Twists and Turns

by Janet McDonald

Janet McDonald introduces readers to two sisters who discover that all you have to do is stick together to handle life's many twists and turns.It may have taken them an extra year or two to do it, but the Washington sisters finally graduated high school, and this definitely calls for a celebration. But after the party ends, then what? The girls have no plans. Unlike their smart best friend Raven Jefferson, who's away at college, and their nerdy best friend Toya Larson, who's in computer training, and their overall best friend Aisha Ingram, who's rocking in TV commercials, Keeba and Teesha are still hanging out on neighborhood benches as if nothing's changed. Then an older friend convinces the sisters that they, too, have a skill – braiding hair – and why not make a business of it? With a loan from Aisha, the Washingtons open TeeKee's Tresses in a rented storefront, and the future looks pretty solid . . . that is, until a rival's jealousy, a landlord's greed, and a politician's scheme turn the sisters' world upside down. Twists and Turns is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Genres: Cultural, Teen, Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, African American, Fiction, Urban

145 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 15, 2003

About the author

Janet McDonald was an American writer of young adult novels as well as the author of 'Project Girl', a memoir about her early life in the Brooklyn projects and struggle to achieve an Ivy League education. Her best known children's book is Spellbound, which tells the story of a teenaged mother who wins a spelling competition and a college scholarship. The book was named as the American Library Association's Best Book for Young Adults in 2002.

In addition to books, McDonald also wrote articles for publications such as Slate, including one in which she paid psychic Sylvia Browne $700 for a telephone reading. McDonald was a member of Mensa, the high IQ society.

After graduating from Vassar (1977), Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (1984), and New York University Law School (1986), McDonald practiced law in New York City (1986-1989) and Seattle (1989-1991). She took a position as an intern at a Paris law firm (1991-1993) before moving to Olympia, Washington to work in the Attorney General's office and teach French language classes at Evergreen State College. McDonald settled in Paris in 1995 to work first as an international attorney and then as a writer, until she died of cancer in 2007


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Reviews

[D.T. · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was nice to go back to the olden days of YA before it was expected for Black leads to explain what racism or microaggressions are. I kid, I kid, but here we just have black characters and they’re not teaching anything. You could say this was written for the Black Gaze.

Twists in Turns is set in the projects of New York. Since this book came out in 2003, it shows with its references, the slang, and the slight ignorance of the time. Unfortunately, the writing feels choppy, and the characters are too flat. I mean there are some genuine tries to add nuance and backstory to some of the characters, but it wasn’t very effective to me.

The story opens with a party. We meet the main characters before being bombarded with the party-goers. All those characters in a span of a few pages without really establishing the main characters, the Washington sisters, was super disorienting. Even as the story continues, the pov might go to a random character at any time. While the dialogue is authentic (it’s filled with AAVE and early 2000’s and/or NY slang), with it being on paper as opposed to video, it could appear stereotypical.

Maybe it’s because I’m looking at this from 2021 eyes, but the dialogue and story felt very tired and messy a la reality show though I did snicker when that girl was about to get the beatdown for dumping the Kool-Aid down the sink. I liked the music references from Missy Elliot to Ashanti to Usher. In addition, I liked how Skye, the librarian, tried to encourage the neighborhood young adults, the focus on gentrification, the salon, and the overall community aspect. For what the story tries to do, it’s okay but definitely not a must-read.

[RLL22017Julia Turnbough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Twists And Turns is about two sisters while having a party comes up with the idea of opening a beauty shop. The story is an up to date with some of the terminology that young people use. The story could have occurred in any city with housing projects. The book was entertaining and fun to read. I would recommend this book to students’ ages 12-18 years old.

[Melissa (So Behind) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Inner city teens Teesha and Keeba Washington have graduated from high school, taking a couple of years longer than normal. Teesha is a year younger than her sister Keeba, but since neither ever felt particularly motivated to attend class or study, each repeated their share of grades. The girls love to hang out, but unlike some of their friends, they lack ambitions for college or jobs. For years, Teesha and Keeba have been braiding hair in their New York housing project, so after some prodding from a friend, they decide to open TeeKee's Tresses.

They obtain a loan from their best friend Aisha Ingram, a famous roller skating television commercial actress. Although their first day doing hair is a resounding success, bad things start to happen almost immediately. There are problems with their landlord, who misunderstands their website and thinks the girls are rich; an enemy (who pretends to be a friend) sabotages their business; and more of the housing projects are being re-zoned to attract white professionals to the neighborhood - not the type to get braids in their hair. Will Teesha and Keeba overcome all that is stacked against them to achieve success in life?

