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Joseph
For Joseph Flood, life is tough. Tough because of Mama's addiction to drugs and alcohol. Tough because Daddy is away with the army fighting in Iraq. Tough because it looks like there's no way out once you're living in a homeless shelter in a North Carolina ghetto neighborhood. And tough because Joseph is enrolled in yet another new school where he doesn't know anyone and has to keep what's going on in his life a secret.
Joseph struggles to keep Mama clean and to hold their broken family together while trying to make new friends and join the school tennis team. Can a boy who's only fifteen years old win his daily battle to survive?
Joseph is a powerful and moving story from the author of National Book Award finalist The Legend of Buddy Bush that looks at what it really takes for a boy to begin to become a man.
Joseph struggles to keep Mama clean and to hold their broken family together while trying to make new friends and join the school tennis team. Can a boy who's only fifteen years old win his daily battle to survive?
Joseph is a powerful and moving story from the author of National Book Award finalist The Legend of Buddy Bush that looks at what it really takes for a boy to begin to become a man.
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First published January 1, 2008
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About the author
Shelia P. Moses
27 books36 followersPoet, author, playwright, and producer Shelia P. Moses was raised the ninth of ten children on Rehobeth Road in Rich Square, North Carolina. She is the co-author of Dick Gregory's memoir, Callus on My Soul, as well as the award-winning author of several books for young readers. Shelia lives in Atlanta, Georgia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 45 reviews
August 4, 2012
‘Joseph’ is about the trials and tribulations of a teenage boy. Joseph Flood lives in a shelter with his mother who is an addict and would do anything for her next fix. His life is a constant fight – a fight to eat, a fight to have a place to sleep and even a fight for survival in a rough neighbourhood.
Joseph and his mother moved into the shelter after his grandfather passed away and his mother could not keep up with the repayments of his grandfather’s house. But the move proved to be a blessing in disguise for Joseph, as he had to enrol into a new school. To his delight, Dulles High is unlike any of his previous schools. The teachers teach actual lessons and care about their students, the students are friendly and they even serve nice food. He quickly makes friends with Nick and Paul. Paul agrees to tutor him in maths so that he can improve his grades and Nick encourages him to join the tennis team, a sport that Joseph has always loved. When he was younger his father used to take him to a tennis court and they played together.
Joseph put his all into his academic studies and is ecstatic when he makes the school tennis team. All the teachers are fond of Joseph because they see his potential. But at home, Joseph has to deal with family drama with his mother.
Joseph’s father is in the army and has been deployed to Iraq but he emails and writes to Joseph. His father hopes to get custody of Joseph when he leaves the army so that he can give Joseph a life away from his mother’s drug problems. Joseph has spent his life trying to raise his mother and keep her clean from her addictions. His devoted love for his mother regardless of what she says or does to him and constant need to protect her is admirable. He knows that he is all she has and he couldn’t just leave her.
The finally straw came when Joseph’s mother is accused of burning down the shelter they lived in. His Aunt Shirley takes him in and Joseph is finally able to have a family life with people that love him. He has clean clothes and eats regularly and feels complete. He begs his mother to join him but when she chose her old life; he ultimately finds the courage to let her go.
The book is set in a North Carolina ghetto neighbourhood and Joseph narrates his story. Although Joseph has a sad life, he finds joy and comfort in the people around him and the sport he loves. He is a smart boy who wants the best for everyone especially his mother.
I picked this book from the children’s section of the library not knowing what to expect however, I was interested after I read an article on the author, Sheila P Moses. As an adult, I felt a sense of sympathy for Joseph but relief that for a boy surrounded by chaos he chose a good path to improve his own life and confide in people that could help him. Joseph learns that although his mother cannot be there for him, his father, aunt and uncle and teachers are there for him to turn too.
After reading a few pages, I wondered whether this book can be used in a primary school as it talks about Joseph’s mother’s addiction frankly. But as I carried on reading I discovered Joseph is an inspirational boy that we can all learn from, especially as we see him understand that ultimately you cannot change people; you can only change yourself.
I think this book can be incorporated into a PSHE lesson for Year 6 students; the potential of the book is vast as it deals with a range of emotions from love and hate, it also tackles topics such as bullying and fights in schools. The book addresses friendships and relationships and confronts addiction and domestic abuse. Ultimately, I think the book is about courage and one boy’s journey to happiness.
It is important that children are able to think about some of the facts and dangers of drug addiction and the reality of poverty. This book is great because it is told from the perspective of a child. It is also an easy read with simplistic language.
Due to the sensitive nature of the book, I believe a lot of planning needs to go into a lesson that uses this book. For example, the teacher has to have an understanding of the students’ prior knowledge of drug abuse. The teacher may also need to be sensitive to the fact some of his/her students may have experience of some of the issues described in the book. Having a questions/answers discussion with the children on the issues addressed in the book would be beneficial to ascertain how much the children understand. The children must also be given advice and information on available help and services.
Joseph and his mother moved into the shelter after his grandfather passed away and his mother could not keep up with the repayments of his grandfather’s house. But the move proved to be a blessing in disguise for Joseph, as he had to enrol into a new school. To his delight, Dulles High is unlike any of his previous schools. The teachers teach actual lessons and care about their students, the students are friendly and they even serve nice food. He quickly makes friends with Nick and Paul. Paul agrees to tutor him in maths so that he can improve his grades and Nick encourages him to join the tennis team, a sport that Joseph has always loved. When he was younger his father used to take him to a tennis court and they played together.
Joseph put his all into his academic studies and is ecstatic when he makes the school tennis team. All the teachers are fond of Joseph because they see his potential. But at home, Joseph has to deal with family drama with his mother.
Joseph’s father is in the army and has been deployed to Iraq but he emails and writes to Joseph. His father hopes to get custody of Joseph when he leaves the army so that he can give Joseph a life away from his mother’s drug problems. Joseph has spent his life trying to raise his mother and keep her clean from her addictions. His devoted love for his mother regardless of what she says or does to him and constant need to protect her is admirable. He knows that he is all she has and he couldn’t just leave her.
