Dangerous Neighbors

by Beth Kephart

It is 1876, the year of the Centennial in Philadelphia. Katherine has lost her twin sister Anna in a tragic skating accident.  One wickedly hot September day, Katherine sets out for the exhibition grounds to cut short the haunted life she no longer wants to live.

Filled with vivid detail that artfully brings the past to life, National Book Award nominee Beth Kepart's DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a timeless and finely crafted novel about betrayal and guilt, hope and despair, love, loss, and new beginnings.

Publisher’s Weekly Starred Review
Set in Philadelphia against the back-drop of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition (the first World’s Fair in the U.S.), this atmospheric novel traces the sentiments of grief-stricken Katherine, whose identical twin sister, Anna, died in a tragic accident earlier in the year.  As the novel opens, Katherine, who feels responsible for Anna’s death, has decided to take her own life.  Again and again, she is drawn to the exhibition grounds.  Here, futuristic marvels and unexpected events-including a disastrous fire- detain her from completing her suicidal mission.  Losing herself in a throng of strangers, she examines her past, recalling the development of her sister’s secret romance with a “dangerous neighbor” and the final sequence of events that led to Anna’s death.  Conjuring sharp, meticulously detailed images of fair exhibitions (“The wonders of the world slide past.  Parisian corsets cavorting on their pedestals.  Vases on lacquered shelves.  Folding beds.  Walls of cutlery.  The sweetest assortment of sugar-colored pills, all set to sail on a yacht”), Kephart ( The Heart is Not a Size ) evokes a tantalizing portrait of love, remorse, and redemption.  Ages 12-up.  ( Aug. )

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Fiction, Historical, Teen, Romance, 19th Century

192 pages, Library Binding

First published August 24, 2010

About the author

I'm the award-winning writer of more than two-dozen books in multiple genres—memoir, middle grade and young adult fiction, picture books, history, corporate fable, and books on the making of memoir.

I'm also an award-winning teacher at the University of Pennsylvania, co-founder of Juncture Workshops, and an essayist and critic with work appearing in The New York Times, Life magazine, Ninth Letter, Catapult, The Millions, The Rumpus, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, and elsewhere.

Please visit me at junctureworkshops.com or bethkephartbooks.com.

Reviews

[Jennifer Wardrip · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Melanie Foust for TeensReadToo.com

Anna died in a horrible accident. Katherine, her twin, is convinced there is nothing left to live for. She reaches a high level in a tall building, but her sister's former lover reaches her just in time, begging her to allow him to say something incredibly important.

But Katherine does not stay to listen; neither does her resolve waver. Without Anna, life has lost its meaning. Katherine is on a journey to destruction, but if she takes a closer look at herself and the world around her, she may be able to reverse her path before it's too late.

I loved how specific the setting was for this novel. Rather than just a general time and place, the setting was very clear: the Philadelphia Centennial fair of 1876. It's very evident that the author has done a large amount of research; all that work has not gone to waste. Details of the exhibition leap off the page.

National book award finalist Beth Kephart has written another gorgeous novel full of characters that are slowly brought to life. By the time the end of the novel came around, I found myself fully invested in the life of Katherine and those closest to her. This book held my attention from beginning to end, first because of its suspenseful opening and then its enlightening flashbacks, showing what has brought Katherine to such a dark time in her life.

At less than two-hundred pages, Beth Kephart makes every word count. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is the kind of book to keep and reread again and again.

[Rachel · Rating 1 out of 5]

Spoiler!!

I thought this book was going to take an entirely different turn. There were a few instances where I thought it was insinuated that Katherine had had an affair with Bennett. In my head, Anna's death was going to be something juicy; Bennett realized that Katherine was less superficial than her twin and fell in love with her. Anna finds out and kills herself. I was disappointed that what really happened with Anna turned out to be boring.

I also was not a fan of the end. Katherine decides not to end her life because of William? He takes her hand in the end and all is okay? Not a great or believable message. Katherine had much more to live for than that.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this is my first Beth Kephart novel, I've got several of her books on my TBR pile because I've heard such great things. I really wanted to read this one when I heard about it because it sounded like something right up my alley.

Overall, I would describe this novel as haunting. It's not particularly 'fun' or even entertaining. But, its a strong novel - well written and it really sticks with you!

This novel is historical fiction, Young Adult style. It's based in Philadelphia in 1876, during the Centennial in Philadelphia. The main characters are twin sisters Katherine and Anna. The story revolves around the fact that Anna dies in a tragic accident and Katherine's desire to die due to her feelings of guilt and betrayal. This doesn't really give you the true essence of the story but it does help.

The setting of the novel was amazing and so well written. Philadelphia in 1876 came alive for me as I read Kephart's beautiful prose. She gave the Centennial exquisite texture for me. I felt as if I was walking alongside the characters as they explored Philadelphia during that time.

I really related to the sense of loss and crisis that Katherine underwent during the novel. Kephart did an excellent job of making Katherine and her emotional state come alive for me. There were a number of themes in the book around salvation, loss, renewal, and personal growth. All of which I think were done extremely well in this novel and really gave me a great deal to think about.

In the end, this is a novel about betrayal and guilt, hope and despair, love, loss, and new beginnings. And it's beautifully written. I definitely recommend it if you enjoy well written novels that stay with you for a time after reading. Haunting. Yes, I think Katherine and her journey will stick with me for some time.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher for review.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart
Egmont, 2010
166 pages
YA; Historical
3/5 stars

Source: Library

Summary: Ever since Katherine's twin sister Anna died, she has felt alone and guilty of causing the death. In 1876, during the Centennial fair in Philadelphia, Katherine goes to the fairgrounds to end her own life.

