary format I had not experienced since the reading of Slave Narratives compiled from letters and notes by people in captivity. There was an element of captivity in this novel, an arresting premise that had the capacity to make the reader laugh, and cheer, and cry—simultaneously. Amazing was how a series of letters, between two people, could create a complete novel, a bounty of revelation full of magic and emotion. Upstate, this complex epistolary novel, exploded my senses. Little did I initially know its impact. How quickly I learned.
The story covers the embattled, challenging, complicated relationship of Antonio and Natasha, and the roller-coaster ride that is their very young (sixteen and seventeen years old, respectively) and profoundly immature lives. Antonio is serving ten years in prison for the murder of his father, a roguish and chronically abusive man. During his bid, aside from periodic visits, Antonio and Natasha’s base of communication is letters written feverishly and engorged with dreams that have little to no possibility of ever coming to fruition …ever. The emotion in each letter rises and falls, unique in that the dialogue isn't really dialogue but carefully crafted monologues, a 'call and response' type endeavor that works so perfectly that it makes the reader more voyeur than reader. BRILLIANT MS. BUCKHANON!!!
There is love between Natasha and Antonio and it is real, although straddling the rail of becoming unrequited and stagnant, and, as the story further develops, the responsibilities that come with this stagnantly real love prove to be far more difficult than it was capable of enduring. In prison, Antonio becomes a part of the culture, enveloped by the fantasy-filled idea of a better world and a stronger resolve when he got out while Natasha finds the hole in the proverbial fence of oppression and has ventured through it into a world bigger than both of their imaginations. The question thus becomes, who was the actual prisoner? And the answer is a resounding, both of them.
Kalisha Buckhanon covers the spectrum of life's love mystery wonderfully, unfolding and revealing each layer just enough to show that there was an actual effect inside, from teenage adoration to the possibility and reality of freedom after several years in prison, to a more mature love that, although incomplete, never quieted. She lets the reader know that there are happy endings of sorts, that there is hope in what initially appeared hopeless, and avoided the common, stereotypical sorrowful physical demise of her characters. Buckhanon created, through each of their letters, another step toward resolve and often left us, the reader, wondering if the characters read and absorbed them in the same vein that we did. The answer to that is: sometimes.
In the end, Natasha pens an exclamatory rant, and Antonio follows up with a letter that compliments with a more sincere finality to their extinguishing relationship. This is as close as they ever get to actual closure, and this, the reader realizes, is the beauty of Buckhanon's work; that we are absorbed by the characters, incensed by their ridiculously overwhelming need for validation and comfort, and hopeful that their worlds would not meet a catastrophic end. Equally, we are left with more questions; the last being... "Is this the real end?"
There are novels that are lyrical, filled with an indescribable level of musical wonder that leaves the reader, the listener, wanting more. It feeds that lingering, unfulfilled, longing hunger; a hunger unwilling to accept just 'any' flavor. When I read the final lines, it was clear; Upstate is a lyrical love story, orchestral in its telling and Kalisha Buckhanon, who since the publishing of this novel has released a second, Conception, and has a third on the way, has undeniably proven to be a most gifted and well-versed conductor. A beautiful read, as rare as a butterfly in Harlem.
262 pages
Author: Kalisha Buckhanon
Published: January 10, 2006
There are a few novels that are lyrical, filled with an indescribable level of musical magic that leaves the reader, and ultimately, the listener, wanting more. It has the ability to feed that lingering, unfulfilled, and longing hunger; a hunger unwilling to accept just 'any' flavor. I found myself searching for that flavor, searching for that music, looking for a specific orchestral novel created by the distant rhythm of bass guitars, and crashing cymbals. I wanted a symphony of simplistically complex narrative, complicated love and a universal story line that would linger in my psyche until I became so absorbed that I couldn't tell where I ended and it began. I wanted a butterfly in Harlem.
Upstate, the debut novel by Kalisha Buckhanon, was a completely accidental find; a novel that literally fell from the shelf and into my lap. Perhaps this magical phenomenon was the first sign that I should give the book a sincere look.I purchased Upstate, thinking that it was, quite likely, another novel calling attention to the deleterious plight of African-American youth, filled with drugs, sex, poverty, and death, despite the glaring fact that the description read differently. I relegated this book to another addition to my collection of “come down” novels-- the ones I secretly stash in my backpack or in the archives of my Kindle, to read as cerebral relief from more complex works. Then I read Upstate’s first line:
Dear Natasha,
Baby, the first thing I need to know from you is do you believe I killed my father?