The finally straw came when Joseph’s mother is accused of burning down the shelter they lived in. His Aunt Shirley takes him in and Joseph is finally able to have a family life with people that love him. He has clean clothes and eats regularly and feels complete. He begs his mother to join him but when she chose her old life; he ultimately finds the courage to let her go.
The book is set in a North Carolina ghetto neighbourhood and Joseph narrates his story. Although Joseph has a sad life, he finds joy and comfort in the people around him and the sport he loves. He is a smart boy who wants the best for everyone especially his mother.
I picked this book from the children’s section of the library not knowing what to expect however, I was interested after I read an article on the author, Sheila P Moses. As an adult, I felt a sense of sympathy for Joseph but relief that for a boy surrounded by chaos he chose a good path to improve his own life and confide in people that could help him. Joseph learns that although his mother cannot be there for him, his father, aunt and uncle and teachers are there for him to turn too.
After reading a few pages, I wondered whether this book can be used in a primary school as it talks about Joseph’s mother’s addiction frankly. But as I carried on reading I discovered Joseph is an inspirational boy that we can all learn from, especially as we see him understand that ultimately you cannot change people; you can only change yourself.
I think this book can be incorporated into a PSHE lesson for Year 6 students; the potential of the book is vast as it deals with a range of emotions from love and hate, it also tackles topics such as bullying and fights in schools. The book addresses friendships and relationships and confronts addiction and domestic abuse. Ultimately, I think the book is about courage and one boy’s journey to happiness.
It is important that children are able to think about some of the facts and dangers of drug addiction and the reality of poverty. This book is great because it is told from the perspective of a child. It is also an easy read with simplistic language.
Due to the sensitive nature of the book, I believe a lot of planning needs to go into a lesson that uses this book. For example, the teacher has to have an understanding of the students’ prior knowledge of drug abuse. The teacher may also need to be sensitive to the fact some of his/her students may have experience of some of the issues described in the book. Having a questions/answers discussion with the children on the issues addressed in the book would be beneficial to ascertain how much the children understand. The children must also be given advice and information on available help and services.
August 4, 2012
‘Joseph’ is about the trials and tribulations of a teenage boy. Joseph Flood lives in a shelter with his mother who is an addict and would do anything for her next fix. His life is a constant fight – a fight to eat, a fight to have a place to sleep and even a fight for survival in a rough neighbourhood.
Joseph and his mother moved into the shelter after his grandfather passed away and his mother could not keep up with the repayments of his grandfather’s house. But the move proved to be a blessing in disguise for Joseph, as he had to enrol into a new school. To his delight, Dulles High is unlike any of his previous schools. The teachers teach actual lessons and care about their students, the students are friendly and they even serve nice food. He quickly makes friends with Nick and Paul. Paul agrees to tutor him in maths so that he can improve his grades and Nick encourages him to join the tennis team, a sport that Joseph has always loved. When he was younger his father used to take him to a tennis court and they played together.
Joseph put his all into his academic studies and is ecstatic when he makes the school tennis team. All the teachers are fond of Joseph because they see his potential. But at home, Joseph has to deal with family drama with his mother.
Joseph’s father is in the army and has been deployed to Iraq but he emails and writes to Joseph. His father hopes to get custody of Joseph when he leaves the army so that he can give Joseph a life away from his mother’s drug problems. Joseph has spent his life trying to raise his mother and keep her clean from her addictions. His devoted love for his mother regardless of what she says or does to him and constant need to protect her is admirable. He knows that he is all she has and he couldn’t just leave her.
The finally straw came when Joseph’s mother is accused of burning down the shelter they lived in. His Aunt Shirley takes him in and Joseph is finally able to have a family life with people that love him. He has clean clothes and eats regularly and feels complete. He begs his mother to join him but when she chose her old life; he ultimately finds the courage to let her go.
The book is set in a North Carolina ghetto neighbourhood and Joseph narrates his story. Although Joseph has a sad life, he finds joy and comfort in the people around him and the sport he loves. He is a smart boy who wants the best for everyone especially his mother.
I picked this book from the children’s section of the library not knowing what to expect however, I was interested after I read an article on the author, Sheila P Moses. As an adult, I felt a sense of sympathy for Joseph but relief that for a boy surrounded by chaos he chose a good path to improve his own life and confide in people that could help him. Joseph learns that although his mother cannot be there for him, his father, aunt and uncle and teachers are there for him to turn too.
After reading a few pages, I wondered whether this book can be used in a primary school as it talks about Joseph’s mother’s addiction frankly. But as I carried on reading I discovered Joseph is an inspirational boy that we can all learn from, especially as we see him understand that ultimately you cannot change people; you can only change yourself.
I think this book can be incorporated into a PSHE lesson for Year 6 students; the potential of the book is vast as it deals with a range of emotions from love and hate, it also tackles topics such as bullying and fights in schools. The book addresses friendships and relationships and confronts addiction and domestic abuse. Ultimately, I think the book is about courage and one boy’s journey to happiness.
It is important that children are able to think about some of the facts and dangers of drug addiction and the reality of poverty. This book is great because it is told from the perspective of a child. It is also an easy read with simplistic language.
Due to the sensitive nature of the book, I believe a lot of planning needs to go into a lesson that uses this book. For example, the teacher has to have an understanding of the students’ prior knowledge of drug abuse. The teacher may also need to be sensitive to the fact some of his/her students may have experience of some of the issues described in the book. Having a questions/answers discussion with the children on the issues addressed in the book would be beneficial to ascertain how much the children understand. The children must also be given advice and information on available help and services.
Joseph and his mother moved into the shelter after his grandfather passed away and his mother could not keep up with the repayments of his grandfather’s house. But the move proved to be a blessing in disguise for Joseph, as he had to enrol into a new school. To his delight, Dulles High is unlike any of his previous schools. The teachers teach actual lessons and care about their students, the students are friendly and they even serve nice food. He quickly makes friends with Nick and Paul. Paul agrees to tutor him in maths so that he can improve his grades and Nick encourages him to join the tennis team, a sport that Joseph has always loved. When he was younger his father used to take him to a tennis court and they played together.