Thoughts: As I had enjoyed one of Kephart's other books and had seen this title around the blogosphere, I decided to pick this book up. I was especially excited to see that it was set in Philadelphia in 1876 around the centennial. That is not a time period I'm very familiar with but I would like to learn more. Unfortunately I felt that the time period was not well utilized. The story could almost be set in any time period as the language and the few events that occur were generic.

Additionally because of the short length, I felt no connection to any of the characters. The main focus was Katherine and her now deceased twin sister Anna; other characters include Anna's secret beau Bennett, their parents, and maid. Anna, from what I read, was improper, rude, and insensitive to Katherine's concerns about her secret affair, an affair that could have ruined their family if discovered, I presume. Katherine, though, was somewhat controlling and needy toward Anna. No other character had a chance to develop a personality.

Admittedly this is a beautifully written book and if that's enjoyable for you, then give this a try. But it's not at all the kind of book I like.

Cover: I love the font of the title and while I didn't understand the shells, the explanation is revealed through the story.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I put the book down, and wanted to pick it up to re-read because the simplicity is so deceptive. Then, I wanted to read more about Philadelphia in the period. The pitch of the book is exceptional, and there is not one wasted word. But, really, I understood the main character, both in her strengths and weaknesses because jealousy, well, who doesn't struggle with jealousy mixing with change?

[Mari · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF (for now)
Normally, I don't like giving books I dislike reviews (no point bringing taste into this), but if a book seems potentially toxic, I'll mark it. Like this one:

This book is triggering (suicide) and...I'm sorry if this review is as well. As this was published 12 years ago, I assume Kephart is ashamed of this book now. It makes a game of a suicidal protagonist: when will she do it? How will she do it? Who is going to stop her?
In addition, Katherine's experience with being suicidal does not align with mine. Which doesn't mean it's "wrong," but it does feel...fake to me? It's very one-note emotionally (sad is such a sad feeling) without looking at the complexities of surviving suicidal depression (not just fantasies and attempts, but living forward).
It's depiction of depression is shallow. I don't know if it would be more damaging to young readers if it was realistic, or if it would have triggered me even more. But I figure, if I was struggling with depression as a teen, seeing something like this might have shaped my depression in potentially unhealthy ways.
In short, this would NOT be written today. It is a relic of that mid-2000s to 2010 obsession with suicide (a la book-version of 13 Reasons Why). Hopefully its shallow depiction has helped someone. But I am 50 pages in and it's only painfully triggering.

--

When I get in a better mindset, I will try to finish it and analyze why it's not working for me.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Originally reviewed at my site There's A Book.

Short and Sweet: A beautiful story of sisterhood and overcoming the greatest of losses to begin anew. Don’t miss this book, one of my favorite reads of 2010!

Full Review:
Katherine and Anna were the best of friends, sisters, twins to be exact. Throughout Katherine’s life Anna has been a constant driving force, her ever present companion and Katherine, her guardian. When something more powerful than sisterhood comes between them and Anna’s fate is sealed Katherine must wade through the mist of the unknown. All the while the celebration of the Philadelphia Centennial of 1876 is going on and Katherine is struggling to overcome this, the loss of her truest and most meaningful companion. Dangerous Neighbors is a story of sisterhood, love and hope; one you will not soon forget.

Stunning. To use a single word to describe Beth Kephart’s writing and the telling of Katherine’s journey, it would be stunning. Beginning with the beautiful backdrop of the Philadelphia Centennial, you sense that Katherine is swept up in not only her emotional and physical loss, but also the near-constant commotion of all that is going on around her. This only adds to Katherine’s isolation and feelings of emptiness at the loss of her dear sister. And to be honest, I’m generally not a reader of historical fiction, but the way in which the background blended into the sorrow Katherine was overcoming was seamless and powerful.

Not only was the setting the perfect place to connect with, but the struggle of Katherine’s character is what makes the book so compelling. Being that I grew up in home with no brothers and only two younger sisters I found myself connecting to Katherine in a very personal way. Those that have siblings know that the bonds between each other, though trying at times, are nearly impossible to break and I can only imagine with twins it’s even that much stronger. And then to lose one tragically would be unbearable. Katherine’s guilt and subsequent resolution was something I could completely relate to, not because of my own siblings but because of a friend who had died a few years ago. There is a part of you that wishes you could change things, that you could have said something different or stopped it in some way. But through a series of events Katherine is able to find hope, and be at peace with the circumstances. It was comforting in a way I didn’t think was possible.

As I mentioned, I’m a huge fan of Beth’s writing and I just have to share one of my favorite passages from the book:

The bird has gone off on some tune. Short, unsustained notes – more like questions than songs. The rustling of its feathers is like the sound of a hand cupped to an ear – that space between the hand and the ear, where the heartbeat echos.
Lift.
Drag.
Thrust.
Gravity.
The mechanics, Katherine reminds herself, of flight.
Yes, she has it right: Lift. Drag. Thrust. Gravity. It will be over soon.
p. 38-39 Dangerous Neighbors by Beth Kephart, ARC

It’s this passage and so many more that draw me to Beth’s writing. Simple and elegant. Each word placed in just the correct line to make the words speak like notes on a page, creating music in your mind. As someone who is more musically inclined than any other talent I may posses, I would say without a doubt her writing is the closest I come to actually playing an instrument or singing. It’s just beautiful.

As you can likely tell Dangerous Neighbors was one of my favorite reads this year, possibly ever. For some reason, either Beth’s writing, Katherine’s character itself, the circumstances or all of these things combined made it a book that truly spoke to me. For anyone struggling to overcome the loss of a loved one or even a transition into a new stage of life I would highly recommend this book; as well as to those who enjoy beautifully written historical fiction or just an amazing young adult novel. Dangerous Neighbors is about love, trust, friendship, loss, grief, hope, and so much more. You would be missing a great deal if you didn’t pick up this book some time in the very near future.

[Florinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read four of Beth Kephart's books in 2010. I also read her blog faithfully, and so I knew that her novel Dangerous Neighbors was both a bit of a departure for her and a long-brewing labor of love. She says in the book's Endnotes:

"During the course of my research for Flow: the Life and Times of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River I began to dream, novelistically, of this Centennial year (1876). About twin sisters and a boy who rescued animals. About a mother so preoccupied with the future that she could not see, or protect, the present. About a river with a mind of her own."

Dangerous Neighbors includes all of the elements from Kephart's dream. Having made an impression with several beautifully-written, deeply-felt novels about contemporary teens for the YA market, this is the author's first work of historical fiction. However, even with the change in time period and the use of third-person narration (also a first in Kephart's fiction), this is clearly a Beth Kephart work - beautifully written and deeply felt. I only wish there were more of it.

The preoccupied mother is there - but barely, and by definition, that makes absolute sense. The boy who rescues animals is there, but we don't really get to know him as well as we'd like. The focus of the novel is the twin sisters, Katherine and Anna, whose relationship was becoming ever more complicated before it was rocked by tragedy not long before the summer of the Centennial.

I have a close relationship with my sister, but we are not twins. I've read some fascinating things about the twin bond, though, and Kephart's depiction of the sisters in Dangerous Neighbors seems to reflect them. It's one thing when your best friend seems to be blowing off your company for a guy. But when your best friend is your twin - who has always felt like a part of you - and the guy is someone wholly unsuitable to your family's place in society, it cuts deep. And when she expects you to be her ally in conducting this relationship out of view of your parents, and can't grasp why you aren't as happy as she is...it's not all that hard to understand why Katherine and Anna's relationship has become frayed. Katherine feels lost, and like she's losing Anna. And when she truly does lose her sister, she can only see one way to find her - and herself - again. I felt for Katherine, and longed to see her find another way.

Dangerous Neighbors is a story of grief, guilt, and growth that goes by all too quickly, and that's my only real complaint about it. I like spending time in the worlds that Beth Kephart creates in her fiction; I didn't get enough of it here. Having said that, though, this short novel has no shortage of emotional impact, and I think that with time, it will grow on me.

[Staci · Rating 4 out of 5]

2. Words to describe the book: mystery, heartache, sibling love and hatred, growing pains, history, thought-provoking, the U.S. perched precariously on the edge of modern inventions, women's suffrage, and a changing society.

3. Location or characters you met:

* Katherine: She is the youngest of twin girls, yet she has always felt responsible for the welfare of her sister Anna. She's thoughtful, quiet, contemplative, follows the rules, and takes much to heart.
* Anna : She is the impulsive twin and though she doesn't mean to be hurtful, many of her actions could pose disastrous consequences to her sister and family. She's a dreamer and sees no difference between classes in society. She's ruled by her heart and rarely ever thinks with her head.
* Philadelphia: This city is so rich in U.S. history and it's one that I want to visit some time in the future.
* 1876 Centennial Exhibition- directly quoted from book-" a World's Fair of unprecedented proportion that brought upwards of 10 million people to fairgrounds just west of central Philadelphia during a six-month period." Can you just imagine how crazy and exhilarating this time in history would have been for those that lived there?

4. Things you liked/disliked:

* The writing was simply exquisite. I've read almost all of Kephart's work and believe that she is a pure word poet. The scenes flow into one another seamlessly and the descriptive words that she used invoked quite sharp and vivid pictures in my mind!
* Being a bit of a history buff, I was totally enthralled with the Centennial Fair and all that it encompassed. I love a book that makes me want to do some research. I also love a book that uncovers a time period of United States history that I knew nothing about!
* I enjoyed the love story between Anna and her baker. Oh, to be young, naive, and so in love with someone that you would pretty much risk all sorts of wrath just to be with that person.
* I ached for Katherine. As a mother, I wanted to grab her and crush her to my heart to give her some sort of comfort. Comfort that her own mother refused to acknowledge and to give. I am glad that Katherine's father seemed to be somewhat attuned to Katherine's emotions.
* I absolutely was thrilled to see that Beth has made a teacher's guide for this novel. My teacher's are always looking for books that will be interesting, informational, and exciting. Having a guide makes it that much easier to recommend to a teacher who is looking for an unique time period of United States history to share and enrich our children's education.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not sure how to review this book because there are elements of the plot I do not want to give away, but I will try my best. This is the story of twin sisters Katherine and Anna who are so close, and yet so far apart from each other. Like most twins they are opposites. Katherine is grounded, more responsible, whereas Anna is dreamy, dramatic, living for today. They love each other yet, they are starting to drift apart as they get older. They are misunderstanding each other, not communicating very well at all. Sure they may speak their minds, but they don't comprehend or see the situation from the other's point of view.

Then tragedy strikes. Anna dies and Katherine is left behind, wondering, thinking, blaming herself for things that are out of her control. How Katherine deals with this grief is the main theme of the novel. I completely empathized with Katherine because I view her as the "mom" in the twins relationship. In any groups of friends, especially girls, there is always one girl who is the "mom". She keeps everyone in line, pulls them out of trouble, follows the rules, basically the conscience of the group. That is Katherine, so imagine how she felt when her sister died on her watch. The grief, let alone the self blame is overpowering for her. How can Katherine go on? But she does, the universe tells her she is not at fault, not to blame for Anna's death.

This book is full of love, loss, guilt, and peace. This is a tall order to fill but Kephart's writing brings it all together into 192 pages. Yes, 192 pages can you believe it? Kephart weaved all of these elements together with wonderful descriptions of Philadelphia in 1876, during the Centennial Fair. It could be because I live in Philly, but I was immediately drawn in because of her descriptions of the city, where the landmarks have not changed. Plus the excitement of the Centennial was palpable to me. The exhibits of new inventions, like the telegraph, and foreign countries like Paris, and such, the world was growing and changing so quickly. Anna and Katherine were growing and changing just as quickly. The Centennial and the sisters are alike in that respect, so I think the Exposition is the perfect setting for the story. Plus it demonstrates to Katherine how much life and the world has to show her.