There it was. A single profoundly engaging line. The lure that snagged me, and I was dangling from Buckhanon's hook, in Buckhanon’s pond; ravenous, famished, longing to be fed more and more. The sky opened. UPSTATE! That one line was my butterfly. What I discovered (or, perhaps Kalisha Buckhanon uncovered) was magnificence in a literary format I had not experienced since the reading of Slave Narratives compiled from letters and notes by people in captivity. There was an element of captivity in this novel, an arresting premise that had the capacity to make the reader laugh, and cheer, and cry—simultaneously. Amazing was how a series of letters, between two people, could create a complete novel, a bounty of revelation full of magic and emotion. Upstate, this complex epistolary novel, exploded my senses. Little did I initially know its impact. How quickly I learned.
The story covers the embattled, challenging, complicated relationship of Antonio and Natasha, and the roller-coaster ride that is their very young (sixteen and seventeen years old, respectively) and profoundly immature lives. Antonio is serving ten years in prison for the murder of his father, a roguish and chronically abusive man. During his bid, aside from periodic visits, Antonio and Natasha’s base of communication is letters written feverishly and engorged with dreams that have little to no possibility of ever coming to fruition …ever. The emotion in each letter rises and falls, unique in that the dialogue isn't really dialogue but carefully crafted monologues, a 'call and response' type endeavor that works so perfectly that it makes the reader more voyeur than reader. BRILLIANT MS. BUCKHANON!!!
There is love between Natasha and Antonio and it is real, although straddling the rail of becoming unrequited and stagnant, and, as the story further develops, the responsibilities that come with this stagnantly real love prove to be far more difficult than it was capable of enduring. In prison, Antonio becomes a part of the culture, enveloped by the fantasy-filled idea of a better world and a stronger resolve when he got out while Natasha finds the hole in the proverbial fence of oppression and has ventured through it into a world bigger than both of their imaginations. The question thus becomes, who was the actual prisoner? And the answer is a resounding, both of them.
Kalisha Buckhanon covers the spectrum of life's love mystery wonderfully, unfolding and revealing each layer just enough to show that there was an actual effect inside, from teenage adoration to the possibility and reality of freedom after several years in prison, to a more mature love that, although incomplete, never quieted. She lets the reader know that there are happy endings of sorts, that there is hope in what initially appeared hopeless, and avoided the common, stereotypical sorrowful physical demise of her characters. Buckhanon created, through each of their letters, another step toward resolve and often left us, the reader, wondering if the characters read and absorbed them in the same vein that we did. The answer to that is: sometimes.
In the end, Natasha pens an exclamatory rant, and Antonio follows up with a letter that compliments with a more sincere finality to their extinguishing relationship. This is as close as they ever get to actual closure, and this, the reader realizes, is the beauty of Buckhanon's work; that we are absorbed by the characters, incensed by their ridiculously overwhelming need for validation and comfort, and hopeful that their worlds would not meet a catastrophic end. Equally, we are left with more questions; the last being... "Is this the real end?"
There are novels that are lyrical, filled with an indescribable level of musical wonder that leaves the reader, the listener, wanting more. It feeds that lingering, unfulfilled, longing hunger; a hunger unwilling to accept just 'any' flavor. When I read the final lines, it was clear; Upstate is a lyrical love story, orchestral in its telling and Kalisha Buckhanon, who since the publishing of this novel has released a second, Conception, and has a third on the way, has undeniably proven to be a most gifted and well-versed conductor. A beautiful read, as rare as a butterfly in Harlem.
June 5, 2024
What a heartbreakingly beautiful story this was!!! Ugh it pulled at my heart strings but I enjoyed the story and how everything played out!
Antonio is just 17 years old when he’s arrested for his father’s murder. His 16 year old girlfriend Natasha is ready to be a ride or die and stick beside her man through it all! Oh to be young and dumb 😆
Their story is told by way of letters that they have written back and forth to each other and their journey takes you through so many emotions. You can’t help but to empathize with these two and the fact that they wanted to stay together while also understanding that it simply isn’t realistic at their young ages. I couldn’t help but root for these two until the very end!
The narration was chefs kiss and a pleasant surprise once it was discovered who the male narrator was! That alone made the story worth experiencing!
Antonio is just 17 years old when he’s arrested for his father’s murder. His 16 year old girlfriend Natasha is ready to be a ride or die and stick beside her man through it all! Oh to be young and dumb 😆
Their story is told by way of letters that they have written back and forth to each other and their journey takes you through so many emotions. You can’t help but to empathize with these two and the fact that they wanted to stay together while also understanding that it simply isn’t realistic at their young ages. I couldn’t help but root for these two until the very end!
The narration was chefs kiss and a pleasant surprise once it was discovered who the male narrator was! That alone made the story worth experiencing!