Joseph put his all into his academic studies and is ecstatic when he makes the school tennis team. All the teachers are fond of Joseph because they see his potential. But at home, Joseph has to deal with family drama with his mother.
Joseph’s father is in the army and has been deployed to Iraq but he emails and writes to Joseph. His father hopes to get custody of Joseph when he leaves the army so that he can give Joseph a life away from his mother’s drug problems. Joseph has spent his life trying to raise his mother and keep her clean from her addictions. His devoted love for his mother regardless of what she says or does to him and constant need to protect her is admirable. He knows that he is all she has and he couldn’t just leave her.
The finally straw came when Joseph’s mother is accused of burning down the shelter they lived in. His Aunt Shirley takes him in and Joseph is finally able to have a family life with people that love him. He has clean clothes and eats regularly and feels complete. He begs his mother to join him but when she chose her old life; he ultimately finds the courage to let her go.
The book is set in a North Carolina ghetto neighbourhood and Joseph narrates his story. Although Joseph has a sad life, he finds joy and comfort in the people around him and the sport he loves. He is a smart boy who wants the best for everyone especially his mother.
I picked this book from the children’s section of the library not knowing what to expect however, I was interested after I read an article on the author, Sheila P Moses. As an adult, I felt a sense of sympathy for Joseph but relief that for a boy surrounded by chaos he chose a good path to improve his own life and confide in people that could help him. Joseph learns that although his mother cannot be there for him, his father, aunt and uncle and teachers are there for him to turn too.
After reading a few pages, I wondered whether this book can be used in a primary school as it talks about Joseph’s mother’s addiction frankly. But as I carried on reading I discovered Joseph is an inspirational boy that we can all learn from, especially as we see him understand that ultimately you cannot change people; you can only change yourself.
I think this book can be incorporated into a PSHE lesson for Year 6 students; the potential of the book is vast as it deals with a range of emotions from love and hate, it also tackles topics such as bullying and fights in schools. The book addresses friendships and relationships and confronts addiction and domestic abuse. Ultimately, I think the book is about courage and one boy’s journey to happiness.
It is important that children are able to think about some of the facts and dangers of drug addiction and the reality of poverty. This book is great because it is told from the perspective of a child. It is also an easy read with simplistic language.
Due to the sensitive nature of the book, I believe a lot of planning needs to go into a lesson that uses this book. For example, the teacher has to have an understanding of the students’ prior knowledge of drug abuse. The teacher may also need to be sensitive to the fact some of his/her students may have experience of some of the issues described in the book. Having a questions/answers discussion with the children on the issues addressed in the book would be beneficial to ascertain how much the children understand. The children must also be given advice and information on available help and services.
December 24, 2008
I wanted to give this a five star review. Really. The premise and was promising, but I had to knock off one star for a terrible, repetitive, and unconvincing voice, one star for cookie-cutter characters, and one star for a plot in which everything gets solved with no CHOICES ever being made. It's a shame.
15-year old Joseph Flood has it hard. He is homeless, his dad is fighting in Iraq, and his mother is a crack addict who seems bent on destroying any shot at happiness either she or her son have. Joseph seems like a great kid -- liked by his teachers, good at tennis, able to make friends and keep out of trouble -- but he is constantly living with shame over his mother, and the fear that others will find out he's living in a shelter. His well-to-do aunt is ready to take him, but Joseph is afraid of what will happen to his mother if he leaves her on the streets alone...
This is obviously a book with Big Issues on its mind. Joseph's character is interesting because the torrent of emotions that he feels around his mother's bad behavior -- anger, disgust, shame -- is tempered by a strong sense of devotion that he feels towards her. As much as he wants his life to get better, he is not willing to leave her without help and his feelings toward her vacillate constantly creating a gripping inner conflict. Sadly, the book also has overly simplistic writing and, despite his interesting emotional life, Joseph is never a convincing character. He's supposed to be 15 but he speaks and acts more like an 8-year old and though he talks about the burden of responsibility, we never see him take any. So this one's a mixed-bag: an intriguing premise that many teens will (sadly) relate to, a totally phony teen voice, and a book that shirks the very responsibilities that it hopes to illuminate.
15-year old Joseph Flood has it hard. He is homeless, his dad is fighting in Iraq, and his mother is a crack addict who seems bent on destroying any shot at happiness either she or her son have. Joseph seems like a great kid -- liked by his teachers, good at tennis, able to make friends and keep out of trouble -- but he is constantly living with shame over his mother, and the fear that others will find out he's living in a shelter. His well-to-do aunt is ready to take him, but Joseph is afraid of what will happen to his mother if he leaves her on the streets alone...
This is obviously a book with Big Issues on its mind. Joseph's character is interesting because the torrent of emotions that he feels around his mother's bad behavior -- anger, disgust, shame -- is tempered by a strong sense of devotion that he feels towards her. As much as he wants his life to get better, he is not willing to leave her without help and his feelings toward her vacillate constantly creating a gripping inner conflict. Sadly, the book also has overly simplistic writing and, despite his interesting emotional life, Joseph is never a convincing character. He's supposed to be 15 but he speaks and acts more like an 8-year old and though he talks about the burden of responsibility, we never see him take any. So this one's a mixed-bag: an intriguing premise that many teens will (sadly) relate to, a totally phony teen voice, and a book that shirks the very responsibilities that it hopes to illuminate.
November 18, 2012
Reviewed by Angie Fisher for TeensReadToo.com
In an ideal world, teenagers aren't responsible for taking care of their parents.
Joseph doesn't live in an ideal world, though. As a matter of fact, he lives about as far from it as humanly possible.
Forced to change schools yet again due to the fact he and Mamma are living in a new shelter, Joseph isn't worried about fitting in as much as he's worried about the other students finding out that Mamma is an addict.