The only aspect I didn't quite get was the title, Dangerous Neighbors. Even as I sit here now, I'm not sure how the title ties into the story. I may need to be bonked on the head with the answer dear readers. Please feel free to bonk away. All in all, this was an enjoyable book and I certainly look forward to reading Kephart's back list.

[Cecelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought I was sitting down to read a historical novel, something to do with the Philadelphia Centennial. I thought I knew what to expect. But I didn’t foresee such beauty in the language, such mastery over the written word. I didn’t know I’d want to reread paragraphs to more fully appreciate their poetry. I didn’t realize that Beth Kephart would make me shed tears over hope lost and found again.


I’ve heard about Beth Kephart. When I started blogging and then following other book blogs, I noticed bloggers talking about her and her books. Still, I didn’t pick one up. I didn’t feel a sense of urgency. That has definitely changed – Ms. Kephart is going to go straight into the category of ‘read the entire backlist!’ And mind that exclamation point while you’re at it!

True confession: I’d rather avoid grief and sadness. I know that’s pretty human of me, but I take it farther. If I know ahead of time that a book or a film is going to be melancholy, I avoid it. I’m a bit of a coward. And so, although Dangerous Neighbors sat on my nightstand for over a month, I was hesitant to pick it up. After all, it says right there in the blurb that fate and unbearable loss (hello, tragedy!) are in the picture. But the cover artwork kept calling to me, and then I actually read the first couple of pages. That’s all it took – I was hooked.

There’s a dangerous sort of beauty in Kephart’s prose. It’s complex, it’s beautiful, and it will suck you into its emotion and obsession. Dangerous Neighbors is the story of twin sisters growing up in Philadelphia. It’s the story of a city dressed up in celebration. At the same time, it is a tale of loss and grief and change. It’s tragedy on one side, and redemption (of sorts) on another. I really can’t do justice to it – only to say that it is heartbreaking and also breathtaking.

Another confession: It turns out that I can’t write about the plot, or even very deeply about the characters in this review. It’s not that I don’t want to, you understand. It’s just that whenever I start a paragraph, I somehow end up with sentences crowded with words like ‘literary’ and ‘atmospheric.’ I was deeply impressed by the description and the emotion in this little volume. And so I’ll leave it at that, and let you to discover the ‘doings’ on your own. I strongly suggest that you go out and get a copy NOW. If, you know, it seems like your thing. Or even if it’s not.

Recommended for: fans of literary fiction, spectacular young adult literature, history, tragedy, deliverance, and descriptions so well rendered that they seem tinged with the magical.

[Brian Cortes · Rating 2 out of 5]

Kephart, Beth. Dangerous Neighbors. New York: Egmont USA/Laura Geringer Books, 2010.

Characters: Katherine, Anna, Jeannie Bea, Bennett, William, Father, Mother
Setting: Philadelphia, 1876
Theme: sister-hood, family loss, death, coping,
Golden Quote: “Don’t let me get old, Katherine can almost hear Anna saying. And look: Congratulations, Katherine! You have granted your sister her one ill-begotten wish.
Plot/Summary: The story takes place during the Centennial Exhibition that took place in Philadelphia to celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of America as a country. The story describes the life of Katherine as she tries to cope with the death of her twin sister and how she was not able to save her. Katherines’ parents are dealing with the death of their daughter better than Katherine because they believe in thinking in the future and forgetting about the past. Katherine spends a part of the book describing life while her sister lived, and explaining the events that led up to her death. Throughout the story it is Katherine’s quest to end her life because she cannot live on without her sister, but she is often interrupted by her sister’s lover, whom she also blames for her sister’s death. Katherine visits the Centennial Exhibition, in which she describes all the events and exhibitions that were on display at this historical event in Philadelphia. As she reminisces about her sister and the various interactions she had with her, she remembers a boy named William who is from the other part of town, whom her father calls dangerous neighbors because they are of s different social class. At the end, it is her love for William that helps her cope with the death of her sister, and is willing to continue on living.
Target Audience: ages 12 and up.
Curriculum ties: U.S. History
Awards:
Personal/Critical response: The author does a very good job about describing the historical event known as the Centennial Exhibition, and is really the only thing I enjoyed about the book. The story-line was very confusing as it jumped from past to present and back-and-forth, which made it difficult to stay on track. The year 1876 was a very much a part of the transition years for America, as it moved from an agricultural and rural America to a more modernize, industrialized America. The book does a very good job of describing the scene, and as a reader you can almost feel as if you are there at the Centennial Anniversary of America. I wish that the author would have expanded more on the relationship of Katherine and William to really describe what happens when people from the upper class get involved with their dangerous neighbors.

[Liviania · Rating 5 out of 5]

With every book, my respect for Beth Kephart grows. In fact, she's one of those authors that I enjoy so much I have to find the perfect time and place to read her books so that I can finish comfortably and uninterrupted. For NOTHING BUT GHOSTS, this was two locations: my dorm window seat overlooking Oxford High Street and the Oxford Botanical Gardens. For DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, I tucked into my childhood bed (no longer in my childhood home) and closed the door to keep my desperate-for-affection dog out of the way.

In DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, Kephart makes bold stylistic choices. It's told in close third person present. The present is a rough tense, especially when the book moves back and forth in time. The key lies in Kephart's skill. I used the words "bold" and "rough," but those don't suit DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS at all. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is fluid and seductive. Kephart plunges right into the action, moving between Katherine's actions during a few days at the Centennial Exhibition and her past with her dead twin Anna at will. It's slightly disorienting but absorbing. Kephart never once underestimates her audience.