January 31, 2022
A Beautifully Narrated story of life, love and Growth….this story depicted how we all grow at different times in our lives. Antonio took charge of his family and decided to actually take a manslaughter conviction for his little brother and spent almost five years in jail. This is the type of story where you’re pulling for a win for the characters…
January 6, 2016
A fast-reading epistolary novel about two people who fall in love as teens, and what that love looks like as it changes with time and circumstance. Antonio and Natasha write letters to each other because the usual methods of communication are closed to them—Antonio is in jail, facing a possible murder charge. Assuming he is innocent and will be released, Natasha at first promises to stay by his side, but there are a lot of aspects of Antonio’s life she doesn’t know about. The truth is complicated, and Antonio isn’t sure how much of it he wants his girlfriend to know.
I especially loved the language Buckhanon used. It felt totally authentic to me, like her characters were speaking directly in my ear. And then to observe the way their writing changed (in different ways for each of them) as they grew older and life took its various tolls was just beautiful. A little heartbreaking, but beautiful. Suspenseful, too, as Antonio’s fate hangs in the balance, and you wonder if these two will ever be able to be more to each other than words on a page.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
I especially loved the language Buckhanon used. It felt totally authentic to me, like her characters were speaking directly in my ear. And then to observe the way their writing changed (in different ways for each of them) as they grew older and life took its various tolls was just beautiful. A little heartbreaking, but beautiful. Suspenseful, too, as Antonio’s fate hangs in the balance, and you wonder if these two will ever be able to be more to each other than words on a page.
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
June 3, 2024
Location: Harlem
Date: January 25, 1990
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢,
“𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?”
That is the beginning of the first of many letters sent from sixteen-year-old Antonio as he serves a ten-year sentence for the crime committed against his father.
While Antonio fights to keep his sanity, Natasha faces choices that will alter her life forever.
Upstate is a beautifully written epistolary novel that takes you on an emotional roller coaster as we follow the relationship between two young teens, Antonio and Natasha. Brought to life with narration from Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms, this audiobook will be one I'll never forget. So do your ears a favor and LISTEN to this audiobook. Your ears will thank you!
Upstate will always have a special place in my heart. 🥺🦋
Rating: ♾️⭐️
Date: January 25, 1990
𝘋𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘕𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘴𝘩𝘢,
“𝘉𝘢𝘣𝘺, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘐 𝘯𝘦𝘦𝘥 𝘵𝘰 𝘬𝘯𝘰𝘸 𝘧𝘳𝘰𝘮 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘪𝘴 𝘥𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘣𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘷𝘦 𝘐 𝘬𝘪𝘭𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘮𝘺 𝘧𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳?”
That is the beginning of the first of many letters sent from sixteen-year-old Antonio as he serves a ten-year sentence for the crime committed against his father.
While Antonio fights to keep his sanity, Natasha faces choices that will alter her life forever.
Upstate is a beautifully written epistolary novel that takes you on an emotional roller coaster as we follow the relationship between two young teens, Antonio and Natasha. Brought to life with narration from Chadwick Boseman and Heather Simms, this audiobook will be one I'll never forget. So do your ears a favor and LISTEN to this audiobook. Your ears will thank you!
Upstate will always have a special place in my heart. 🥺🦋
Rating: ♾️⭐️
January 30, 2012
4 stars, out of 5
I rarely give books a 4 star rating so trust me, this book is something special.
Upstate is the story of Natasha and Antonio.
They're both 17 and in love, but then something horrible happens, and Antonio is sent to Jail.
The book is written in the forms of letters. Antonio and Natasha's letters to one another, and it is beautiful.
At first, from the second page actually, I thought the book was too crude for my liking, you'll see why, but nonethelss, I still read on, because even though sometimes the language used was appalling to my not-so-delicate ears, it wasnt meant in a bad way really. It was just who the charecters were.
Plus the book had me gripped, and once I started it, I didnt want to stop.
I really liked how open Antonio was about his feelings. He spilled his heart out in those letters, and getting in his mind like that,a boys mind, was refreashing for a change. Its not always you get to hear the guys side, and that too, a black guy, in jail, for something he might or might not have done.
You could actually feel the love Antonio radiated for Natasha and his family.
His frustration and emotions were wonderfully echoed in his letters and I had not trouble or confusion in reading a book written in this way.
Natasha was a strong, at the begining slightly shaky, but in the end very sturdy young woman. I liked her for doing what she did, being strong and pushing foward, not many would have the courage to wrestle with what they saw around them, despair and a huge mess. But she dreamed, and was rewarded for it.
One of the awesome things about Upstate was that you could see, in a very real and VERY natural way how both the characters developed and became adults.
The transition from teen to adult- it was flawlessly executed. I didnt even realize their tone had changed, it was so perfectly and gradually done, and the story never got boring, even though it the major twist came at the very end.