Desperate to keep family services from finding out about Mamma's lies, alcohol, and drug abuse, and worried about Daddy, who is away fighting in Iraq, there doesn't seem to be room for something as seemingly unimportant as the tennis team.
But Joseph wants to play, just like Daddy did.
JOSEPH is a story of love and loyalty, of hardship and determination, and of the cruel, ugly reality of addiction. It's also a story of will; the will to survive and the will to succeed, regardless of one's circumstances and background.
It's a story that every person, young or old, should read before they consider using their childhood as an excuse to be a victim.
In an ideal world, teenagers aren't responsible for taking care of their parents.
Joseph doesn't live in an ideal world, though. As a matter of fact, he lives about as far from it as humanly possible.
Forced to change schools yet again due to the fact he and Mamma are living in a new shelter, Joseph isn't worried about fitting in as much as he's worried about the other students finding out that Mamma is an addict.
Desperate to keep family services from finding out about Mamma's lies, alcohol, and drug abuse, and worried about Daddy, who is away fighting in Iraq, there doesn't seem to be room for something as seemingly unimportant as the tennis team.
But Joseph wants to play, just like Daddy did.
JOSEPH is a story of love and loyalty, of hardship and determination, and of the cruel, ugly reality of addiction. It's also a story of will; the will to survive and the will to succeed, regardless of one's circumstances and background.
It's a story that every person, young or old, should read before they consider using their childhood as an excuse to be a victim.
March 2, 2015
Joseph was one of my favorite books I've read for the past year. Something I liked from the book was that Joseph was a poor kid living in the ghetto hood. I liked it because he compared kids from his school that were high class from his life. Joseph explained his life in really good words that made the reader want to read more from the book. Something that I didn't like was the ending of the story. I thought It was going to be different but apparently it was not. I would recommended this book to somebody because It is award winning book and also It is a very interesting book that you would always want to read more.
April 25, 2018
Didn't like this book at all. It's a great starting point, though: a 15 year old boy with a tough break. Joseph Flood is living in homeless shelter, his father is away fighting in Iraq, and his mother is a drug addict that doesn't care for him to the point of gross negligence. Despite these obstacles, Joseph is a great kid with a great personality, easily making friends at his new school and working his way onto the tennis team. He deals with the shame of his mother's behavior by staying to himself. He has a wonderful support network--an aunt, uncle, and cousin who love him very much and desire for him to stay with them. Joseph refuses, however, wanting to remain with his mother until his dad returns from Iraq out of a sense of obligation.
The mechanics of this book fail badly, though. Joseph's voice is monotone, flat, and unconvincing. At no time when reading this did I feel as if I were reading the thoughts of a 15-year-old (a 7-year-old, maybe, but this was not a teenager's voice). The author also fails badly when it comes to her knowledge of current youth culture: during a scene at a school dance, Joseph describes doing such dances as The Cabbage Patch and The Bankhead Bounce. I closed the book and LOL'd. Is this serious? Granted this was written in 2008, but perhaps she is not aware that the Bankhead Bounce was popular circa 1995-1996 (I know because I did it back then) and the Cabbage Patch had its heyday even further back than that, in the 1980's. Why would any teenager in current times be doing dances from 25+ years ago? Okayyyyy....
That's not it. The characters here suck too. I understand that Joseph's mother is bad, but she's almost cartoonish in her badness--going to happy hour, talking about getting checks, calling people "dude," etc. It's almost as if the author turned on an episode of Maury and picked any variety of hood-rich, ghetto fabulous chicks and put it in a book. Other characters are pretty much the same, watered down. And the story just kinda...ends. No real choice is made, no resolution even remotely hinted it. Geez.
I wanted to like this. I think Joseph's conflict is understandable, because abused children often will side with their abusive parent, even if its to their detriment. But the way the subject was handled here was a travesty.
No, don't read this.
The mechanics of this book fail badly, though. Joseph's voice is monotone, flat, and unconvincing. At no time when reading this did I feel as if I were reading the thoughts of a 15-year-old (a 7-year-old, maybe, but this was not a teenager's voice). The author also fails badly when it comes to her knowledge of current youth culture: during a scene at a school dance, Joseph describes doing such dances as The Cabbage Patch and The Bankhead Bounce. I closed the book and LOL'd. Is this serious? Granted this was written in 2008, but perhaps she is not aware that the Bankhead Bounce was popular circa 1995-1996 (I know because I did it back then) and the Cabbage Patch had its heyday even further back than that, in the 1980's. Why would any teenager in current times be doing dances from 25+ years ago? Okayyyyy....
That's not it. The characters here suck too. I understand that Joseph's mother is bad, but she's almost cartoonish in her badness--going to happy hour, talking about getting checks, calling people "dude," etc. It's almost as if the author turned on an episode of Maury and picked any variety of hood-rich, ghetto fabulous chicks and put it in a book. Other characters are pretty much the same, watered down. And the story just kinda...ends. No real choice is made, no resolution even remotely hinted it. Geez.
I wanted to like this. I think Joseph's conflict is understandable, because abused children often will side with their abusive parent, even if its to their detriment. But the way the subject was handled here was a travesty.
No, don't read this.
Read
January 8, 2018I think this book was really catchy. This book got my attention. I have really felt the pain Joseph was going through. Some people say you don't feel it until You go through it. I think not because there are things that could happen to someone else and you feel it because you see what they were going through. This book is kind of a personal problem for Joseph but there are people out there who has been through the worst more than Joseph. Only thing i can do is pray to God. I think Joseph was by himself on this because of his mom decision. If Joseph's mom would have made a good decision to take care of her child and stop worrying about what Joseph's father is doing, I do believe she can be a mother and step her game.The only reason Joseph's dad went into the army was to get away from Joseph's mom.They got a devorce because of Joseph's mom drugs and all her baby mama drama.