Twists and Turns is geared towards a fairly specific audience of black inner city teens. It is a pleasure to watch Teesha and Keeba realize their potential and achieve their dreams, which should be an encouragement to those going through the same struggles. The story is refreshing, because it breaks down the common stereotype of black young people in gangs. The girls and their group of friends strive to move past these gang expectations and shun those who take that route in life. They are very close to their mother, who is supportive of their dream to make something out of their lives. Many black pop culture references are included, which should endear readers who understand the language and culture of the inner city.

Navigating the twists and turns of life together, Teesha and Keeba learn that family and friends can get a person through anything. If you're looking for a story about people who don't have it all figured out, but conquer their fears to reach for success, you'll find that and more in Twists and Turns.

[Abi Uwadiae · Rating 4 out of 5]

Twist and Turn is a book by Janet McDonald, about two very close sisters, Keeba and Teesha. The two sisters lived in the projects, a poorer part of New York and not very many people were able to get out of it. The sisters were very close and did everything together; they even graduated high school together. The sisters struggled in school but were good girls, and very happy and proud to have graduated. However all their childhood friends were done with High School and had moved on, but the girls had no idea what to do with their future, they loved their mother but they knew they couldn’t live with her forever. They wanted to move on and be out of the project life, like their friends. The girls weren’t good at much but they were good at doing people’s hair. Someone suggested to them, that they should go into the business of doing that. All did girls had were High School diplomas. But they knew it was a good idea, and something that could make them big in the city and must of all get them money. So with the help of their friends, would had managed to get out of the projects, the girls started their own business and all was going well at first, but soon it went downhill, not as much people were coming and some days they had to close their store because they had no business, and then the rent price went up. This made the sisters really sad, but they knew this was all they could do and they had put a lot of work into it, so they were determined to fight for their business and their project. The sisters always suck together, putting family first before anything else.
The story is a feel good story that could be related to. It would be a good read for teenagers, that like feel good stories, that could be related to, about how you could always come out from hard times. It’s also a good read for people who like happy ending, and like seeing that the right person won at the end of a story.

[Noemi705]

Have you ever wondered why siblings sometimes act so differently? Well, Keeba and Teesha are sisters but have completely different views of the world.
Teesha is the sister that wants to make something of her life. She wants to go to college and make a lot of "bread". Keeba is the complete opposite. She just wants to enjoy her life. She feels like work is too much. The braiding buisness is all she needs right now. It's amazing how these two girls are sisters but see things completely different.
They both have the same same blood and probably look the same so why do they see things sooo differently.

[Justins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was about these two sisters name Keeba and Teesha. The two sister wasn't doing good in school Keeba was left back twice. The other sister dropout of school. Both sisters braid hair in their house to help their mother Mrs. washington pay the bills.


I could make a text to world connection because people do stuff bad and people dropout and does stuff to get paid and help their mother around
the house.


I gave this book a 5 star book because the author of the book Janet mcdonald was a good auothor telling about how black people struggle and then get on point and change.

[Amer Ibric · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was about two girls. These girls where twins. A lot of stuff hapened in their life that was crazy. these people were always had challenges to accompish.There life was hard but advendurous.

I can connect this to peoplewho are balck. I can also connect this to the world because everyone can have a werid life. A lot of people proboly have a werid life butthey can always accomplish stuff.

I gave this book a 3 because it was an okay book. I think that I only read this book sometimes because it was bring at times.

[Salsabrarian]

Third in the sequence of books that begins with "Spellbound." Sisters Keesha and Teeba have finally graduated from high school with no further direction than the next party and hanging out with friends. They do have a talent for braiding hair and when the librarian Skye suggests they open a salon, it seems like a good idea if not for the money required to start up. But with a loan from their friend Aisha who stars in roller-rink commercials, the girls start a salon. Running a business proves challenging when few clients show up after the grand opening.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Washington sisters, Keeba and Teesha, have finally graduated from high school, and they need to figure out what to do now. When the librarian helps them realize their talent for braiding hair, they decide to open a beauty parlor. Then problems with a greedy landlord, a jealous rival, and a scheme to sell out the projects puts everything at risk.

[Shaylah Monee']

this book so far i read about is that the two girls keeba and teesha they are mrs.washington kids. they are the neighborhood hair stylies who loves to braid hair. they are opening a place for them to start their business with the help of their friend raven and the neighborhood libarian.

[Teen]

Try to get Drama High fans to read it. Both have strong heroines dealing with adversity, although McDonald’s characters may have farther to go to reach empowerment.
LJ@DTH

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Try to get Drama High fans to read it. Both have strong heroines dealing with adversity, although McDonald’s characters may have farther to go to reach empowerment.

[Niki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book as an example of voice in YA. That aspect was good but there wasn't much else I liked about it.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this quick book - it kept moving and it felt so true to life for this young sisters.

[Tatianna Hanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was a bit better because it portrayed a more realistic depiction of life in the projects. it was sugar coated or unrealistic.