The ending about the whole love thing, was def not what I wanted it to be. I didnt like it, but I didnt dislike it, I guess I could understand why the author, wrote it like she did. It went with the book, it was honest- no sugar coating, and very REAL LIFE, if you know what I mean.
But it made me cry.
The book made me cry.
Books rarely make me cry!
So its safe to say, Upstate is a keeper.
You should read this book because even though its mainly supposed to be a love story- its not your run of the mill Young Adult romance novel set in a high school where everything is sexual tension, a twist or two and then happiness.
No way-, this book is very real, and very raw.
This book is ABOUT the charecters, its very personal-its about their struggle in a world full of hardness and its about finding that silver lining on that coal black cloud.
Its about hope.
And about the strength of true love.
I rarely give books a 4 star rating so trust me, this book is something special.
Upstate is the story of Natasha and Antonio.
They're both 17 and in love, but then something horrible happens, and Antonio is sent to Jail.
The book is written in the forms of letters. Antonio and Natasha's letters to one another, and it is beautiful.
At first, from the second page actually, I thought the book was too crude for my liking, you'll see why, but nonethelss, I still read on, because even though sometimes the language used was appalling to my not-so-delicate ears, it wasnt meant in a bad way really. It was just who the charecters were.
Plus the book had me gripped, and once I started it, I didnt want to stop.
I really liked how open Antonio was about his feelings. He spilled his heart out in those letters, and getting in his mind like that,a boys mind, was refreashing for a change. Its not always you get to hear the guys side, and that too, a black guy, in jail, for something he might or might not have done.
You could actually feel the love Antonio radiated for Natasha and his family.
His frustration and emotions were wonderfully echoed in his letters and I had not trouble or confusion in reading a book written in this way.
Natasha was a strong, at the begining slightly shaky, but in the end very sturdy young woman. I liked her for doing what she did, being strong and pushing foward, not many would have the courage to wrestle with what they saw around them, despair and a huge mess. But she dreamed, and was rewarded for it.
One of the awesome things about Upstate was that you could see, in a very real and VERY natural way how both the characters developed and became adults.
The transition from teen to adult- it was flawlessly executed. I didnt even realize their tone had changed, it was so perfectly and gradually done, and the story never got boring, even though it the major twist came at the very end.
The ending about the whole love thing, was def not what I wanted it to be. I didnt like it, but I didnt dislike it, I guess I could understand why the author, wrote it like she did. It went with the book, it was honest- no sugar coating, and very REAL LIFE, if you know what I mean.
But it made me cry.
The book made me cry.
Books rarely make me cry!
So its safe to say, Upstate is a keeper.
You should read this book because even though its mainly supposed to be a love story- its not your run of the mill Young Adult romance novel set in a high school where everything is sexual tension, a twist or two and then happiness.
No way-, this book is very real, and very raw.
This book is ABOUT the charecters, its very personal-its about their struggle in a world full of hardness and its about finding that silver lining on that coal black cloud.
Its about hope.
And about the strength of true love.
December 11, 2014
Only reason I give this a 4 instead of 5 is because I wasn't quite happy with the ending. Can't really think of a better way to end it, but I was just sad I guess.
June 10, 2012
sad, frustrating listen... great audio narration... not for ms and some parts maybe too graphic for hs... you decide... characters speak in odd mixture of vulgar slang, and didactic vocabulary... an odd book... still listening
I really liked this book BUT I can not recommend it for ms or hs despite a strong message because it is excessively sexual and uses way too much language... it's a shame too... some language I could have justified but it's do pervasive that at times it feels gratuitous and the sexual content is quite graphic...
shame... but an interesting read, and I want to track down Catcher in the Rye again as a side effect...
May 28, 2024
OMG, My heart.
I've never read a book that was based on letters. Each letter gave so much more insight to Natasha and Antonio's life, mindset and love for each other. The more this book went on, the more I could feel the heartache and separation.
I have never felt so many emotions, in such a short span of time, I rooted for them, got disappointed, had hope, and just mourned with them.
I can't even put into words this experience. Just know, I've cried. I've cried a lot. Upstate is damn good.
I've never read a book that was based on letters. Each letter gave so much more insight to Natasha and Antonio's life, mindset and love for each other. The more this book went on, the more I could feel the heartache and separation.
I have never felt so many emotions, in such a short span of time, I rooted for them, got disappointed, had hope, and just mourned with them.
I can't even put into words this experience. Just know, I've cried. I've cried a lot. Upstate is damn good.
May 15, 2016
**LONGER REVIEW TO COME--THIS BOOK DESERVES IT**
I don't think I have the words to explain what reading this book was like for me. I'm glad I didn't read it when it was first released, because I probably wouldn't have been ready. But it is beautiful, profound, and heartbreaking. It will take a long time before I am able to even look at it without choking up. Damn, this author is good.