January 16, 2019
This book was hands down Amazing!! Not one I was looking to read and didn't expect to like it so much. Found it the other day browsing Scribd. Joseph's mother is a drug addict, liar, and alcoholic who will do anything for money and right beside her is her son Joseph. His father is deployed to Iraq and wants nothing more than to see his son safe and cared for. Joseph's voice is so real and unflinching. His love and devotion to his mother is so unbelievable counting everything he's been through. I rooted for him through the entire book. The way he refused to become just another statistic was inspiring. Joseph had a story to tell Nadine boy did he tell it. Definitely a favorite of 2019.
October 10, 2019
This book has a very good message. I like how the author wrote it from the perspective of Joseph, she used words and diction that related to how he would have really talked. While doing that though, the book jumps around a lot. To switch parts of the book, she just switched in the next sentence. I would rather she started a new paragraph, leave a space between the two, or started a new chapter. I also feel the book could have used more detail.
September 28, 2018
An alright book could've been a shorter story though.
Poor Joseph his mom put him through the ringer but he still tried to be loyal to her shameless a**.
No 15 year old would talk the way Joseph does.
Poor Joseph his mom put him through the ringer but he still tried to be loyal to her shameless a**.
No 15 year old would talk the way Joseph does.
October 4, 2018
The book Joseph is a good book because it about a boy and his mom smokes everyday and sends money on cigarettes and does not care about him. His dad left because of his mom. his aunt and dad want to take him away but can't. he changes school all the time.
July 1, 2017
One of the books that I taught in my summer reading program. Dealt with some rough topics that families actually go through.
March 6, 2018
It was good, the only thing I wold like is more action
November 5, 2019
Great young adult book about the struggles with an addict parent
November 19, 2021
Hi-Low book that is easy to read (reading level) but difficult to read (topic).
February 11, 2012
While his father Peter is off fighting the war in Iraq, 15-year-old Joseph Flood is in a battle of his own; one as emotionally taxing, politically questionable, and rife with as many (if not more) innocent casualties than the Middle East engagement.
The spiritual death of so many young African American males at the hands of political neglect, drug-addicted babies having babies, and the systemic indoctrination of self-hate and short life expectancy ‘encouraged’ by neglectful bureaucracy, bad parents, and gang pimps is a numbing reality that just might come out of a long state of comatose with the promise of change offered by a new, no-nonsense leader of the free world rejecting all things brave young Joseph is forced to battle.
Only time will tell. But in the meantime, Joseph traverses the mean streets of his emotional existence with as much admirable dedication and personal conflict as his father who is fighting for his country, trying to stay alive, and managing to be a good father to his only child.
Joseph’s biggest challenge is a mother so nefarious that she hardly deserves the love her son so devoutly offers. That mother Betty is a lying, whoring, welfare-cheating crack head is the least of her ill traits. Her faux affections for her child, her subtle neglect make her the worst kind of maternal monster, one that a biased justice system seems to always favor over a decent, hard-working father.
Joseph narrates with a sad and sensitive calm, opening his story at his new school where he doesn’t want his new homeroom teacher to shake his mother’s hand, fearing she’ll notice the finger tip burn marks from Betty smoking cigarettes down to the filter, marijuana every night, and crack pipes singed to a crusty brown.
A good kid and a smart kid, Joseph is aware of how much everyone wants to help him by taking him away from his mother, but he stays loyally by her side, knowing that he’s all she’s got. Living with her in a homeless shelter (Betty lost the house left to her by Joseph’s grandfather, and spends the welfare money and child support money she gets from Joseph’s dad on drugs, drinks, and general good times), Joseph resists leaving his mom to go live with his loving aunt and uncle, a lawyer and an airline pilot, unless they allow his mother to come live with them too. Reluctantly they give in, and with the appearance of Betty comes all the attendant drama of a Boyz In The Hood invasion of The Huxtables.
Even when he overhears his mother’s hurtful truth about his existence, his love is undaunted. He simply continues to make good grades, win tennis matches, be the best young man that he can be, and hope for the best.
This young adult novel is a must read for any young man living under trying domestic/parental situations. In spite of his terrible mother, Joseph is a reflection of the wonderful black men in his life: his father, his grandfather, and his Uncle Todd. Author Moses should be commended for creating these wonderfully believable role models; these Obamamen.
And although the writing might seem a tad simplistic, the points are well made. Perseverance in the face of major obstacles remains a simple truth.
The spiritual death of so many young African American males at the hands of political neglect, drug-addicted babies having babies, and the systemic indoctrination of self-hate and short life expectancy ‘encouraged’ by neglectful bureaucracy, bad parents, and gang pimps is a numbing reality that just might come out of a long state of comatose with the promise of change offered by a new, no-nonsense leader of the free world rejecting all things brave young Joseph is forced to battle.
Only time will tell. But in the meantime, Joseph traverses the mean streets of his emotional existence with as much admirable dedication and personal conflict as his father who is fighting for his country, trying to stay alive, and managing to be a good father to his only child.
Joseph’s biggest challenge is a mother so nefarious that she hardly deserves the love her son so devoutly offers. That mother Betty is a lying, whoring, welfare-cheating crack head is the least of her ill traits. Her faux affections for her child, her subtle neglect make her the worst kind of maternal monster, one that a biased justice system seems to always favor over a decent, hard-working father.
Joseph narrates with a sad and sensitive calm, opening his story at his new school where he doesn’t want his new homeroom teacher to shake his mother’s hand, fearing she’ll notice the finger tip burn marks from Betty smoking cigarettes down to the filter, marijuana every night, and crack pipes singed to a crusty brown.
A good kid and a smart kid, Joseph is aware of how much everyone wants to help him by taking him away from his mother, but he stays loyally by her side, knowing that he’s all she’s got. Living with her in a homeless shelter (Betty lost the house left to her by Joseph’s grandfather, and spends the welfare money and child support money she gets from Joseph’s dad on drugs, drinks, and general good times), Joseph resists leaving his mom to go live with his loving aunt and uncle, a lawyer and an airline pilot, unless they allow his mother to come live with them too. Reluctantly they give in, and with the appearance of Betty comes all the attendant drama of a Boyz In The Hood invasion of The Huxtables.