In the end, DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a short novel. But I didn't feel cheated. I just felt like my time hadn't been wasted on useless scenes or extra words. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS feels tight. Since the reader delves into Katherine's life for a brief period only, there are open ends. But the important parts - the emotions - those climax.

Historical fiction is not usually my thing, but Kephart pulled me into the world of 1876 Philadelphia. I sympathized with Katherine and Anna the same as I did with the characters of UNDERCOVER despite being so removed from their place. Much of Katherine's inner conflict stems from her feelings about Bennett, who had been Anna's secret lover.

Once upon a time, my sister had a boyfriend she kept secret from our parents. Like Katherine, I knew. Like Katherine, I kept her secret, because however I felt about it, I trusted my sister. Unlike Katherine, my sister is still alive, but that doesn't mean it ended well. I felt betrayed. No one can betray like a sister.

That's the force of Kephart's writing. It is what the stylized prose builds to. Her technical proficiency isn't empty, but a vehicle to deliver emotional truths. Her words have a resonance.

But DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS isn't some stuffy literary work. Kephart doesn't forget the importance of entertainment. There are love stories, new friends, and - of course - danger.

[Aura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. Supposedly this novel is set during the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial, but we hardly believed it while reading. Kephart's prose is beautiful but disconcertingly contemporary, and considering how interesting the event was in reality, the corresponding historical detail in the book is far from it (not to mention conspicuously absent most of the time).

The story involves sibling dynamics and one sibling's death, which is a common premise that fascinates us. Like similar books, this one has a strong, complex, slightly-internally-screwed-up narrator who sees a sibling - a twin - as someone painfully different and perhaps impossible to understand. That clash makes for a compelling backstory told in flashbacks that blur with the present, so the line between what happened/is happening is never completely certain. That's all right.

What is less all right is that, as has happened in books like this, the resulting Other Sibling becomes almost a caricature. Other Sibling in this case is Anna, a flighty, dreamy, selfish person with the maturity of a six-year-old and a natural, charismatic strength born from naivete. Never seen that one before, right? So Katherine, the First Sibling, feels constantly overshadowed, less beautiful, left out, yet remains arguably stronger than Anna in the things that matter (reality, for instance). And as a character, she behaves like a human being in that she is more than a rigidly defined personality: she is flawed, rigid, smart, compassionate, and she does, for example, sink sometimes to Anna's level of emotional neediness. She changes - not just as a dynamic character, but from day to day, bad to good to bad to good, and remains identifiable. That's life. Anna, on the other hand, is always just a whimsical piece of risk-taking cardboard.

Identifiable, yes. But all these beautiful two-dimensional doomed angels in literature - they are haunting us!

At least the language really is beautiful. But if you want to see the Katherine/Anna-style character dynamic done better than this - and by 'better' we mean 'with a muted brutality that is stunning' - read A Separate Peace. The characters there aren't siblings, but they don't need to be.

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Kephart is not afraid of writing fiction for young adults that makes them think, makes them feel and makes them wonder.

Dangerous Neighbors transported me to 1876 Philadelphia during the Centennial celebration. The place and time were as much a part of this novel as the characters.

The main character, Katherine, was charged with responsibility for her twin sister, Anna, a girl who always took unnecessary risks. It was Katherine's job to keep Anna out of trouble, keep her safe. Ultimately, Katherine loses her control of Anna when the girls grow up and Anna enters into a forbidden relationship with the baker's son. Unfortunately, Anna never stopped taking risks, and it ended her.

Katherine's character was so complex, struggling with forgiveness, hope, redemption and shame. The one character I wanted to spend more time with, and wished there were another 100 pages to read if only just for him, was William. I can't talk about William without ruining the book, so just read it and see if you feel the same.
This book stayed with me and even though I read it back in August, I have no trouble recalling some of the scenes, as if I were actually there. When simply thinking about a book can bring me back to a whole other place and time, and make me feel what I was feeling while I read it, it's a book to be cherished.

How Beth Kephart managed to fit so much emotion into a brief 192 pages is astonishing. Unfortunately, I had the ARC, which I am not supposed to quote, but her writing! Oh my goodness, there are so many passages I marked, underlined, starred, and dog-eared. Why only 192? Because she didn't need 400 pages. She's that good.

I have had the pleasure of corresponding with Beth, albeit briefly, and I am a loyal reader of her blog. She is kind, and witty, and truly in love with what she does. The book blogs exploded for Beth Kephart's novel The Heart is Not a Size, which made me sit up and take notice of this author. Now I see why. In short, she is a breath of fresh air, and Dangerous Neighbors will not be the last of her books I read.

Different from anything I have ever read before, Beth Kephart raises the bar on Young Adult novels. She proves that you don't need vampires and werewolves to capture this audience's attention, and bring them on a journey they will not soon forget.

[Yan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After Anna's death, Katherine continues to blame herself for not being there to protect Anna, for giving up on her too soon, for losing a twin that was her closest friend. She revisits old place and new wonders at the Philadelphia Centennial fair of 1876 while running away from Bennett, Anna's lover, of a message he wants to deliver for he is a dangerous neighbor that her Papa warned them about. But Katherine has to face him eventually and now is better than later.

And then there is William.
Dangerous Neighbors has an intimate narration that conveys a deep sense of remorse and sadness like a constant rain cloud looming over the reader. Even the most cheerful scenes is told in mourning. Perhaps by reading novel on the day predicted for a thunderstorm I was already tired before reading, but something about Dangerous Neighbors had me gently lolling off every so chapters.

For a short novel, a novella really, Dangerous Neighbors manages to fill its space as well as any 300 paged novels, and compared to some, even better. It is compact for easy access and easy carry.