I don't think I have the words to explain what reading this book was like for me. I'm glad I didn't read it when it was first released, because I probably wouldn't have been ready. But it is beautiful, profound, and heartbreaking. It will take a long time before I am able to even look at it without choking up. Damn, this author is good.
August 1, 2023
I had to sit on my feelings before I gave a full review. We follow Antonio who has just been charged for his father's murder. We learn some gruesome details about his personal family dynamic. So be aware if you're not able to stomach domestic violence. The author told the whole story through the letters shared between Antonio and Natasha and I enjoyed that style of story telling. It also left room for a major surprise. These teenagers dealt with alot and the letters showed even the importance of being honest and upfront with your feelings. I think they could have made it had they done that. On both ends. I have to say I was heartbroken by Natasha's decisions. It was obvious in the end that she still loved him and it made me wonder why she didn't just tell him that she would open the door for him and give him a chance. And why would she tell him she would get married after she gave a "joke" about not wanting to get married upstate. She should have been more honest about what was going on out there. And he even said she could see other people to take care of her needs. But to still hold him down. But I can't say that I really blame her in the end. To me she is an example of what chasing a career and status over love looks like even though she ends up with another man. I think she deliberately did not choose Antonio because he "killed his father". Finding out what really happened in the end broke my heart even more for him. I wouldn't mind if we got a love story for Antonio.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 16, 2013
Upstate is the story of Natasha and Antonio, and is told entirely through letters that they send to each other over a period of 9 years. At the start of the book they are young (16 and 17) and in love and Antonio has been accused of the murder of his father. The letters, incredibly intimate and emotional, create a surprisingly full picture of not only Natasha and Antonio’s lives, but of their family members and friends as well. I ached for them, for their broken families, but I kind of hated their enabler mothers. I rolled my eyes when Antonio wanted Natasha to pledge her unwavering allegiance from the start, to tell him that she had his back even though he wouldn’t tell her what happened. I was a little shocked to read about the things that they did together because I was sooo completely naïve at 16 and don’t EVEN want to think about my kids dating KILL ME NOW. I wanted to smack them when their words swung so easily from promises of forever love and fidelity to anger and resentment. I knew when they were making promises that they couldn’t and wouldn’t keep, but I couldn’t help but hope that they would stick.
As the years pass, their voices mature and the details of their lives change and gaps between letters grow larger and larger. Natasha and Antonio grow up and away from each other, and it is heartbreaking and real, disappointing and inspiring in equal parts. This book gripped me from start to finish. I practically inhaled it and then promptly cried when it was over.
As the years pass, their voices mature and the details of their lives change and gaps between letters grow larger and larger. Natasha and Antonio grow up and away from each other, and it is heartbreaking and real, disappointing and inspiring in equal parts. This book gripped me from start to finish. I practically inhaled it and then promptly cried when it was over.
June 22, 2016
Wow. If you have the chance, do the audio version of this because it is done phenomenally. The story starts in the early 90's with a chilling opener, "Do you believe I killed my father?", asked by the male main character, Antonio, in his first letter from jail to his girlfriend Natasha. The story is told in the form of letters exchanged between the two characters, which gives a depth of intimacy but also personalized heartache to the story... Do not miss this audio book.
June 16, 2011
Upstate is a thought-provoking, intelligent and thoroughly believable story. From start to finish, I was invested in the characters' lives and almost mesmerized by their gradual growth and maturity. Kalisha definitely has a distinct voice as a writer and a promising career.
September 6, 2010
These letters felt very raw. They weren't flowery or ridiculously romantic. They are about romantic longing, but so much more. They talk about books, Harlem, their home lives, life in jail. Before jail, Antonio spent a lot of his time trying to be tough and not share details of his private life with Natasha. In the letters, he finally breaks down. I thought this was a bit too convenient, but I let it slide because I wanted to learn more about Antonio's life. Natasha wasn't as interesting to me. I felt that she was almost stereotypical, but that could be more of a result of how many YA books I've read with similar main characters. She was very determined and wanted to go to college and be a lawyer, and she wasn't going to let her economic background get in her way. Which is wonderful, but I felt that I had heard it all before. Antonio's background seemed all too familiar at first, but it got deeper and more unique. Besides being about the two main characters, we also learn A LOT about both of their families, which I really liked. The parents are a presence (for better or worse) and even the siblings have stories that are told.
Antonio's first letter starts with him asking if Natasha believes he kills his father. I was pleased at the fact that Natasha asks him if he did it. She doesn't blindly take his word for it. I understand wanting to see the best in someone you love, but I liked that Natasha was trying to be realistic and honest. One of the strongest parts of this novel is the language. The author writes very powerfully, you feel as if you are reading very private letters (which is against the law since it's not your mail! haha) and maybe you are intruding. At the same time, you can't put the book down because you need to know if Antonio killed his father and you need to know if Antonio and Natasha will stay together. The last letter is written in 1999 and while the letters are getting few and far between, it's evident that Antonio and Natasha still love each other. The question is if they have room in their lives for each other.