Even when he overhears his mother’s hurtful truth about his existence, his love is undaunted. He simply continues to make good grades, win tennis matches, be the best young man that he can be, and hope for the best.
This young adult novel is a must read for any young man living under trying domestic/parental situations. In spite of his terrible mother, Joseph is a reflection of the wonderful black men in his life: his father, his grandfather, and his Uncle Todd. Author Moses should be commended for creating these wonderfully believable role models; these Obamamen.
And although the writing might seem a tad simplistic, the points are well made. Perseverance in the face of major obstacles remains a simple truth.
November 14, 2013
Summary Tease
Joseph is a 2008 novel from the author of National Book Award finalist The Legend of Buddy Bush, Shelia P. Moses. This is an urban fiction novel of a 15 year old African American boy, named Joseph Flood, living in a homeless shelter with his mother in a (n) North Carolina ghetto neighborhood. Life has been increasingly tough trying to parent his drug and alcohol addicted mother, while is father is away fighting in war in Iraq initially unaware of his now seemingly hopeless circumstance.
In the story Joseph’s father unexpectedly gets called back to war in Iraq before being able to successfully gain custody of Joseph, so he is forced to endure the continued neglect and drug abuse of his helpless mother. His grandfather has recently deceased leaving him now defenseless, and allowing his mother to ruin one more situation causing the homeless misfortune. Even in the mist of the horrible there comes a good through the ability to change to a better school catering to his intelligence due to the change to the shelter. Though there still brings in the struggle for approval of peers by trying to hide his circumstance still comes the unfortunate reality of his mother’s continuous disgusting behavior and doing whatever is possible to get money to bring on more embarrassment as if he didn’t have enough already.
Overall Satisfaction
My satisfaction with this book was five stars. I found the overall message to be inspiring. It really reminds you of others sad unfortunate situations, but it shows you just one more reason to be grateful for what you’ve been given and blessed with. Not everyone is lucky enough to have good loving parents in their lives to take care of them or just be afforded the basics like many of us. The diction was impeccable, each chapter felt like my own personally movie theater rolling through my head. I never wanted to put it down, nothing ever felt like a satisfying stopping point.
Literary Skills
1. Diction – Joseph says “Her teeth shone like snow in the sunshine.” He compares her teeth to snow because they’re so white. He also uses this to tell the difference of his aunt’s teeth from his mothers, which he says next are “stained from the cigarettes and marijuana” from her continue smoking and abuse of them daily.
2. Figurative Language – In chapter one Joseph talks about his mother and her best friend talking and treating their unstable harmful environments like their community. They use the term loosely in the ghetto shelter as though their a(n) community due to all the people, and taking pride in their pitiful situation with no shame due to their lack of love or realization of their wrong doing.
3. Inference - In chapter one Joseph says “I hung my head and walk away in total shame.” He did this in response to the embarrassment his mother caused in his new school, bringing about the old feelings of every time new people encounter the raft and ignorance of his mother. This is what he constantly tries to stray from, but unfortunately has to face, in every new environment/ situation he comes to.
Joseph is a 2008 novel from the author of National Book Award finalist The Legend of Buddy Bush, Shelia P. Moses. This is an urban fiction novel of a 15 year old African American boy, named Joseph Flood, living in a homeless shelter with his mother in a (n) North Carolina ghetto neighborhood. Life has been increasingly tough trying to parent his drug and alcohol addicted mother, while is father is away fighting in war in Iraq initially unaware of his now seemingly hopeless circumstance.
In the story Joseph’s father unexpectedly gets called back to war in Iraq before being able to successfully gain custody of Joseph, so he is forced to endure the continued neglect and drug abuse of his helpless mother. His grandfather has recently deceased leaving him now defenseless, and allowing his mother to ruin one more situation causing the homeless misfortune. Even in the mist of the horrible there comes a good through the ability to change to a better school catering to his intelligence due to the change to the shelter. Though there still brings in the struggle for approval of peers by trying to hide his circumstance still comes the unfortunate reality of his mother’s continuous disgusting behavior and doing whatever is possible to get money to bring on more embarrassment as if he didn’t have enough already.
Overall Satisfaction
My satisfaction with this book was five stars. I found the overall message to be inspiring. It really reminds you of others sad unfortunate situations, but it shows you just one more reason to be grateful for what you’ve been given and blessed with. Not everyone is lucky enough to have good loving parents in their lives to take care of them or just be afforded the basics like many of us. The diction was impeccable, each chapter felt like my own personally movie theater rolling through my head. I never wanted to put it down, nothing ever felt like a satisfying stopping point.
Literary Skills
1. Diction – Joseph says “Her teeth shone like snow in the sunshine.” He compares her teeth to snow because they’re so white. He also uses this to tell the difference of his aunt’s teeth from his mothers, which he says next are “stained from the cigarettes and marijuana” from her continue smoking and abuse of them daily.
2. Figurative Language – In chapter one Joseph talks about his mother and her best friend talking and treating their unstable harmful environments like their community. They use the term loosely in the ghetto shelter as though their a(n) community due to all the people, and taking pride in their pitiful situation with no shame due to their lack of love or realization of their wrong doing.
3. Inference - In chapter one Joseph says “I hung my head and walk away in total shame.” He did this in response to the embarrassment his mother caused in his new school, bringing about the old feelings of every time new people encounter the raft and ignorance of his mother. This is what he constantly tries to stray from, but unfortunately has to face, in every new environment/ situation he comes to.
February 23, 2016
This boy name Joseph was homeless and his dad had left and his mom is addict to drugs. The genre of the story is realistic fiction. The major moment in this story is when Joseph mom had set the house on fire with her cigarette. This story took place at a shelter, Dulles High,Shirley house.