The past—before Anna's death—and the present—after Anna's death— eventually blurred for me. Sometimes I find it frustrating, but the majority of the time I feel it portrays what Katherine must feel. Stuck in some form of limbo. Yet the past showcases Anna in a light that I found displeasing to read. She was incredibly selfish and self-centered that I neither pity her nor like her. Yet it makes me wonder if love can make one so incredibly selfish. It was all-consuming love that was told from the sister's point of view therefore it does nothing to the reader; I did not sigh, smile, or tsk tsk the happy couple. I was not present in those moments. Anna, in my eyes, will continue to be that selfish girl and despite being a twin to Katherine, shows a level of maturity several years younger. Katherine on the other hand is middle-aged. She is the responsible type yet appears to be lost without Anna.

Dangerous Neighbors is a well-written novella that goes in-depth describing the fair as well as letting go some of the past for the future. This was my first Beth Kephart novel, but it will definitely not be my last.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not entirely sure what to say about this book. It was quite different from what I’ve been reading as of late, but not in a bad way. It was more descriptive, and less action-based. It seemed lyrical to me. I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting, but I know it’s not what I got. That’s not necessarily a bad thing – I think that’s why I’m not sure what to say about it.

As I think hard, here is what I do come up with. I liked the conclusion. A lot. Especially the last few paragraphs. While I kinda want to know what happens next, I know that’s not what this story is about. This story is about how a girl, Katherine, finds her way after losing her twin, Anna. Not just to death, but before that, when her twin falls in love. Katherine feels abandoned by Anna when Bennett captures Anna’s heart. And I think she feels like she’s been replaced. Her life is changing dramatically, and she’s not sure how to adjust. The stronger of the two, Katherine has always been the one looking out for Anna, and I think that leaves her feeling a little possessive of her sister. Not to the point of being psycho or anything, just to the point of not wanting to share her with Bennett. I do like how Katherine seemed to come to accept things, though, by the time Anna is lost.

When we meet Katherine, she’s intent on committing suicide. It seems to be the only way she can cope. Through a series of events, memories, and chance encounters, Katherine finds a way to come to terms with her sister’s death. She finds a way to understand Bennett’s part in it all, and to understand herself better, too. I believe she makes it through the roughest part of her pain and – more importantly – the bitterness she was cultivating as she saw Bennett take her place in her sister’s life. I think the story ends with a new beginning. A new outlook. A new Katherine.

Overall, it was an interesting read with very vivid descriptions. It’s a shorter book, and I think that’s best. This isn’t the kind of story that can sustain itself over a few hundred pages. Will I read this again? Probably not. Am I sorry I read it? No. The style is reminiscent of the classics, and that’s definitely something I can appreciate.

[Bethany Eliason Martinez · Rating 1 out of 5]

When I first read the premise for this book, I was really excited to read it. I have never read anything about the Philadelphia Centennial, but I have heard that it was a extremely exciting event in history. And I really liked the idea of having this event in the background as this girl, Katherine, is grieving her sister's death. I was wondering how the author would combine these two events.

Unfortunately, after a few chapters, I started to get bored. I was expecting the book to be more centered on this festival and how it impacts Katherine during this hard and sad time in her life, but it was more centered on the events that happened leading up to her sister's death, with only little glimpses of the festival and Katherine's grief. It felt like the setting or event this story was placed in took a absent role. It felt like the author just needed an exciting event to put this girl in just because. To me, there was no purpose and that really bugged me. I finished the book wanting to know more about what the festival looked like and why
the character was there.

I also really did not like her relationship with a boy named William. She only meets or talks to him about three times for five minutes tops in the book and then at they are holding at the end and Katherine is claiming she has feelings for him. That does not seem real to me.

One thing I did like about this novel was Katherine's grief. All of her feelings felt real, to me. She had a very close relationship with her sister since they were twins. She felt closely bonded and she still is when she dies so I felt that Beth Kephart did a great job at expressing that emotion accurately.

All in all, this book was okay. It read almost like an adult novel though. I don' think many young adult would like this book.

Warning: Attempted suicide plays a part in this book.
Violence: 2
Language: 0
Sex: 0
Drugs: 0

[David Edmonds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Kephart continues to impress me more and more with her young adult novels. Her ability to pull so much nuance into a story with such ease of language is beautiful. I'd love to spend a day in her head, just to see the world through her eyes; it must be an amazing place to behold. She can create such vivid images and emotions, with the simplest language possible, and every page is filled with more and more. If you haven't had the privilege of reading anything by Beth Kephart, might I recommend Dangerous Neighbors?

The year is 1876, and Philadelphia is celebrating the Centennial with an Exposition. Katherine has also just lost her twin sister, Anna, and is trying to determine how best to leave this world and be with her sister. It is a decision that doesn't seem to have come to her easily, but one that seems unavoidable. After spending her whole life being Anna's protector, she feels that she is responsible for Anna's death.

However, do to a series of circumstances that seem beyond her control as she is thrust into situations with people around her who seem to want to distract her from her goal, she begins to realize that maybe there is more still to look forward to in this life. These people, the "dangerous neighbors" who float on the sidelines of her life, some who she knows, some who are strangers to her, help to draw her back to her herself.

I believe that everyone who reads Beth Kephart's books will each walk away with something different. This can be said with any book, really, but there seems to be an ethereal element to her books that really lend themselves to individual interpretation and understanding. She doesn't challenge her readers directly but subtly, to think about each story and the implications of that story. Do yourself a favor. Read Dangerous Neighbors. You won't be sorry.