Upstate is a sweet story about a not-so-sweet topic. The love story is original, emotional and very genuine. The circumstances the two main characters were born into suck and it's infuriating that they have to go through what they have to go through. They must grow up way sooner than many children. I can't say how authentic this book is in portraying prison life, I'm on the fence about that because I feel that it was a little too safe but at the same time, I've never been to prison so I wouldn't know. The author does an excellent job of creating characters that grab you and you will not forget about them right away. Perhaps one of the simplest but best parts of this book is the fact that it's about two African American teenagers who are deeply in love with each other. We don't see that very often in books or on TV (but we do in real life!) so this was a nice change. I highly recommend this book. Surprisingly not a tearjerker, but still a very moving story.
Antonio's first letter starts with him asking if Natasha believes he kills his father. I was pleased at the fact that Natasha asks him if he did it. She doesn't blindly take his word for it. I understand wanting to see the best in someone you love, but I liked that Natasha was trying to be realistic and honest. One of the strongest parts of this novel is the language. The author writes very powerfully, you feel as if you are reading very private letters (which is against the law since it's not your mail! haha) and maybe you are intruding. At the same time, you can't put the book down because you need to know if Antonio killed his father and you need to know if Antonio and Natasha will stay together. The last letter is written in 1999 and while the letters are getting few and far between, it's evident that Antonio and Natasha still love each other. The question is if they have room in their lives for each other.
Upstate is a sweet story about a not-so-sweet topic. The love story is original, emotional and very genuine. The circumstances the two main characters were born into suck and it's infuriating that they have to go through what they have to go through. They must grow up way sooner than many children. I can't say how authentic this book is in portraying prison life, I'm on the fence about that because I feel that it was a little too safe but at the same time, I've never been to prison so I wouldn't know. The author does an excellent job of creating characters that grab you and you will not forget about them right away. Perhaps one of the simplest but best parts of this book is the fact that it's about two African American teenagers who are deeply in love with each other. We don't see that very often in books or on TV (but we do in real life!) so this was a nice change. I highly recommend this book. Surprisingly not a tearjerker, but still a very moving story.
September 9, 2015
I loved this novel. I bought it months ago, unsure of what my expectations were. Epistolary books are so hard to nail. It's an experiment that is often more interesting in theory than in execution. And Buckhanon gave herself an additional challenge: her letters were between two teenagers, Natasha and Antonio, who are separated when Antonio is arrested and sent to prison for murdering his abusive father. Not only does she need to convey a story believably through letters, but they need to be believably in the voice of two young kids (15 and 16 when the novel starts). Buckhanon succeeds entirely. The voices are wholly real: they sound like kids, they write and act like kids--and yet everything that she needs to convey, gets conveyed: the plot, the emotions, the psychology, the meat of their romance. It's an arresting novel. And one full of compassion for both characters, who are flawed and immature (at the start--she matures them gracefully, if painfully, throughout the years of the novel) as teenagers should be, particularly teenagers who are trapped in the shared tragedy of Antonio's imprisonment. She is good at believably sharing information. Nothing is hamfisted, and when things are revealed, they are revealed with care and grace. You never get the sense that she is holding back details for shock value. Everything flows naturally through the letters. You grow to love these characters, and you grow to love the characters around them, particularly Antonio and Natasha's mothers, and Antonio's brothers. It's quite a feat, too, because they don't get much page time. It's an honest look at a hateful, ugly justice system that railroaded a child, that railroaded a whole family. But though she pulled no punches about what prison was like for Antonio, mental and emotionally, she also refused to victimize him. The novel settles in the pit of your stomach; it leaves you quiet afterwards, hopeful for these characters, sad for lost time, for futures pushed off the track they might have otherwise been on. It's a lovely book, written by an outstanding author. Also--be prepared to give up whatever plans you had after you start reading it. It's going to be hard to put down.
April 22, 2010
I read the book "Upstate" by Kalisha Buckhanon. I randomly chose this book. I just picked it off the library shelf and the cover seem sort of appealing so I checked it out. But I'm really glad that I did.
The book is about two teenagers, Antonio and Natasha, who are madly in love. But Antonio is locked up in jail, convicted of killing his father. The whole book is a series of letters between the two teenagers in the course of ten years. Throughout the book you witness the hardships they have to go though day by day. They have to face obstacles and try to make it together, given the fact that Antonio is locked up while Natasha is free, doing her own thing. Their journey throughout the decade is an amazing storing that I really enjoyed.