My story is about a boy name Joseph his mother was a drug addict. Joseph dad had left her and wanted to take cussed e of Joseph but he had miss 2 court dates because of the army. Every time his dad had sent money Joseph mom would spent it on drugs. His aunt Shirley wanted to take cussed e of him but his he don't want to leave because him and his mom leave in a shelter. His grandfather had died in a church on the pulpit. Joseph kept changing school. At his new school dull high two twins who went to his old school Lincoln middle school had got expelled. This story take place at the shelter. the conflict of the story is person vs person because Joseph is trying to get his mother off drugs.
This story means to me is that Joseph is in a though predict anent because his mother is on drugs and his dad is in the army and. In the story it says that Joseph mother will do anything for drugs. If she stay clean this time we maybe can move out of are homeless shelter into are own apartment. They should had been moved with Sheryl because who want to live in a shelter.
In my opinion Joseph should had got the money because I think he would save up for they own house and bought food for him and his mother. In the story it says that every time Joseph dad will send money she will spend it on money,and before his grandfather had died he had sent the money to him then they moved with him. If I will rate this book out of 5 I will rate this book a 4 because I like how they explained it. I will recommend this book for people who like who like realistic fiction books because this story can be happening to someone for real. in closing this is a really good book I everyone like this story if you read it.
My story is about a boy name Joseph his mother was a drug addict. Joseph dad had left her and wanted to take cussed e of Joseph but he had miss 2 court dates because of the army. Every time his dad had sent money Joseph mom would spent it on drugs. His aunt Shirley wanted to take cussed e of him but his he don't want to leave because him and his mom leave in a shelter. His grandfather had died in a church on the pulpit. Joseph kept changing school. At his new school dull high two twins who went to his old school Lincoln middle school had got expelled. This story take place at the shelter. the conflict of the story is person vs person because Joseph is trying to get his mother off drugs.
This story means to me is that Joseph is in a though predict anent because his mother is on drugs and his dad is in the army and. In the story it says that Joseph mother will do anything for drugs. If she stay clean this time we maybe can move out of are homeless shelter into are own apartment. They should had been moved with Sheryl because who want to live in a shelter.
In my opinion Joseph should had got the money because I think he would save up for they own house and bought food for him and his mother. In the story it says that every time Joseph dad will send money she will spend it on money,and before his grandfather had died he had sent the money to him then they moved with him. If I will rate this book out of 5 I will rate this book a 4 because I like how they explained it. I will recommend this book for people who like who like realistic fiction books because this story can be happening to someone for real. in closing this is a really good book I everyone like this story if you read it.
February 11, 2009
In an ideal world, teenagers aren’t responsible for taking care of their parents. Joseph doesn’t live in an ideal world, though. As a matter of fact, he lives about as far from it as humanly possible. Forced to change schools yet again due to the fact he and Mamma are living in a new shelter, Joseph isn’t worried about fitting in as much as he’s worried about the other students finding out Mamma is an addict.
Desperate to keep family services from finding out about Mamma’s lies, alcohol and drug abuse, and worried about Daddy who is away fighting in Iraq, there doesn’t seem to be room for something as seemingly unimportant as the tennis team. But Joseph wants to play, just like Daddy did.
Joseph is a story of love and loyalty, of hardship and determination, of the cruel, ugly reality of addiction. It’s also a story of will; the will to survive and the will to succeed, regardless of one’s circumstances and background. It’s a story that every person, young or old, should read before they consider using their childhood as an excuse to be a victim.
Desperate to keep family services from finding out about Mamma’s lies, alcohol and drug abuse, and worried about Daddy who is away fighting in Iraq, there doesn’t seem to be room for something as seemingly unimportant as the tennis team. But Joseph wants to play, just like Daddy did.
Joseph is a story of love and loyalty, of hardship and determination, of the cruel, ugly reality of addiction. It’s also a story of will; the will to survive and the will to succeed, regardless of one’s circumstances and background. It’s a story that every person, young or old, should read before they consider using their childhood as an excuse to be a victim.
July 23, 2011
I think this book was pretty good. i like books that are realistic because life doesn't have a happy ending.
This book is about a boy named Joseph who lives in North Carolina. His mom is a drug addict who didn't have a job and slept all day and his father is fighting in the war in Iraq. His mom Betty, spent so much of all their money that her and Joseph had to move to a shelter. She never was really supportive of him but his dad always believed in him. When it came down to it, all Betty had was Joseph to the point where he was taking care of her. Later on throughout his life he realized that his mother really never cared about him. she just cares about the welfare check that comes every month so she can spend it on crack. Basically she was using her own son for money. Betty's sister didn't approve the way Joseph was being treated. She wanted to take Joseph away from Betty because Joseph deserved a good life. While all this was going on, Joseph managed to pursue his passion by joining the tennis team and keeping his grades in the 90's.
This book is about a boy named Joseph who lives in North Carolina. His mom is a drug addict who didn't have a job and slept all day and his father is fighting in the war in Iraq. His mom Betty, spent so much of all their money that her and Joseph had to move to a shelter. She never was really supportive of him but his dad always believed in him. When it came down to it, all Betty had was Joseph to the point where he was taking care of her. Later on throughout his life he realized that his mother really never cared about him. she just cares about the welfare check that comes every month so she can spend it on crack. Basically she was using her own son for money. Betty's sister didn't approve the way Joseph was being treated. She wanted to take Joseph away from Betty because Joseph deserved a good life. While all this was going on, Joseph managed to pursue his passion by joining the tennis team and keeping his grades in the 90's.
September 25, 2010
Joseph by Sheila P. Moses is a very good book. Joseph is about a fifteen year old boy named Joseph Flood. For Joseph most of all his life has been nothing but TOUGH! Joseph's life has been this way because he has a mom that is addicted to alcohol and drugs and a dad that is away in Iraq. Therefore, he has no one left to help support to his needs but his Aunt Shirley (Joseph's Mom's Sister) who lets just say if you put them together in one room they act as if they are evil rivals instead of sisters. Meanwhile, Joseph and his mom have been living in a homeless shelter in a North Carolina "ghetto" neighborhood.