[Bethany Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

The setting is Philadelphia in 1876, and the Centennial fair is in full swing showcasing the best that the United States and the world have to offer. It’s an exciting time, but seventeen year old Katherine is unmoved by it. She is too consumed with grieving the loss of her twin sister Anna. For most of their lives Katherine and Anna were as close as two sisters could be, but then Anna starts seeing Bennett and everything changes. Katherine feels her sister slipping away from her but can do nothing to stop it. Then one fateful day Anna convinces Katherine to go ice skating with her and Bennett. Katherine resists at first but eventually agrees. When Bennett arrives, Katherine, who has always seen herself as Anna’s caretaker, turns her back on the two of them. Katherine is too far away to help when her sister falls through a weak patch of ice. Katherine has been filled with grief and guilt ever since her sister’s death and is contemplating taking her own life. Is there anything that can change her mind?

Dangerous Neighbors explores the complex relationship between twin sisters Katherine and Anna. The book begins six months after Anna’s death, but the unraveling of the girls’ relationship is depicted through flashbacks. Though it’s easy to feel sorry for Katherine, she’s not a very likable character, and her depression makes the overall tone of the novel very bleak. Kephart’s writing is very descriptive, and she excels at setting a scene; however, there is very little action in the story. Even at moments that seem like they should be filled with tension, such as when Katherine watches a fire rage through Shantytown from the roof of a nearby building, the pace of the book remains very slow. Though Kephart is a talented writer, Dangerous Neighbors is unlikely to hold the attention of most teen readers.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the 19th century, during the year of the Centennial, two sisters are bound tightly by the fact that they are twins. Katherine has made it her life to look after her frail sister Anna, who always seems aloof, and easily distracted into danger. When an ugly bout of fate rips them apart, Katherine no longer knows her place in the world. Who is she if she is not her sister's protector? Why should she go on living?

This story was very fascinating, and I loved the time period. The hustle and bustle of the new era dawning was an interesting contrast to Katherine's bleak outlook. Katherine had the only person she cared about and who cared about her abruptly torn from her life. It's always fascinating to read about people in the 19th century who are suicidal. It seems more common now, but I never really think of people from that time period like that. I mean there are the famous crazies who killed themselves(Virginia Woolf{though she technically offed herself in the 20th century}) but you never hear about the regular day to day people and how they were feeling and affected by things. The death of a twin and sister must be devastating. It was interesting that Katherine was so torn apart, but her parents were too busy with the new era to really grieve at all for their lost child. It was an interesting piece of historical fiction, and I look forward to reading Beth Kephart's other work now. This novel was very lyrically written, with the words just flowing so nicely and weaving you a scene of the excitement pulsing for the new age.

First Line of actual story:
"From up high, everything seems to spill from itself."

Favorite Line:
"Anna would say that she was a cat like Gemma, with nine lives to spend, all nine precious and delicious."

[Lillie · Rating 4 out of 5]

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS begins at the end. Katherine has lost her sister, Anna. She finds herself cast adrift during a time when the city of her birth is celebrating the centennial of the nation's birth. It's very clear that Katherine deeply mourns her sister. The first few pages unfold so beautifully that I found myself caught up in Kephart's words instantly. I turned the pages, one after the other, completely engaged. It wasn't just that Kephart had such rich characterization for Katherine. Anna is there too, in the memories that take the reader back to when she was alive.

Even though the novel is told somewhat in reverse, I almost felt like the end was the beginning. Katherine is a whole being when I began reading. As I fell more and more into the story, I was able to see how she unraveled, with each encounter that she had with Anna, where Anna seemed to need her sister less and less. The more that the name Bennet was mentioned, the more Katherine moved toward the crisis point. And, while that point happened at the ice pond when Anna died, it is clear that a parting of the sisters would have been inevitable, even without the accident.

I actually have so many emotions about this novel, because I had such a connection while reading it. I'm just not sure that I could do justice to those feelings with my words. And, I almost feel like I don't want to share them. For me, DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is like that first secret crush, or the meeting of hands, when you know that you've met your soulmate. I think this book is going to stay in my head, and in my heart for a very long time.

4/5 for plot
4.5/5 for characters
5/5 for language

My Rating: 13.5/15 Highly Recommend
Bonus Cover Points: 3.5/5

[Sara Grochowski · Rating 4 out of 5]

At times, when I'm reading one of Beth Kephart's novels, I find myself distracted by the gorgeous phrasing and richly described settings and characters. It's easy to find oneself swept away by the beautiful writing, but I always remind myself to go beyond that aspect Kephart's novels because the writing isn't meant to distract readers from a mediocre tale: Kephart is a thought-provoking storyteller as well.

DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS is a slim volume, but the I felt Katherine and Anna's story fit well within its covers. This novel is not for readers who favor action and a quickly paced story. At all. The story begins slowly and continues at a leisurely pace, meandering between past and present.

I found Katherine's relationship with her sister, Anna, and her father interesting. There isn't very much dialogue in the novel, but each interaction holds weight and meaning and I found myself analyzing the words exchanged and considering how Katherine would have reacted and felt. The flashbacks, to me, held the most meaning, as they were the only time readers are able to observe Katherine and Anna's interaction. I couldn't help imagining Katherine collecting these memories like a crow collects shiny baubles, though many of the memories lacked the luster of happiness.

Kephart tells her characters' stories with a delicate hand and deposits them carefully into the reader's heart. DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS, with it's beautiful language and acute heartache, is no exception.

Grade: B+

Cover Comments:
This cover is perfect for DANGEROUS NEIGHBORS. The colors and image both convey the delicate subject matter and writing.

[Jacki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Summary: Grieving and filled with survivor's guilt over the loss of her twin sister Anna, Katherine goes to the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition grounds one day intent on committing suicide. However, a host of "dangerous neighbors" (everyday people) keep interrupting her intentions: a girl with a bird, a mother who can't find her little girl, her sister's lover who shares Katherine's grief and guilt. Can Katherine find her way back to a place called hope?

Verdict: Okay, it's girlie and sappy at heart, but this book is extremely well-written, especially for YA.