The main conflict in this book would have to be man versus man because Natasha and Antonio have to try and cooperate together and make their relationship last. It's hard since they are not together and can't see each other on a daily basis. Also because people don't think they will make it and try to talk Natasha in to breaking up with Antonio. The theme of this book is love, as you can see between the two characters.
The writing style of the author is very realistic. Throughout the book I could picture every single scene playing out in my head. I also loved the whole concept of the book being just a recollection of several letters. It's something I personally never have seen before. I highly recommend this book to others. But probably not for people who don't want to read mature content and language, since there are some in the book. All in all I really enjoyed this book. I think Buckhanon did an outstanding job and I really loved this book.
The book is about two teenagers, Antonio and Natasha, who are madly in love. But Antonio is locked up in jail, convicted of killing his father. The whole book is a series of letters between the two teenagers in the course of ten years. Throughout the book you witness the hardships they have to go though day by day. They have to face obstacles and try to make it together, given the fact that Antonio is locked up while Natasha is free, doing her own thing. Their journey throughout the decade is an amazing storing that I really enjoyed.
The main conflict in this book would have to be man versus man because Natasha and Antonio have to try and cooperate together and make their relationship last. It's hard since they are not together and can't see each other on a daily basis. Also because people don't think they will make it and try to talk Natasha in to breaking up with Antonio. The theme of this book is love, as you can see between the two characters.
The writing style of the author is very realistic. Throughout the book I could picture every single scene playing out in my head. I also loved the whole concept of the book being just a recollection of several letters. It's something I personally never have seen before. I highly recommend this book to others. But probably not for people who don't want to read mature content and language, since there are some in the book. All in all I really enjoyed this book. I think Buckhanon did an outstanding job and I really loved this book.
March 1, 2009
This book is really sad and interesting because this book is a composition of letters from a boyfriend writing to his girlfriend. In this book Antonio a young African American teenager was sent to jail for the conviction of murdering his very own father. This book’s theme is love because even tough Antonio is in a tough situation right now he still is able to live through each and every day, he’s able to do this with the help of his girlfriend Natasha who is a Hispanic teenager. They are both in love with each other, Antonio could trust her with anything and I mean anything. One example can be that in one of the letter Antonio told Natasha how important she was to him also how important education was. He didn’t realize how much it meant to him because he was being such a bad kid with his friends. In this book you will see through both Antonio and Natasha’s eyes, you will what difficulties both of them have living without each other being side by side. Antonio faces trouble after he’s been bumped up to a much worst facility. While Natasha and her mother face problems with Roy, Natasha’s mother’s boyfriend. Roy is always looking down upon them because they aren’t rich and he’s really mean towards Natasha and her mother. One example where Natasha told Antonio that Roy was yelling at her and her mother because they were thinking about getting a new place. I for one loved this book but not so happy with the ending. But if you’re a fan of slang, relationship/family problems, and letters you’ll be definitely into the book.
November 24, 2014
Natasha and Antonio feel like familiar types: sixteen and seventeen years old, in love, wise-cracking. They communicate by phone (off page) and in letters, as Antonio has been arrested for the stabbing death of his father and is incarcerated. The book traces the ebb-and-flow of their relationship with honesty and believable detail, from January of 1990 to May, 1999, with the bulk of the story - 160 of 247 - during the first year of Antonio's stint "Upstate". Holding the readers attention for a ten-year development is unusual for YA titles..
Buckhanon does a great job with their voices, slowly aging them to reflect experiences and education. A particularly brilliant moment comes about half way through the book, in November of 1990, when Antonio writes an especially fierce letter to his months-dead father. The ending isn't "Romeo and Juliette" but it isn't Nick Sparks either.
While my students enjoy the relationship between the primary characters, I found the supporting characters to be as compelling. There is enough profanity and explicit detail to authentically represent the situation and characters.
Buckhanon does a great job with their voices, slowly aging them to reflect experiences and education. A particularly brilliant moment comes about half way through the book, in November of 1990, when Antonio writes an especially fierce letter to his months-dead father. The ending isn't "Romeo and Juliette" but it isn't Nick Sparks either.
While my students enjoy the relationship between the primary characters, I found the supporting characters to be as compelling. There is enough profanity and explicit detail to authentically represent the situation and characters.
October 17, 2009
Never in my life have I read and actually relish a romantic novel, but Kalisha Bukhanon made it possible with this book. It is written in a letter format which I didn’t really like at first because I wasn’t use to the idea. Throughout the course of the book, though, I found it to be a great choice because it all tied in together (in that format). My favorite part of the book is the concept of the butterfly which is mentioned in beginning of the book and also at the end. It was hard to grasp the meaning of the butterfly but the book includes questions to guide the reader through the book which I believe is very helpful.