As Joseph struggles to try to keep Mama clean, hold their broken family together, and try to make new friends at another new school he has joined, he always keeps in mind how his dad is doing and counting down the days as to when the two will reunite again. Can a boy who's only fifteen years old win his battle to survive?
As Joseph struggles to try to keep Mama clean, hold their broken family together, and try to make new friends at another new school he has joined, he always keeps in mind how his dad is doing and counting down the days as to when the two will reunite again. Can a boy who's only fifteen years old win his battle to survive?
February 10, 2017
Although this is an extremely sad book (I almost cried at the end), I absolutely love it. This touching story helps me to be grateful for how loving my family is, because there are people whose life is almost as bad as Joseph's, equally miserable, or worse yet. Moses tells us through the eyes of Joseph how powerful unconditional love is and how valuable our families are to each and every one of us.
July 18, 2012
Meet Joseph Flood. He's 15 and he and his mother are now living in a homeless shelter. His mother is usually strung out on drugs and sometimes Joseph feels that she just keeps him around so she can collect child support and welfare. There are just so many things stacked up against him. But he dreams of finishing school and maybe even going to college. His lawyer aunt begs him to come live with her in the suburbs, but Joseph knows he is all his mother has and never wants to leave her. Joseph's parents are divorced but his father is a good father currently in the Army in Afghanistan. Join Joseph as he struggles to live each day while striving to make something of himself.
Sadly a story that many students experience when a parent doesn't want them and only wants them for their child support money. Great audio and good reader.
Sadly a story that many students experience when a parent doesn't want them and only wants them for their child support money. Great audio and good reader.
June 18, 2013
Joseph is a book about a boy who lives with his drug addicted mother at a homeless shelter. He has spent most of his life bouncing from place to place. He has just started a new school and is trying to make a better life for himself, but his mother embarrasses him every time he starts over. He has a loving and involved father who is in the Army and deployed to Iraq. Joseph has been offered a home at his aunt's house, but he feels a responsibility to take care of his mother.
I thought this book was fantastic. It was an easy read, but a very powerful story. It made my heart ache for Joseph. I think that many students could relate to this book....more that the teacher or librarian would know....from students who are homeless to those struggling with parents with drug addictions to those who have a parent deployed with the military.
I thought this book was fantastic. It was an easy read, but a very powerful story. It made my heart ache for Joseph. I think that many students could relate to this book....more that the teacher or librarian would know....from students who are homeless to those struggling with parents with drug addictions to those who have a parent deployed with the military.
August 20, 2011
Joseph is struggling to be a good kid in the face of really tough odds. He's had good people in his corner, but now his grandparents have died, his Dad's in Iraq, and his crackhead mother's behavior has become increasingly erratic. His mom has lost the house her father left over and spends all the child support and welfare money she gets on booze and drugs. Mother and son are now living in a homeless shelter. Joseph's concern for his mother and his loyalty to her are evidence of his sweet nature, but it is maddening to see him pass up opportunities to get out of his impossible home situation to live with the aunt who could give him a stable life. There is little plot or dramatic tension here; it's just Joseph getting along day to day.
July 4, 2016
Excellent read for young people as they try to navigate life and for adults to see how their decision-making is impactful (whether good or bad) in their lives of their children. I particularly loved how extended family came together to do what was best for the youth. Likewise other situations will be presented: sports and character building, Military deployment and its impact on families, drug abuse and addiction, homelessness, etc.
Note: This author has won numerous awards. This book was read because of my upcoming Juvenile Justice class. The youth had every opportunity to engage in mischief and wrongdoing. Just goes to show that if parents are unable or unwilling to pour into a child's life....seeking out/having a trusted adult is paramount.
Note: This author has won numerous awards. This book was read because of my upcoming Juvenile Justice class. The youth had every opportunity to engage in mischief and wrongdoing. Just goes to show that if parents are unable or unwilling to pour into a child's life....seeking out/having a trusted adult is paramount.
November 25, 2015
This was a very moving and emotional book. Joseph(main character)is raised in the inner city. His dad in Iraq and his mother hooked on drugs. His auntie is trying to gain custody of him. During the whole book I felt bad for Joseph because of all the trauma that he went through at such a young age. But later on in the book his auntie does gain custody of him then he starts playing tennis which is the sport he loved but his mother could never afford for him to play. So he has a better life with his auntie. I recommend this book for you if you're the type of person that like to be moved and/or motivated when reading a book this is your type of book.
December 4, 2008
This is a very quick read, I read it this afternoon and enjoyed it. Joseph is 15, and lives in a homeless shelter with his drug addicted mother. His father does not live with him, but is supportive and communicates often from his military assignment in Iraq. Joseph struggles with his dual desires- he wants a better life for himself, but fears that if he doesn't watch over his mother she may not survive. The reader becomes very invested in Joseph as he seeks direction. This book is recommended for reluctant readers.
February 1, 2009
Joseph is a sophomore living in Durham, N.C. His mom is a complete mess and he knows it, but he remains loyal to her. Despite his family troubles, he tries to do his best in school and on the tennis team. But he is constantly worried about what scams his drug-addicted mom will pull to ruin everything for him this time.
This book is written in a very simple and straightforward style with few words on the page for a YA book. The cover is attractive. Give this one to reluctant readers who could use a hopeful tale about doing better than one's own parents.
This book is written in a very simple and straightforward style with few words on the page for a YA book. The cover is attractive. Give this one to reluctant readers who could use a hopeful tale about doing better than one's own parents.
June 15, 2009
Though the story is tragic and gripping, the writing style of this short novel took away from the overall effect, in my opinion. Joseph is torn between caring for his drug-addicted mother and wanting a normal life as a high school student. Ultimately, the choice is taken from him when his aunt brings Joseph into her home to await the arrival of his father from Iraq. I would have liked the book much better if the writing style had not been so stiff.
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