Yay!: The writing style is beautifully, poetically descriptive. Settings are well-realized. Katherine's irritation and jealousy over her sister's love affair (told in flashbacks) is as understandable and sympathetic as her grief over Anna's death, and the emotions are easy to get caught up in. At the same time, Katherine isn't a drag. Her suicide attempts are wholly unconvincing; she obviously doesn't really want to die but can't understand how to live without her sister. Despite the angsty premise, the plot is tame and even-keeled. This book would be wonderful for someone looking for a bittersweet yet hopeful story, or a quiet, genteel narrative voice.

Nay!: While the loss of a beloved sister is of course a wrenching thing, Anna's character does little to inspire the reader's sympathy. She's just a naive, narcissistic, vapid young girl in the throes of first love. Yawn.

[Serena · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beth Kephart‘s Dangerous Neighbors, which hits stores on August 24, is set in 1876 in Philadelphia on the verge of the 100th anniversary of the birth of the United States as two sisters, twins, struggle with changes in their relationship and find the ability to fly on their own.

Katherine and Anna may be twins, but they are very different with Anna considered the beauty and adventurous one and Katherine as the dependable protector. As adolescence hits and Anna falls in love with the baker’s son, Bennett, the relationship between the girls changes, forcing Katherine to make tough choices and keep secrets. Anna is like the Schuylkill River near Philadelphia in that she winds her way through a society on the cusp of change and modernity. She takes the plunge even though her love for the Bennett would be frowned upon by her family given his status in the city compared to that of her father, a banker.

“Nothing in this world is safe. Clouds form. Trees split. Horses rear. Ice breaks. Fire rages. Maybe the bird in that girl’s cage is better off, but then again, Katherine thinks, the cage could crack, the prison could itself perish, along with its prisoner.” (Page 32 of ARC)

Read the full review: http://savvyverseandwit.com/2010/08/d...

[Mary · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a story about a teenage girl whose twin sister has died, set in a backdrop of the centennial celebration in Philadelphia. I don't like it much and I don't think it is very good. The author's concept of trying to set the historical scene seems to be to have the equivalent of an 1876 product placement - lots of capitalized brand names bandied about, but no other real sense of the time and place. She probably did a lot of reading research, but this comes out in impossible ways - a devastating fire is described in detail, for instance, but the heroine sees the fire from the top of a tall building, and sees details that are likely in a historical account, but which could not be seen from a high rooftop. The main story has no excitement, nothing unusual - the sister died in an accident, and even that is described only at the end, but there is nothing notable about it. Additionally there are other details that seem unlikely - at the centennial exhibition she talks to a girl who is holding her months old niece, and ends up taking care of the baby for a few hours while the girl goes off to see the fair on her own. This seems totally unlikely, and is unnecessary for the plot - why? The author is supposed to be a writer of fiction for young adults, but from this work it is hard to understand who is bothering to read this stuff.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! Even though I’m not a fan of historical fiction, the cover (isn’t it gorgeous?) and synopsis of this book grabbed my attention. I went back and forth trying to decide whether to give it a try or not. I really thought it sounded good, but it was a historical fiction. Finally I said go for it, and am so glad I did.

The book started out interesting, and just kept getting better. The writing made me feel like I was there with Katherine and Anna. I could see the way Philadelphia looked during that time period, and everything became real to me. I felt sad when they did, and happy when they did.

I loved all the descriptions of the everyday items that are so different than what we have now. All the characters had different relationships with each other, which I loved.

One of the things that happened between Katherine and a girl she just met would never happen today, and I loved reading how life was back then, when those things could, and did, happen.

This is a quick read at only 192 pages, but it is packed with everything it needs to keep you glued to the pages. This was my first Kephart book, but it won’t be my last.

[Hope Shutt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I went into this book not expecting an amazing story, but an enjoyable one and I got that plus some. This little book was an intriguing, short read that I have been in the mood for in the past few days. While nothing special it was a sweet story of sisterly love and all the trials it goes through, especially when their is a boy involved. I only wished it were longer, though I was in the mood for a short book, I think Dangerous Neighbors would have been amazing if it were longer. It had a lot of places it could have gone and where it could have expanded more, which I would have liked to have read.

Premise - 3/5
Characters - 4/5
Writing Style - 3/5
Story - 3/5
Realistic - 4/5
Enjoyment - 4/5

Average Rating - 3.5
My Rating - 3

Cover - I thought it was sweet and fit the story well. Plus I loved the font the title was in!

[Sara Liebman · Rating 4 out of 5]

At first, I wasn't really sure what this book was about other than Katherine lost her twin sister Anna in a sort of mysterious way. Once I understood the context - the Philadelphia World's Fair in the 1870's, I was able to ground my perception of the story. I thought the writing was beautiful - lyrical, descriptive...I just find it hard to categorize it as Young Adult, because it's sort of difficult to read, even though it is a fairly short story. I doubt that anyone younger than 8th grade would be able to understand the themes in the book. Which is not to say that for 8th grade and above, this is not a good book - it is. It's flashbacks can be a little difficult to follow and Katherine's wanderings in the Fair are a bit odd as well. What draws the reader back though, is empathy toward Katherine and curiosity as to what happened to Anna.

[Sarah Laurence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dangerous Neighbors takes place during the Centennial in Philadelphia and focuses on twin 16-year-old girls who dare to become involved with boys beneath their social class. Through extensive research, attention to detail and a fine ear for period dialect, Beth brings the past to the present. Dangerous Neighbors is a perfectly crafted novel; it's as tight as a short story with prose as lyrical as poetry:

"Then she steps through the hall and toward the front door, the whisper of her black skirt fading to silence."

"Katherine saw how his eyes were like pieces of dark green-brown glass, shining and absorbing shine at the same time. She wondered if he'd seen her, then wondered why she cared..."

More on my blog: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2013/07...

Disclosure: author Beth Kephart is a blog buddy.