I consider myself to be cold hearted, but to be honest when I finish this book I had a weird sensation. This book almost made me cry with the outcome of the characters’ lives. I am not sure if this is because I could partially relate the book to myself, but it was very sentimental. It would be nice to see other people's reaction to this book so i can figure out if it was just me, or if that is actually the author's purpose to make the reader feel this way. Overall i think this book was great.
I consider myself to be cold hearted, but to be honest when I finish this book I had a weird sensation. This book almost made me cry with the outcome of the characters’ lives. I am not sure if this is because I could partially relate the book to myself, but it was very sentimental. It would be nice to see other people's reaction to this book so i can figure out if it was just me, or if that is actually the author's purpose to make the reader feel this way. Overall i think this book was great.
Currently reading
October 7, 2011I'm not extremely far into this book but I can tell a lot about the characters already. The book is about this young guy Antonio who goes to prison for murdering his father. While he's in prison he writes letters to people mostly his girlfriend Natasha. Even though Antonio is in prison from what I see they still have a good relationship, which is surprising to me. They both share their experiences his life inside prison and her life separated from him outside. Natasha seems to be loyal to him and is trying to stay connected with him and help him throughout this situation. They talk about getting married.. Will this be the case forever though? I think they won't be able to maintain their relationship for as long as they think now in the beginning because I think all this stress Antonio has and just being in prison separated from his girlfriend is going to take a toll on him and their relationship..
April 22, 2009
The beginning of this book was not impressive. By the end, though, I really enjoyed it. Kalisha Buckhanon gives a voice to young Black America of the 1990s, much like other authors have done in past decades. The cadence and rhythm of speech was genuine (although at times difficult for me, since it's not my natural speech pattern). The content was more more graphic than I was anticipating at first. By the end it was not so graphic and perhaps that's why it resonated more with me toward the end. As I have a friend in prison now, in the 2000s, and based on his experiences it sounds as if some things have changed while others have not. I would recommend this book with caution to some of my students.
September 29, 2009
Mitzi Moran
Period 14/15
Upstate
Kalisha Buckhanon
# of pages
Date completed 9/28/09
Book rating-10
The character that changed the most from the beginning of the book to the end would be Natasha
In the beginning, Natasha was just focusing on Antonio & him being in jail. Then she started to realize that she had to focus on herself & her future. She started changing as soon as she was in college. I think it was a good idea that she let go of Antonio & let him go & move on. She changed so much, in a good way though.
Period 14/15
Upstate
Kalisha Buckhanon
# of pages
Date completed 9/28/09
Book rating-10
The character that changed the most from the beginning of the book to the end would be Natasha
In the beginning, Natasha was just focusing on Antonio & him being in jail. Then she started to realize that she had to focus on herself & her future. She started changing as soon as she was in college. I think it was a good idea that she let go of Antonio & let him go & move on. She changed so much, in a good way though.
January 26, 2022
This heartbreaking love story unfolds as a testimony to the power of friendship and exposes the ugly truths and injustices of the world. This book is a literary triumph and a feast for the ratchet intellectual, the romantic, the street philosopher, and the streets at large. There's so much to unpack in this book, honestly...for more visit: http://www.hypelit.com/#!Upstate-by-K...
December 11, 2014
Upstate is a sole touching and heart warming book
August 2, 2014
oh, I loved this book! so many feels ♡♡♡
December 8, 2014
It was good the author did good with the setting
April 11, 2020
Upstate is a series of letters written between a young couple that turns into beautiful and raw storytelling. The author was able to make me care for the characters in the first few pages. I wanted to know more about the crime Antonio was standing accused of. I wanted to know how long his girlfriend and family would support him. I wanted to know WHO Antonio was ..I wanted to know his family...I wanted to know about Natasha and her family. I was totally invested after reading the first letter Antonio wrote his girlfriend.
This story is love, it’s thought provoking, it’s beautiful , it’s sad, it’s raw ..this story is a journey. An absolute literary beauty!
April 20, 2023
I am not sure about the reality (authenticity) of the language (or I don't want to believe in it...)
But besides it... What a debut. What a powerful, pulling me out of my comfort zone, story.
The main character talked many times about The Catcher in the Rye. "Upstate" wasn't as brilliant, and it didn't move me as Salinger's novel. Yet, I can easily believe that for many young readers, Buckhanon's story can be the most important book (formative, eye-opening, etc.)
But besides it... What a debut. What a powerful, pulling me out of my comfort zone, story.
The main character talked many times about The Catcher in the Rye. "Upstate" wasn't as brilliant, and it didn't move me as Salinger's novel. Yet, I can easily believe that for many young readers, Buckhanon's story can be the most important book (formative, eye-opening, etc.)
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